The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
2pac:
Rest in peace to my mothafucka Biggie Smalls
That's right boy, it's goin' on
Right here, Thug Life
God bless the dead
God bless the dead & buried nigga
Don't worry if you see God first tell Him shit got worse
I ain't mad, I know you representin' the crew
And I can picture you in Heaven with a blunt & a brew
Fuck the world, pain was a part of the game
If you a baller, money went as quick as it came
Our role models gone or they locked in the pen
Straight hustlas, caught up in the whirlwind
The other day, I thought I seen my homeboy Biggie
Sayin' shit don't stop, nigga, no pity
We all hoods, and all we ever had was dreams
Money makin' mothafuckas plot scandalous schemes
In the gutter, you learn to have a criminal mind
I was addicted to tryin', never meant to do time
My epitaph will read "Was the last of Gs
Kicked the shit to make the white man bleed
God bless the dead."
Chorus - 2pac:
God bless the dead
God bless the dead
God bless the dead
2pac:
Man, ain't nobody promised me a thang
I been caught up in this game
Ever since I was a little motherfucka wantin' to hang
I can see 'em in my head, pow
Memories of my nigga but he dead now
Lookin' back in my yearbook all the years took
Half my peers, they're stretched for years
And if I die will they all shed tears
Two to the dome, leave me alone, let me get my head clear
Paranoid got me lookin' in the mirror
Behind me, life without my nine, I'd rather do the time
See I'm old enough to know there ain't no justice
Fuck the police & all the courts same way they fucked us
And why the hell am I locked in jail
They let them white boys free, we be shocked as hell
In my mind I can see it comin'
And all the time it's a plot to keep a nigga runnin'
By keepin' gun & never run unless I'm comin' at ya
Cry later but for now let's enjoy the laughter
God bless the dead
Chorus
2pac:
Rest in peace to all the motherfuckas that passed too early
All the young motherfuckas that was took in they prime
Real motherfuckin' Gs, this one is for you
Yo Stretch, build.
Stretch:
Yo Big, this is to you my nigga
Springfield Hollis crew, Thug Life, YGs
Sendin' they respect, know I mean?
You my nigga for life, forever
You're always gonna be with a nigga
No matter what, don't forget that
I pray before I go to sleep, "Dear God"
Say my prayers before I start to eat, cause times is hard
So I'm droppin' to my knees, oh why?
Why you had to take my nigga with the rock-a-bye?
You had to take a good one, a ghetto hood son, uzi weighin a ton
Niggas terrified of comin' from the young gun
Hearin' that they did it outta fear don't amaze me
But it's mind blowin', so I'm flowin' goin crazy
Slip for cock the gun but he didn't run like a punk
He shoulda had the gauge in the trunk
For spunk is what he had, get a rat-a THAT BIG
Now ya 'bout to smell the aftermath of what the mack did
Wannabe suckers wanna test, I'm tellin' you, yes
The teflon's bout to rip through your fuckin' vest
Guess who? I'll make a mess of your crew quick
The spirit o' Biggie Smalls and the thugadon clique, yeah
God bless the dead
God bless the dead
God bless the dead
God bless the dead
Rest in peace to my mothafucka Biggie Smalls
That's right boy, it's goin' on
Right here, Thug Life
God bless the dead
God bless the dead & buried nigga
Don't worry if you see God first tell Him shit got worse
I ain't mad, I know you representin' the crew
And I can picture you in Heaven with a blunt & a brew
Fuck the world, pain was a part of the game
If you a baller, money went as quick as it came
Our role models gone or they locked in the pen
Straight hustlas, caught up in the whirlwind
The other day, I thought I seen my homeboy Biggie
Sayin' shit don't stop, nigga, no pity
We all hoods, and all we ever had was dreams
Money makin' mothafuckas plot scandalous schemes
In the gutter, you learn to have a criminal mind
I was addicted to tryin', never meant to do time
My epitaph will read "Was the last of Gs
Kicked the shit to make the white man bleed
God bless the dead."
Chorus - 2pac:
God bless the dead
God bless the dead
God bless the dead
2pac:
Man, ain't nobody promised me a thang
I been caught up in this game
Ever since I was a little motherfucka wantin' to hang
I can see 'em in my head, pow
Memories of my nigga but he dead now
Lookin' back in my yearbook all the years took
Half my peers, they're stretched for years
And if I die will they all shed tears
Two to the dome, leave me alone, let me get my head clear
Paranoid got me lookin' in the mirror
Behind me, life without my nine, I'd rather do the time
See I'm old enough to know there ain't no justice
Fuck the police & all the courts same way they fucked us
And why the hell am I locked in jail
They let them white boys free, we be shocked as hell
In my mind I can see it comin'
And all the time it's a plot to keep a nigga runnin'
By keepin' gun & never run unless I'm comin' at ya
Cry later but for now let's enjoy the laughter
God bless the dead
Chorus
2pac:
Rest in peace to all the motherfuckas that passed too early
All the young motherfuckas that was took in they prime
Real motherfuckin' Gs, this one is for you
Yo Stretch, build.
Stretch:
Yo Big, this is to you my nigga
Springfield Hollis crew, Thug Life, YGs
Sendin' they respect, know I mean?
You my nigga for life, forever
You're always gonna be with a nigga
No matter what, don't forget that
I pray before I go to sleep, "Dear God"
Say my prayers before I start to eat, cause times is hard
So I'm droppin' to my knees, oh why?
Why you had to take my nigga with the rock-a-bye?
You had to take a good one, a ghetto hood son, uzi weighin a ton
Niggas terrified of comin' from the young gun
Hearin' that they did it outta fear don't amaze me
But it's mind blowin', so I'm flowin' goin crazy
Slip for cock the gun but he didn't run like a punk
He shoulda had the gauge in the trunk
For spunk is what he had, get a rat-a THAT BIG
Now ya 'bout to smell the aftermath of what the mack did
Wannabe suckers wanna test, I'm tellin' you, yes
The teflon's bout to rip through your fuckin' vest
Guess who? I'll make a mess of your crew quick
The spirit o' Biggie Smalls and the thugadon clique, yeah
God bless the dead
God bless the dead
God bless the dead
God bless the dead
Lyrics submitted by spliphstar, edited by TeddyBear333
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The Biggie Smalls he was refering to was actually Big-D The Impossible, who real name was Deon Evans and was known as Biggie Smalls. He was Tupac's producer in the beginning of his career. The song was recorded sometime around 1993, since Stretch (who appeared on the song) was killed in 1995.
The Tupac vs. Biggie (The Notorious BIG) beef started after Tupac was shot on November 30, 1994 in NYC. Stretch later became associated with Bad Boy and was murdered. Tenad Washington was a suspect in Stretch's fatal shooting. Washington was later convicted as an accomplice in the murder of Run DMC's Jam Master Jay. It's all connected.
It is a coincidence that he says "RIP Biggie Smalls", BUT it could also be that Suge Knight was trying to capitalize on the East Coast/West Coast feud and released the unreleased song.
Stretch was killed one year TO THE DAY after Pac was shot and robbed. If you think Pac wasn't somehow involved in Stretch's murder, then i have this great bridge to sell you. "Coincidence"?? Come on.<br /> Suge Knight DEFINITELY knows a whole lot more than he claims about all these murders -- Stretch, Pac & Notorious BIG -- but he ain't snitchin, he's keeping his mouth shut.