Tupac Amaru Shakur, also known as 2Pac or Makaveli, was honored as the fourth Greatest Rapper of All Time by both Billboard and Vibe magazine in 2023. Despite his tragic murder in 1996 at the age of just 25, Tupacās influence has persisted across various generations of artists and has even inspired numerous academic explorations.
Regarded as a pivotal figure in the realms of hip-hop and gangsta rap, Shakurās extensive discography and significant contributions to music are widely recognized.
He was inducted into the Hip-Hop Hall of Fame in 2002 and later into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April 2017. With a staggering sales record of over 75 million albums globally, he stands out as one of the best-selling music artists in history.
Note: The following rankings are based on Spotify streams as of the time of writing.
Top 6 Must-Listen Tupac Songs in 2024: California Love, Ambitionz az a Rida, and More
1) California Love (807,411,194 Spotify streams)
California Love marked Tupacās triumphant return as his first single following his release from prison in 1995. This track also signifies his debut with Death Row Records.
Featuring Dr. Dre, the acclaimed American rapper and producer, itās noted that Tupac composed his verse in a mere fifteen minutes. Released on December 3, 1995, California Love quickly rose to the top of the Billboard Hot 100, holding the number one spot for two weeks.
The songās lyrics celebrate Tupacās newfound freedom as well as the vibrant lifestyle of California. An excerpt from the initial verse states:
āNow let me welcome everybody to the Wild Wild West/ A state thatās untouchable like Eliot Ness/ The track hits your eardrum like a slug to your chest/ Pack a vest for your Jimmy in the city of s*x.ā
2) Ambitionz az a Rider (777,853,765 Spotify streams)
Tupac wrote Ambitionz az a Rider while incarcerated for sexual assault in 1995. He co-wrote this piece with Delmar Arnaud.
This track samples Joeski Loveās iconic Pee-weeās Dance and was released on February 13, 1996, as a part of 2Pacās fourth studio record, āAll Eyez on Me.ā
Ambitionz az a Rider reflects Tupacās acceptance of the gangster lifestyle and his readiness to confront all obstacles life throws at him, as articulated in this verse:
āMy murderous lyrics, equipped with spirits of the thugs before me/ Stay off the block, evade the cops ācause I know they cominā for me/ I been hesitant to reappear, been away for years (Iām back, baby).ā
3) Hit āEm Up (674,237,755 Spotify streams)
Released on June 4, 1996, as the B-side to the single How Do U Want It, Hit āEm Up features the Outlawz and is notorious for being one of the most impactful diss tracks in the East Coast-West Coast rivalry.
This song served as a direct retort to Biggieās Who Shot Ya, escalating tensions during the feud. The chorus powerfully declares:
āSee, grab your Glocks when you see 2Pac/ Call the cops when you see 2Pac, uh/ Who shot me? But you punks didnāt finish/ Now you ābout to feel the wrath of a menace/ Ni**a, I hit āem up! (Yeah).ā
4) All Eyez On Me ft. Big Skye (636,048,946 Spotify streams)
The track All Eyez On Me delves into Tupacās persona, encompassing the fame he acquired and the perils associated with it. The lyrics reflect his resolve to live boldly as a āthug ni**aāand a āboss player.ā
A snippet from the chorus reads:
āLive the life of a thug ni**a until the day I die/ Live the life of a boss player (All eyes on me) ācause even gettinā high/ All eyes on me/ Live the life of a thug ni**a until the day I die.ā
Released on February 3, 1996, this track is from 2Pacās pivotal fourth studio album, All Eyez On Me, which has achieved gold certification in the UK, Denmark, and Italy.
5) Changes (564,880,568 Spotify streams)
Released as a single on October 13, 1998, Changes is featured in Tupacās Greatest Hits collection.
The track, which includes vocals from the R&B trio Talent, is notable as the only posthumous nomination for a Grammy Award in the Best Rap Solo Performance category. It samples Bruce Hornsby and the Rangeās 1986 hit, The Way It Is.
As a politically charged song, Changes tackles issues such as racism, gang violence, police brutality, and societal injustices. One of the initial verses poignantly highlights this:
āI see no changes, wake up in the morning and I ask myself/ Is life worth livinā? Should I blast myself?/ Iām tired of beinā poor and, even worse, Iām black/ My stomach hurts so Iām lookinā for a purse to snatch/ Cops give a damn about a N**ro.ā
6) Hail Mary (353,301,482 Spotify streams)
In Hail Mary, Tupac attempts to transcend the violence and chaos surrounding him, communicating with the divine while referencing biblical themes. Through his lyrics, he unveils his vulnerabilities and fears.
A key excerpt reflects the songās depth:
āBow down, pray to God, hopinā that heās listeninā/ Seeinā ni**as cominā for me through my diamonds when they glisteninā/ Now pay attention: bless me please, Father, Iām a ghost/ In these killing fields, Hail Mary, catch me if I go.ā
Released posthumously, Hail Mary features the Outlawz and contributions from reggae artist Prince Ital Joe, peaking at number twelve on the US Billboard R&B/Hip Hop Airplay chart.
7) Do For Love (349,337,732 Spotify streams)
Originally titled Sucka 4 Luv, Do for Love is 2Pacās second posthumous single from the album R U Still Down? Remember Me.
This heartfelt song peaked at number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached number 10 on the Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs chart. The narrative revolves around the overlooked sacrifices made for love, as illustrated in this portion of the chorus:
āJust when I thought I broke away and Iām feelinā happy, you tried to trap me/ Said youāre pregnant and guess who the daddy? Donāt wanna fall for it/ But in this case what could I do? So now Iām back/ To makinā promises to you, tryna keep it true.ā
Other notable songs by Tupac include Dear Mama, Keep Ya Head Up, and Ghetto Gospel.
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