The 10 greatest Tupac Shakur songs

Tupac Shakur was born June 16, 1971, in the East Harlem section of Manhattan (New York City). Tupac’s birth name was Lesane Parish Crooks, but he would eventually be renamed at the age of one to Tupac Amaru.

Tupac remains one of the greatest rappers of all time because of the way he put words together and his social awareness. Tupac had a signature flow and an excellent ear for beats that allowed him to create some of the greatest songs in the history of Hip-hop.

In this article, I will be naming the ten greatest Tupac songs of All-Time.

10 greatest Tupac Shakur songs

10.” Changes”

“Changes” is one of the most melodic Tupac songs ever created. This is a track that still gets radio play today. This is a song that wasn’t released as a single while he was alive. Tupac always made sure to get straight to the point in his music, and “Changes” wasn’t different. In the song, Tupac talked about race, class, and politics. It’s crazy how even in 2021, change is a song that is still relevant because of how the police act towards black men in America.

9. “2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted.”

When Tupac and Snoop came together to create “2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted,” it felt more like a celebration for their freedom of criminal justice. At the time of the creation of the song, Snoop had been acquitted of murder charges, and Pac had been set free after serving time for a sexual assault conviction. Daz from the Dogg Pound created the perfect beat that that would become a legendary song for both rappers.

8. “Keep Ya Head Up”

When it comes to “Keep Ya Head Up,” this is one of Pac’s greatest songs because it was a song that was a celebration of black women. Throughout the song, Pac is promoting hope, positivity during tragic circumstances. This was one of Pac songs that just flowed together very well and was filled with uplifting lyrics.

7. “Ambitionaz AZ A Ridah”

The Intro track to one of the greatest albums in Hip-hop history was a straight-in-your-face anthem that made sure that “ALL EYEZ” was on Pac. This was the perfect intro for his return album because it was Daz’s hard-hitting beat with Michael Buffer’s “Let’s get ready to rumble” as part of the song. “Ambitionaz AZ A Ridah” is an anthem song that still gets played 20 plus years later.

6. “Brenda’s Got a Baby”

From the very beginning, Tupac made sure his rhymes were mixed with complex narratives that dealt with problems going on in the inner cities across America. The song “Brenda’s Got a Baby” tells the story of a 12-year-old girl molested by her family, which leads to her being impregnated. The situation in the song leads to her being strung out in the streets and eventually dead. Tupac tells this story in a single verse painting a vivid picture of a young girl whose life just kept going downhill.

5. “Hail Mary”

“Hail Mary” doesn’t get as much radio play as some of Tupac’s other radio singles, but it is still one of the greatest songs ever created. This song was the third single on Pac’s final/first posthumous album, The Don Kiluminati: The 7 Day Theory, which was recorded under the moniker Makaveli.

The song was said to have been recorded in 30 minutes in the summer of 1996, proving that Pac could write and record at a fast pace. The Tupac verses on this song were already enough, but the Outlawz added verses to the track. This song has one of the best Tupac hooks, all while being a braggadocious, paranoid, and religious track.

4. “So Many Tears”

A lot of Tupac music contains religious references, but when it comes to “So Many Tears,” this felt like Tupac having a heartfelt conversation with himself and God. The song is on the 1995 album “Me Against The World,” which was an album that reflected everything that Pac was going through in his life leading up to his jail sentence.

3. “California Love”

When it comes to California Love, this is one of the most recognizable California songs ever. That was Dre at the peak of his G-Funk beat era. “California Love” was his first single for Deathrow Records, and it was a huge success. In fact, one of the reasons Pac signed with Deathrow is because he wanted to work with Dre. The song “California Love” is a song that will always be relevant because it has become California’s heartbeat.

2. “Dear Mama”

Tupac is not the only rapper whose career has been shaped by his relationship with his mother. Because he was consistently lyrical about the role of women in his own life and the culture at large, this tribute to his mother, Afeni Shakur, is especially significant. As one of his most beloved tracks, “Dear Mama” details her struggles, both as a parent and a human being. Here Tupac has reached a point of appreciation and understanding for his mother, who raised him singlehandedly.

1. “To Live & Die in L.A.”

This anthem is the best anthem Tupac recorded because it felt like a love letter to his adopted hometown of L.A. Throughout the song, Pac is speaking on gangs, police drama, women, his love for marijuana, and he even calls out the governor of California. Tupac had love from all races, so it wasn’t surprising to hear him show love to black and brown people.