California Love

## Single by 2Pac featuring Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman

"**California Love**" is a song by 2Pac featuring Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman. It was released as his first single as the newest artist of Death Row Records on December 3, 1995. Originally slated to appear on Dr. Dre's 1997 LP, *The Chronic II: A New World Odor (Poppa's Got A Brand New Funk)*, the project was shelved. The remix is featured on 2Pac's UK version of his fourth album, *All Eyez on Me* (1996). The song reached number one on the *Billboard* Hot 100 for two weeks and was posthumously nominated Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group in 1997. It samples Joe Cocker's "Woman to Woman", while the remix version contains a sample from Kleeer's "Intimate Connection".

## Credits and personnel

* Andre "Dr. Dre" Young – vocals, writer, producer, mixing engineer
* Barbara Wilson, Danette Williams, Dorothy Coleman – background vocals
* Brian Gardner – mastering engineer
* Carl Small – percussion
* James Anderson – writer
* Keston Wright – engineer
* Larry Chatman – assistant producer
* Larry Troutman – writer
* Mikel Hooks – writer
* Norman Durham – writer
* Roger Troutman – vocals, writer
* Ronald Hudson – writer
* Sean Thomas – keyboards
* Marion "Suge" Knight Jr. – executive producer
* Tupac "2Pac" Shakur – vocals, writer
* Woody Cunningham – writer

## Music video

The official music video was directed by Hype Williams and filmed in El Mirage, California, from November 10-13 in 1995. The concept is based on the 1985 film, *Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome*, which was suggested from 2Pac's friend, Jada Pinkett Smith. A sequel video was created, based on the remix version.

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Intro: Roger Troutman]

California love

[Chorus: Roger Troutman]

California knows how to party

California knows how to party

In the city of L.A

In the city of good ol' Watts

In the city, the city of Compton

We keep it rockin', we keep it rockin'

[Verse 1: Dr. Dre]

Now let me welcome everybody to the Wild Wild West

A state that's 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 sex

We in that sunshine state where the bomb-ass hemp be

The state where you never find a dance floor empty

And pimps be on a mission for them greens

Lean mean money-making-machines servin' fiends

I been in the game for ten years makin' rap tunes

Ever since honeys was wearin' Sassoon

Now it's '95 and they clock me and watch me

Diamonds shinin', lookin' like I robbed Liberace

It's all good, from Diego to the Bay

Your city is the bomb if your city makin' pay

Throw up a finger if you feel the same way

Dre puttin' it down for Californ-i-a

[Chorus: Roger Troutman]

California knows how to party

California knows how to party (Yes, they do)

In the city of L.A

In the city of good ol' Watts

In the city, the city of Compton

We keep it rockin', we keep it rockin'

[Bridge: Roger Troutman]

Shake, shake it, baby

Shake, shake it, mama

Shake it, Cali

Shake it, shake it, baby

Shake it, shake it, shake it, shake it

[Verse 2: 2Pac, *Dr. Dre*]

Out on bail, fresh out of jail, California dreamin'

Soon as I step on the scene, I'm hearin' hoochies screamin'

Fiendin' for money and alcohol, the life of a Westside player

Where cowards die and the strong ball

Only in Cali where we riot, not rally, to live and die

In L.A. we wearin' Chucks, not Ballys (*Yeah, that's right*)

Dressed in Locs and Khaki suits, and ride is what we do

Flossin' but have caution: we collide with other crews

Famous because we throw grams

Worldwide, let them recognize from Long Beach to Rosecrans

Bumpin' and grindin' like a slow jam

It's Westside, so you know the Row won't bow down to no man

Say what you say, but give me that bomb beat from Dre

Let me serenade the streets of L.A

From Oakland to Sac-town, the Bay Area and back down

Cali is where they put their mack down; give me love!

[Chorus: Roger Troutman]

California knows how to party

California knows how to party (Yes, they do)

In the city of L.A

In the city of good ol' Watts

In the city, the city of Compton

We keep it rockin', we keep it rockin'

[Ad-Libs: Dr. Dre, *2Pac*]

South Central

*Uh, that's right*

Now make it shake

[Bridge: Roger Troutman]

Shake, shake it, baby

Shake, shake it, mama

Shake it, Cali

Shake it, shake it, baby

Shake it, shake it, shake it, shake it

[Ad-Libs: Dr. Dre]

Shake it, Cali

Uh, uh, West Coast

Uh, yeah, uh, uh, Long Beach in the house

Uh, yeah, Oaktown

Oakland definitely in the house

Frisco, Frisco

[Outro: 2Pac, *Dr. Dre*]

And you know L.A. up in here

*Pasadena, where you at?*

*Yeah, Inglewood*

*Inglewood always up to no good*

Even Hollywood tryin' to get a piece, baby

*Sacramento, Sacramento where you at?*

Throw it up, y'all! Throw it up, throw it up!

I can't see ya

Let's show these fools how we do it over on this Westside

'Cause you and I know it's the best side

Yeah, that's right

West Coast, West Coast

## References

1. ↑ Uitti, Jacob (January 9, 2023). "Behind the History and Meaning of Tupac Shakur's "California Love"". *American Songwriter*.