Why 'Changes' by Tupac Shakur has the greatest lyrics of the past century

‘Changes’ by Tupac Shakur has one of the greatest lyrics of the past century because it echoes the discrimination the African-American community used to face back in the 1990’s in the midst of the drug war in America. It got to the point where every African American on the street was checked for drugs. But Tupac does not only complain about the system but blames his community as well for the situation they put themselves in. He discusses how there is a lot of hate among the blacks, probably referring to the East Coast and West Coast hip-hop rivalry and about adults introducing drugs to the youngsters within the community itself.

In the first verse, Tupac voices discloses that nobody cares about the black community and he does so by questioning if life is worth living in poverty, especially when one is African American. He takes the perspective of an underprivileged black person who because of his circumstances has to do things he doesn’t like such as stealing a purse or dealing and selling drugs. He also makes reference to Huey Newton and quotes him to spread the message that the black community must fight this inequality together and treat each other like ‘brothers’. He also voices his opinion that the community have to start making changes rather than hate on each other.

In the second verse, Pac articulates his feelings about the rivalry between white people and black people and he does so by using tough language. He pronounces that there’s an evident evil that needs to be taken out of people that will help them think straight.  He disputes that neither sides is better than the other as both black and white people smoke crack and get wasted. There is an authentic profound meaning in this, as Tupac understands that it is all a matter of misunderstanding. He moreover describes to what extent this evil has taken over people’s lives saying that the “only time we chill is when we kill each other” in reference to elevated crime rates in his area. He also argues that the penitentiaries are ‘filled with blacks’ because the norms for arrests are highly racist, thus voicing his views about the police and the judiciary system. Despite this he wonders why some things will never change like why black people in the drug game don’t want to be helped, which shows a greater understanding of two sides of the coin. Tupac believes that his ‘brothers’ are not being ‘real’ by ignoring the advice of people who cares about them.

In the 3^rd verse, he tells the people of America to change their lifestyle by treating each other better and he argues that the old system wasn’t working and it is the whole of America’s responsibility to change for the better to avoid conflicts.

In the 4^th verse, Tupac claims that the government has a war on drugs instead of poverty just to bother the African-American community who have people dealing drugs because of their deprived circumstances and not because they are born to be criminals. Tupac warns everyone to be independent and look after themselves as the white people will try to get them to deal drugs and frame them as criminals. He declares that he was not raised as a fool to lay victim to this prejudice. He moreover describes everyday life of an African-American in rough neighborhoods by saying that he always has to stay armed to save himself from the wrong doings of his past.

I believe that this song has one of the greatest lyrics of the last century, as it describes the harsh realities that society, especially the African –American community used to experience back in the 1990s. Tupac sees the bigger picture and gives advice to his brothers and sisters on how to live properly and explains why it is also his society’s responsibility that they are in the situation they are in. He criticizes the judiciary system and tries to correct the whole structure and erase abhorrence within four minutes of his song. Individually, this song is one of my favorites not because I associate with it because I don’t have the right to say that; I can never know what it was like in the 1990s in America. However, it does portray the life and the struggles faced by both communities in the midst of the drug war and therefore I respect and admire this song and Tupac Shakur.