Dear Mama

## Single by 2Pac

> I finally understand, for a woman it ain't easy tryin' to raise a man
>
>

"**Dear Mama**" is a song by 2Pac, released as the lead single from his third studio album, *Me Against the World* (1995), on February 21, 1995. The song is a tribute to his mother, Afeni Shakur, where he details the obstacles growing up in poverty, arguments, and his mother's addiction to crack cocaine. He continues to say that his love and deep respect for his mother supersede bad memories. It samples The Spinners "Sadie" and Joe Sample's "In All My Wildest Dreams".

2Pac told *Los Angeles Times*, "Look around you in this studio right now. I have women working on my music. They understand where I’m coming from. So does my mama. I always play my music for [my mom] before it comes out. Why do you think I wrote 'Dear Mama'? I wrote it for my mama because I love her and I felt I owed her something deep." The song was certified 3x platinum by RIAA as of March 31, 2021.

## Music video

The official music video was directed by Lionel C. Martin. The intro opens with his mother, who says, "When I was pregnant in jail, I thought I was going to have a baby and the baby will never be with me. But I was acquitted a month and three days before Tupac was born. I was real happy, because I had a son." Due to Shakur being in jail at the time, he was unable to appear in the video. Tracii McGregor played Afeni in the visual, which depicts the rapper's mom looking through old photo albums. The video was uploaded to 2Pac's VEVO YouTube channel on July 5, 2011.

## Track listing

### Song

* Brian Gardner – mastering engineer
* Bruce Hawes – writer
* Charles Jefferson – bass
* Charles Simmons – writer
* Jeff Griffin – engineer
* Joe Sample – writer
* Joseph Jefferson – writer
* Paul Arnold – mixing engineer
* Reginald "Reggie" Green – background vocals, keys
* Robert "Fonksta" Bacon – guitar
* Tony Pizarro – producer, engineer
* Tupac "2Pac" Shakur – vocals, writer

### Video

* Lionel C. Martin – director
* John Larrier – producer

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Intro]

You are appreciated

[Verse 1]

When I was young, me and my mama had beef

Seventeen years old, kicked out on the streets

Though back at the time I never thought I'd see her face

Ain't a woman alive that could take my mama's place

Suspended from school, and scared to go home

I was a fool, with the big boys breakin' all the rules

I shed tears with my baby sister, over the years

We was poorer than the other little kids

And even though we had different daddies, the same drama

When things went wrong we'd blame Mama

I reminisce on the stress I caused, it was hell

Huggin' on my mama from a jail cell

And who'd think in elementary, hey

I'd see the penitentiary one day?

And runnin' from the police, that's right

Mama catch me, put a whoopin' to my backside

And even as a crack fiend, Mama

You always was a black queen, Mama

I finally understand

For a woman it ain't easy tryin' to raise a man

You always was committed

A poor single mother on welfare, tell me how you did it

There's no way I can pay you back, but the plan

Is to show you that I understand: you are appreciated

[Chorus: Reggie Green + Sweet Franklin, *2Pac*]

Lady, don't you know we love ya? (*Dear Mama*)

Sweet lady, place no one above ya (*You are appreciated*)

Sweet lady, don't you know we love ya?

[Verse 2]

Now, ain't nobody tell us it was fair

No love from my daddy, 'cause the coward wasn't there

He passed away and I didn't cry

'Cause my anger wouldn't let me feel for a stranger

They say I'm wrong and I'm heartless, but all along

I was lookin' for a father, he was gone

I hung around with the thugs, and even though they sold drugs

They showed a young brother love

I moved out and started really hangin'

I needed money of my own, so I started slangin'

I ain't guilty, 'cause even though I sell rocks

It feels good puttin' money in your mailbox

I love payin' rent when the rent is due

I hope you got the diamond necklace that I sent to you

'Cause when I was low you was there for me

You never left me alone, because you cared for me

And I could see you comin' home after work late

You're in the kitchen, tryin' to fix us a hotplate

You just workin' with the scraps you was given

And Mama made miracles every Thanksgivin'

But now the road got rough, you're alone

You're tryin' to raise two bad kids on your own

And there's no way I can pay you back, but my plan

Is to show you that I understand: you are appreciated

[Chorus: Reggie Green + Sweet Franklin, *2Pac*]

Lady, don't you know we love ya? (*Dear Mama*)

Sweet lady, place no one above ya (*You are appreciated*)

Sweet lady, don't you know we love ya?

[Verse 3]

Pour out some liquor and I reminisce

'Cause through the drama, I can always depend on my mama

And when it seems that I'm hopeless

You say the words that can get me back in focus

When I was sick as a little kid

To keep me happy there's no limit to the things you did

And all my childhood memories

Are full of all the sweet things you did for me

And even though I act crazy

I gotta thank the Lord that you made me

There are no words that can express how I feel

You never kept a secret, always stayed real

And I appreciate how you raised me

And all the extra love that you gave me

I wish I could take the pain away

If you can make it through the night, there's a brighter day

Everything will be alright if you hold on

It's a struggle every day, gotta roll on

And there's no way I can pay you back, but my plan

Is to show you that I understand: you are appreciated

[Chorus: Reggie Green + Sweet Franklin, *2Pac*]

Lady, don't you know we love ya? (*Dear Mama*)

Sweet lady, place no one above ya (*You are appreciated*)

Sweet lady, don't you know we love ya? (*Dear Mama*)

Sweet lady, lady (*Dear Mama*)

Lady, lady

## References

1. ↑ Philips, Chuck (October 25, 1995). "From the Archives: Tupac Shakur: 'I am not a gangster'". *Los Angeles Times*.
2. ↑ Bell, Jim (August 11, 2022). "‘Dear Mama’: 2Pac’s Complex Ode To His Mother". *uDiscoverMusic*.