Holler If Ya Hear Me (song)

## Single by 2Pac

"**Holler If Ya Hear Me**" is the lead single and track from 2Pac's second studio album, *Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z...* (1993). It was released on February 4, 1993, and samples the following songs "Atomic Dog" by George Clinton, "Do It Any Way You Wanna" by The People's Choice, "Get Off Your Ass and Jam" by Funkadelic, "Rebel Without a Pause" by Public Enemy, and "So Fine" by Howard Johnson.

## Music video

The music video was directed by Stephen Ashley Blake, who also did the videos for "Brenda's Got a Baby" and "If My Homie Calls". Blake recalled there being tensions on the set, including a moment where "There was one sequence where he pulled a gun out on an officer and a little girl in the back seat goes free. Originally, the way I shot that, he killed the cop and his badge fell down in slow motion." Interscope Records was wary of this moment, as this followed by a police officer getting shot in Texas in 1992, where the perpetrator was listening to Shakur's music. It resulted in the victim's family suing the record label. The message of the visual was overcoming police brutality, but Blake was required to cut the scene out. He continued, "I actually re-edited the scene to make it look like he didn't kill the cop. Another thing I took out was the last image of the video, the police lights spinning around, flashing, and the last thing that the image was that cherry cut with the little girl holding the gun and a voice over of Tupac saying, 'Revolution is the only way.'"

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Intro]

Aww yeah, uhh, uhh

Holla if ya hear me, yeah

[Verse 1]

Here we go, turn it up, let it 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 when we burned the other week

Now we got 'em in a smash, blast

How long will it last 'til the po' get 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 I free ya if not when they shove me in

Once again it's an all out strapped

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

'Cause in the alleys out in Cali I'ma 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

[Chorus]

Holler if ya hear me!

*"Hard"*

*"Tellin' you to hear it"*

*"The rebel"*

[Verse 2]

Pump ya fists like this

Holla if ya hear me, PUMP PUMP if you're pissed

To the sell-outs, livin' it up

One way or another you'll be givin' it up, huh

I guess 'cause I'm black born

I'm supposed to say peace, sing songs, and get capped on

But it's time for a new plan, BAM!

I'll be swingin' like a one-man clan

Here we go, turn it up, don't stop

To my homies on the block gettin dropped by cops

I'm still around for ya

Keepin my sound underground for ya

And I'ma throw a change up

Quayle ain't do nothing but blow my name up!

Now my homies in the backstreets, the blackstreets

They feel me when they rollin' in they fat jeeps

This ain't just a rap song, a black song

Tellin' all my brothers, get they strap on

And look for me in the struggle

Hustlin 'til other brothers bubble

[Chorus]

Holler if ya hear me!

*"Hard"*

*"Tellin' you to hear it"*

*"The rebel"*

[Verse 3]

Will I quit, will I quit?

They claim that I'm violent, but still I keep

Representin', never give up on a good thing

Wouldn't stop it if we could it's a hood thing

And now I'm like a major threat

'Cause I remind you of the things you were made to forget

Bring the noise to all my boys

Know the real from the bustas and the decoys

And if ya hustle like a real G

Pump ya fist if ya feel me, holla if ya hear me

Learn to survive in the nine-tre'

I make rhyme pay, others make crime pay

Whatever it takes to live and stand

'Cause nobody else'll give a damn

So we live like caged beasts

Waitin' for the day to let the rage free

Still me 'til they kill me

I love it when they fear me

[Chorus]

Holler if ya hear me!

*"Hard"*

*"Tellin' you to hear it"*

*"The rebel"*

You're too near me, to see it clearly

Holler if ya hear me!

*"Hard"*

*"Tellin' you to hear it"*

*"The rebel"*

## References

1. ↑ Steinfeld, Mitchell (December 16, 2014). "Interscope Records Censored Tupac's "Holler If Ya Hear Me" Message, Video Director Alleges". *HipHopDX*.