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.
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.