I'm Getting Money

This song by tupac is simply genius, and despite what it appears to be about (making money and fucking hoes etc...) Tupac was trying to convey a much deeper meaning about his philosophies on life. Tupac hid the ultimate message of this song...

people have passions and obtaining these passions and dreams you desire are what ultimately make your life well lived, and ultimately give you the self worth to be and KNOW that you are immortal, regardless of the longer term consequences of your life.

This may seem like I am reading to deep into "some rap song" but really this interpretation is how tupac feels about how he should live life. (at least when he wrote it)

"Dedicate this one to all the hustlers that get up every motherfuckin mornin and put they work in"

He is saying that really this isn't about the money but the passion of chasing and getting your dreams

"I'm up before sunrise first to hit the block Lil' bad motherfucker with a pocket full of rocks"

Hard work is the key to success, no matter what the means are to your ends. (selling crack for money)

"Learned to throw them thangs, get my skinny lil' ass kicked"

He learned how to succeed but by succeeding he faced opposition.

"Niggaz laughed, til the first motherfucker got blas-ted I put the nigga in his casket and now they covering the bastard in plastic"

Retaliation on this opposition is what is necessary to further your success, irregardless of how brutal this brand of retaliation can be.

"I smoke blunts on the regular fuck when it counts Tryin to make a million dollars out a quarter ounce"

A reckless attitude and shortsighted thinking can be useful when used correctly. He smokes blunts all the time, whether or not it is best for him at the time, and he's trying to make more money out of something than is possible, but these attitudes are what is necessary to truly succeed and accomplish his goals.

"Got a forty-five screamin out surviv-al"

Ultimately, he has to kill to survive, not to live. Living is not killing people, living is following what he believes in personally. He does not kill to live, he kills to survive, to continue his journey to immortality.

"And they say how do you survive, weighin one-fifty-five in the city where the little niggaz die"

He is pointing out that he is small but no matter what cards you are dealt in life, you can still use them to obtain your dreams.

"Tell mama don't cry, cause even if they kill me They can never take the life of a real G"

If his life is lived the true way, "the way of a real G" (the way he believes is right) then he truly can never die, and by being true to himself he has granted himself an immortality of sorts.

"Pour some liquor on the curb, for my homies that deserve it"

His allies in life who have fallen to the street way of life should be remembered, not forgotten selfishly. Celebrate who they were and what they meant to you by sacrificing a small piece of what they helped you achieve. (ie give up some money to buy liquor in acknowledgement and remembrance.

"Dressin down like I'm dirty, but only on the block just a clever disguise, to keep me runnin from the cops"

Another tactic to avoid pitfalls on your path to success is being decieving. (dressing like your poor to not attract attention) Furthermore, showing off your wealth and success can be what causes your demise.

"I'm in a bucket but I'm ridin it like it's a Benz"

Even if he has a crappy car, there is no reason to not think of it as better, afterall, it is his own attitude that gives him the gift of life, not the actual physical rewards.

"Rather die makin money, than live poor and legal"

Death is not tupacs ultimate fear in life, his true fear is never trying to succeed and conforming to what people say he should do.

"Damned if I don't, and damned if a nigga do"

This can be interpreted many ways but in this song it means that he must choose between living a life of regret (ie. not making money or attempting to succeed) or dealing with the consequences this philosophy and way of life can bring (ie. jail, death, pain, etc...)

"RAISE UP, and don't let them see ya cry Dry your eyes, young nigga time for do or die"

He is saying rise above your pain to a higher level, do not show your weaknesses because this is what can lead to failure.

"Ain't a damn thing changed, they shakin the dice Now roll em if you can't stand pain better hold em"

If you cannot deal with the possible reprecussions of committing crimes (shakin the dice) then don't do them (instead of rolling them and seeing what "fate" has in store for you, hold them). This is a very good metaphor for what goes through his mind when he is thinking about commiting a crime that ultimately he may have no control of after he "rolls the dice" and commits the crime. It leads the listener to believe that even though tupac commits crimes and kills people that may lead to his fate of death or jail, and pain and suffering, he still is adamant to "get money" (achieve his success regardless of what threats and obstacles are in his way) Despite acknowledging that jail or death is out of his control if he "rolls the dice", he still does it, which to him, allows him to be immortal.

"Cause ain't no tellin what ya might roll You might fold catch AIDS from a slight cold"

Exactly the same kind of metaphor as the dice. He lacks control but still must be true to himself to live how he believes is the right way.

"Be quick to kill a bull got a pistol motherfucker better pull it"

When a situation calls for it, (the bull) and you have the means to possibly solve the situation and further guide yourself toward your goal (got a pistol mothafucka better pull it) do not hesitate. This concept relates greatly to the line about smoking blunts even when "it doesn't count". Having a more reckless attitude is what a real G needs to life his life right.

"And even if they kill me They can never take the life of a young G"

Being a young and reckless, shortsighted G, there is no death if when you fulfill your life by living it, the right way, ie. the "G way" with no regrets. Tupacs immortality can be achieved by adhereing to what he himself believes in at all times throughout his life.

Brilliant song, nice video on youtube of pac rappin this song in the hood. youtube.com/watch

First of all, thank you for the reply Matt. I have no argument for pretty much everything you wrote, your interpretation of the specific meanings of the slang used and the drug references is definitely spot on. I guess I just was focusing on the more abstract, "big meaning" of what he was trying to get across throughout the song.

The one thing I disagree with is that you say Tupac did not intend to portray the aforementioned ideologies throughout this song and meant it more as a story; bits and pieces of living a ghetto lifestyle and the issues that one will inevitably experience if they follow that path.

I can see how maybe I over analyzed certain lyrics in order to relate them to the bigger picture I interpreted this song to be about, but Tupac seemed educated, clever, and talented enough to create songs that had a strong philosophical basis. Tupac certainly was a genius at portraying the issues of inner-city ghetto lifestyles, which was extremely important and inspired, but I feel that the style that songs such as this were formulated that there was at least some intention by Tupac to explore these issues on a more individual, psychological level.

wow rob. long, thats the best song interpretation ive ever heard in my entire life. your right this song is the shit and good job with interpreting what it means.

more people on this site need to take your interpretation as an example and give the kind of song meanings that make sense, like this one above clearly does.