Classic Verse: Tupac’s “Changes” (Video)

Like Biggie, Jay-Z and a small handful of others, Tupac has dropped more classic verses than most rappers have just dropped verses, but in light of the recent world state of affairs (recession, two wars) I thought we could all use some "Changes". More than any other rapper in history Pac was able to be the hardcore gangster and street poet/political activist with equal skill and credibility, and "Changes" is a stunning reminder of his range.





"I see no changes all I see is racist faces / misplaced hate makes disgrace to races
We under I wonder what it takes to make this one better place / let's erase the wasted
Take the evil out the people they'll be acting right / 'cause both black and white is smokin' crack tonight
and only time we chill is when we kill each other / it takes skill to be real, time to heal each other
And although it seems heaven sent
We ain't ready, to see a black President
It ain't a secret don't conceal the fact / the penitentiary's packed, and it's filled with blacks
But some things will never change / try to show another way but you stayin' in the dope game
Now tell me what's a mother to do / bein' real don't appeal to the brother in you
You gotta operate the easy way
"I made a G today" But you made it in a sleazy way
sellin' crack to the kid. " I gotta get paid,"
Well hey, well that's the way it is."

First and foremost, in light of Obama's historic election "We ain't ready, to see a black President" takes on an entirely different meaning. I wonder what Pac would have thought about Obama if he were still alive? But what's slightly depressing is how little things have changes since he wrote this verse in 1995. Crack isn't nearly the epidemic it was in the mid-90s but lord knows there's still plenty of it, our prisons are still overflowing with black men, and there's no shortage of dealers willing to sell to kids in exchange for some fast money. Considering that a true classic retains its appeal and relevance across decades and generations, I don't know if there's a more classic verse in hip-hop history than "Changes". R.I.P. Tupac Shakur.

If you’ve got a classic verse let me know at nathan(@)refinedhype.com.