Thug Life Army

Today is Mother Day and time to recognize what we should be celebrated everyday throughout the year; our Momma’s.

Even among ‘gangsta’ driven hip-hop, one of the hardest rap MC’s to ever hit the mic showed his love and affection for his mother thru his music.

The late west coast hip-hop rap icon Tupac Shakur wrote the following song for his mother Afeni. Not like some of today’s so called rap artist who take ‘cheap’ shots at their mothers or their baby’s momma’s, Tupac expressed his love, understanding and admiration for his mother, Afeni in this track.

The hard core gangsta rapper, member of the notorious Death Row Records camp; put his feelings for his mother on wax for the whole world to hear. He appreciated his mother and the struggles she went thru to make him the man he became, and he was proud and appreciative that she was his mother.

The track ‘Dear Momma’ is from Tupac’s album ‘Me Against the World’ and was released March 14, 1995. ‘Dear Momma’ is nestled between tracks like ‘ If I Die Tonight’, ‘So Many Tears’ ‘Death Around The Corner’, ‘F The World’ and ‘Old School’.

You can believe the ’hype’ of a ‘twisted’ media or you can understand Tupac was a man who had love for all and was not afraid to show that love. He could be ‘gangsta’ and a thug, but that was an image and the real Tupac was a caring smart individual who was understood by many but his life was twisted into something he was not by many also.

Tupac ‘stepped out of the box’ when he dropped this ‘Dear Momma’ track. A hard core gangsta image seemed not to be so important compared to letting his mother and the world know about his love for his mother.

So today is Mothers Day, and as hard as you think you are; or as distant, or as not so understanding as your momma may be – at least let her know you love her. And your baby’s momma – put the ‘drama’ away for a day and get at them with appreciation for contributing a part of you to this world.

With all the dis-respect of females going on in some areas of rap and hip-hop, take this one day – take the example of Tupac and don’t worry about what anyone may think and reach out to all the mothers around you and those that affect your life. We only have them for a short time, and as in the case of Tupac; sometimes our time to express our feelings is limited also. In the end all we have are our memories togeather.

For all the ‘Momma’s’ who do so much for all the children of this world, we at ThugLifeArmy.com would like to recognize you today and offer you luv, prayers for health and peace in your lives. As Tupac said to his mother in this track ‘You are appreciated’.

''When I was pregnant in jail I thought I was gonna have a

baby and the baby would never be with me but I was acquitted

a month and three days before 2 Pac was born, I was real happy,

because I had a son...” by Afeni Shakur

Dear Momma by Tupac Shakur

You are appreciated

When I was young me and my momma had beef

Seventeen years old kicked out on the street

Though back at the time I never thought I''d see her face

Ain''t a woman alive that could take my momma's place

Suspended from school

I''m scared to go home I was a cool with the big boys breakin all the rules

I shed tears with my baby sister over the years

We was poorer than the little other kids

And even though we had different daddies

the same drama when things went wrong we blamed momma

I reminisce on the stress I caused

It was hell

Huggin on my momma from a jail cell

And who thinkin elemantary

Haaay I see the penitentiary one day

Runnin from the po-lice that's righ''

Momma catch me put a whuppin to ma back side

And even as a crack fiend momma

You always was a black queen momma

I finally understand for a woman it ain''t easy

Tryin to raise a man

You always was commited

A poor single mother on welfare

Tell me how ya did it

There's no way I could pay you back

But the plan is to show that I understand...

You are appreciated

CHORUS

Lady

Don''t ya know we luv ya

Sweet lady (Dear Mama)

Place no one above ya (You are appreciated)

Sweet lady

Don''t ya know we luv ya

There ain''t nobody tell us it was fair

No love for my daddy ''cause the coward wasn''t there

He passed away and I didn''t cry

''cause my anger wouldn''t let me feel for a stranger

They say I''m wrong and I''m heartless

But all along I was lookin for a father he was gone

I hung around with the thugs

and even though they sold drugs

They showed a young brotha love

I moved out and started really hangin''

I need money of my own so I started slangin''

I ain''t guilty ''cause even though I sell rocks

It feels good puttin money in yo mailbox

I love payin rent when the rent's due

I hope you got the diamond necklace that I sent to ya

''cause when I was low you was there for me

you never left me alone because you care for me

and I can see you comin'' home after work late

Ya in the kitchen tryin to fix us a hot plate

You jus'' workin with the scraps you was given

And momma made miracles every Thanksgivin''

But now the road got rough you''re alone

Ya tryin'' to raise two bad kids on your own

And there's now way I could pay you back

But my plan is to show you that I understand

You are appreciated

CHORUS

Lady

Don''t ya know we luv ya

Sweet lady (Dear Mama)

Place no one above ya (You are appreciated)

Sweet lady

Don''t ya know we luv ya

Pour out some liquor and I reminisce

''cause through the drama I could always depend on my momma

and when it seems that I''m hopeless

you say the words that can get me back in focus

When I was sick as a little kid

To keep me happy there's no limit to the things you did

And all my childhood memories

Are full of all the sweet things you did for me

And even though I act crazy

I gotta thank the lord that ya made me

There are no words that can express how I feel

Ya never kept a secret always stayed real

And I appreciate how ya raised me

and all the extra love that ya gave me

I wish I could take the pain away

If you could make it through the night there's a brighter day

Everything will be alright if ya hold on

It's a struggle everyday gotta roll on

And there's no way I could pay you back

But my plan is to show you that I understand

You are appreciated

CHORUS

Lady

Don''t ya know we luv ya

Sweet lady (Dear Mama)

Place no one above ya (You are appreciated)

Sweet lady

Don''t ya know we luv ya

Dear Momma

Dear Momma...

‘Dear Momma’ is copyrighted 1995 By Interscope Records