Violent

## Song by 2Pac

"**Violent**" is a song by 2Pac, released as the fifth track from his debut studio album, *2Pacalypse Now* (1991). It samples "Any Colour You Like" by Pink Floyd, "City Under Siege" by Geto Boys, and "Rebel Without a Pause" by Public Enemy.

In the track-by-track commentary, Shakur explained, "My enemy is the police. They're like the cop in *Terminator 2*—globs that can take any shape. They call themselves Officer Friendly but they're out on the street kicking motherfuckin' asses. The song just vents my frustrations."

## Personnel

* Deon "Big D the Impossible" Evans – producer
* David "DJ Fuze" Elliott – writer, producer
* Gregory "Shock G" Jacobs – producer
* Jeremy – producer
* Live Squad – producer
* Maceo Parker – writer
* Pee Wee – producer
* Ronald "Money-B" Brooks – writer, producer
* The Underground Railroad – producer
* Tupac "2Pac" Shakur – vocals, writer producer

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Verse 1]

They claim that I'm violent just 'cause I refuse to be silent

These hypocrites are havin' fits 'cause I'm not buyin' it

Defyin' it, envious because I will rebel against

Any oppressor, and this is known as self-defense

I show no mercy, they claim that I'm the lunatic

But when the shit gets thick, I'm the one you go and get

Don't look confused, the truth is so plain to see

'Cause I'm the n\*\*\*a that you sell-outs are ashamed to be

In every jeep and every car, brothers stomp this

I'm Never Ignorant, Getting Goals Accomplished

The Underground Railroad on an uprise

This time the truth's gettin' told, heard enough lies

I told 'em fight back, attack on society

If this is violence, then violent's what I gotta be

If you investigate, you'll find out where it's comin' from

Look through our history, America's the violent one

Unlock my brain, break the chains of your misery

This time the payback for evil shit you did to me

They call me militant, racist 'cause I will resist

You wanna censor somethin', motherfucker, censor this

My words are weapons and I'm steppin' to the silent

Wakin' up the masses, but you claim that I'm violent

[Chorus]

*They claimin' that I'm violent (Them a call us violent)*

*Fuck a damn cop (Them a call us— call us)*

*Just because we play what the people want*

*They claimin' that I'm violent*

*Fuck a damn cop (Them a call us— call us)*

*Just because we play what the people want*

*They claimin' that I'm violent*

*Fuck a damn cop (Them a call us— call us)*

[Verse 2]

The cops can't stand me, but they can't touch me

Call me a dope man 'cause I rock dope beats

Jacked by the police, didn't have my ID

I said, "Excuse me, why you tryin' to rob me?"

He had the nerve to say I had a curfew (Do you know what time it is?)

Get out the car or I'll hurt you (Get out the fucking car, or I'll hurt you)

So here I go, I better make my mind up

Pick my nine up or hit the line-up

I chose B, stepped into the streets

The first cop grabbed me, the other ripped my seat

They grabbed my homie and they threw him to the concrete (Ayy, man, ayo, ayy, man, just come on)

(What you doin man?) They tried to frame me

They tried to say I had some dope in the back seat

But I'm a rap fiend, not a crack fiend

My homie panicked (I'm out), he tried to run (Freeze, n\*\*\*a)

I heard a bullet fire from the cop's gun

My homie dropped, so I hit the cop

I kept swingin', yo, I couldn't stop

Before I knew it, I was beatin' the cop senseless

The other cop dropped his gun, he was defenseless

Now I'm against this cop who was racist

Givin' him a taste of trading places

And all this 'cause the peckerwood was tryin' this

Frame up, but I came up

Now they claimin' that I'm violent

[Chorus]

*They claimin' that I'm violent (Them a call us violent)*

*Fuck a damn cop (Them a call us— call us)*

*Just because we play what the people want*

*They claimin' that I'm violent*

*Fuck a damn cop (Them a call us— call us)*

*Just because we play what the people want*

*They claimin' that I'm violent*

*Fuck a damn cop (Them a call us— call us)*

*Just because we play what the people want*

*Fuck a damn cop (Them a call us— call us)*

[Verse 3]

As I was beatin' on a cop, I heard a gun click (Uh-oh)

Then a gun shot, but I wasn't hit

I turned around, it was my homie with the gun in hand

He shot the cop (Damn), now he's a dead man

I said, come on, it's time for us to get away (Let's go, we gotta get the fuck outta here)

They called for backup and they'll be on their way

Jumped in the car and tried to get away quick

The car wouldn't start (Damn), we in deep shit

So we jumped out (Come, on, let's take the cop's car)

We drove a little ways thinkin' that we got far

But I looked up and all I saw was blue lights

If I die tonight, I'm dying in a gunfight

I grabbed the AK, my homie took the 12 gauge

Load 'em up quick, it's time for us to spray

We'll shoot 'em up with they own fuckin' weapons

And when we through sprayin' then we steppin'

This is a lesson to the rednecks and crooked cops

You fuck with real n\*\*\*as, get ya fuckin' ass dropped

So here we go, the police against us

Dark as dusk, waitin' for the guns to bust (What's next, man?)

What's next, I don't know and I don't care

One thing for sure, tommorrow I won't be here

But if I go, I'm takin' all these punks with me (Pass me a clip)

Pass me a clip, G, now come and get me

You wanna sweat me, never get me to be silent

Givin' them a reason (A reason) to claim that I'm violent

[Outro]

*They claim— They claim— (Violent)*

*Fuck a damn cop (They claimin' that I'm violent)*

*Just because we play what the people want*

*Fuck a damn cop*

*They claim— They claim— (Them a call us violent)*

*Fuck a damn cop (They claimin' that I'm violent)*

*Just because we play what the people want*

*Fuck a damn cop*

*Violent (Them a call us— call us— them a call us)*

*Violent (Them a call us— call us)*

*Just because we play what the people want*

*Fuck a damn cop (They claimin' that I'm violent)*

*They claim— They claim— (Them a call us violent)*

*Fuck a damn cop (They claimin' that I'm violent)*

*Just because we play what the people want*

*Fuck a damn cop (They claimin' that I'm violent)*

*They claimin' that I'm violent (Fuck a damn cop)*

*Just because we play what the people want*

*Fuck a damn cop (They claimin' that I'm violent)*

*They claimin' that I'm violent (Fuck a damn cop)*

*Just because we play what the people want*

*Fuck a damn cop (They claimin' that I'm violent)*

*They claimin' that I'm violent (Fuck a damn cop)*

*Just because we play what the people want*

*They claimin' that I'm violent (Fuck a damn cop)*

*They claimin' that I'm violent (Fuck a damn cop)*

*Fuck a damn cop (They claimin' that I'm violent)*

*They claimin' that I'm violent (Fuck a damn cop)*

*Just because we play what the people want*

## References

1. ↑ Scarano, Ross (November 14, 2016). "Here's Tupac's Song-by-Song Commentary on His Debut, '2Pacalypse Now'". *Complex*.