Holler If Ya Hear Me by 2Pac (1993)

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Holler If Ya Hear Me Cover

Holler If Ya’ Hear Me is a song from 2Pac’s second solo album, Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.. released on February 4, 1993. This song is an anthem of resistance which uses a sample from the song Do It Any Way You Wanna and Rebel Without a Pause, which concerns black poverty, police injustice, and Tupac’s perceived persecution of Dan Quayle. The song refers to various traumas from Tupac’s personal experience. It contains hustling, refusal, bearing arms of the issues and the song chorus leads the listeners to join the movement. [1]

CLIP OF THE DAY HOLLER IF YOU HEAR ME

Key Lyrics

Here we go, turn it up, let's start

From block to block we snatching hearts and jacking marks

And the punk police can't fade me and maybe

We can have peace someday, G

But right now I got my mind set up

Lookin down the barrel of my nine, get up

'Cause it's time to make the payback fat

Tell my brothers on the block–better stay strapped, black

And accept no substitutes

I bring truth to the youth tear the roof off the whole school

Oh no, I won't turn the other cheek

In case ya can't see us while we burn the other week

Now we got a nigga smash, blast

How long will it last 'til the po' gettin mo' cash

Until then, raise up!

Tell my young black males, blaze up!

Life's a mess don't stress, test

I'm givin' but be thankful that you're livin', blessed

Much love to my brothers in the pen'

See ya when they free ya if not when they shove me in

Once again it's an all out scrap

Keep your hands on ya gat, now ya boys watch ya back

'Cause in the alleys out in Cali I'mma tell ya

Mess with the best and the vest couldn't help ya

Scream, if ya feel me; see it clearly?

You're too near me [2]

Black Empowerment

The song remains powerful for the protest song of police brutality and Black Lives Matters. 2Pac voiced his frustrations over Black poverty and police injustice, calling to all Black youth to join his movement of resistance. The video showed a young boy, navigating his life after watching his dad dead at the hands of police. Switching to a scene where 2Pac and his army marching down the street, cut into a young boy learning to fire a gun. It’s chilling to see how the lyrics are still relevant with today’s situations. [3]

References

  1. Holler If Ya Hear Me. wikipedia.org. Retreived January 27, 2021
  2. Holler if Ya Hear Me 2Pac. genius.com. Retrieved January 27, 2021
  3. Given, Kellie. 0 2Pac Lyrics That Still Remain Powerful Today. umusic.co.nz. Retreived January 27, 2021