The first two verses are about being drug dealers. It seems like Tupac is glorifying drug dealing in many of his songs, but looking closely at his words here, he doesn't seem to be bragging, just stating that he is a drug dealer because that's how things are, that's just how he gets his money ("just a nigga tryin' to make a livin"). He says he has no friends, because getting money is more important. Richie Rich seems to be glorifying the lifestyle a bit more in his verse, though ("my public status is floss", "a young nigga livin presidential").
The third verse, Tupac laments having a hard life growing up and again says he sells drugs to get by, even though he knows it can only lead to jail or a hearse. He then tells the listener not to follow the same path, but instead to "follow the rules" and "go with the grain" so as to have a better life. This sentiment is very similar to the song Young Niggaz on the same album, where he admits that selling drugs can get lots of money, but he tells the young niggaz to get their priorities straight and be an accountant or a lawyer instead.
The first two verses are about being drug dealers. It seems like Tupac is glorifying drug dealing in many of his songs, but looking closely at his words here, he doesn't seem to be bragging, just stating that he is a drug dealer because that's how things are, that's just how he gets his money ("just a nigga tryin' to make a livin"). He says he has no friends, because getting money is more important. Richie Rich seems to be glorifying the lifestyle a bit more in his verse, though ("my public status is floss", "a young nigga livin presidential").
The third verse, Tupac laments having a hard life growing up and again says he sells drugs to get by, even though he knows it can only lead to jail or a hearse. He then tells the listener not to follow the same path, but instead to "follow the rules" and "go with the grain" so as to have a better life. This sentiment is very similar to the song Young Niggaz on the same album, where he admits that selling drugs can get lots of money, but he tells the young niggaz to get their priorities straight and be an accountant or a lawyer instead.