Rebel of the Underground

## Song by 2Pac

"**Rebel of the Underground**" is a song by 2Pac, released as the twelfth track from his debut studio album, *2Pacalypse Now* (1991). It features background vocals from Ray Luv and Shock G.

2Pac explained, "I'm a rebel. I'm always the one talking the loudest and getting arrested or thrown out of someplace."

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Intro]

Rebel

Rebel

Rebel

[Verse 1]

They just can't stand the reign, or the occasional pain

From a man like me, who goes against the grain

Sometimes I do it in vain

So with a little bass and treble

Hey mister, it's time for me to explain that I'm the rebel

Cold as the devil

Straight from the underground, the rebel, a lower level

They came to see the maniac psychopath

The critics heard of me, and the aftermath

I don't give a damn and it shows

And when I do a stage show, I wear street clothes

So they all know me

The lyrical lunatic, the maniac MC

I give a shout out to your homies

And maybe then, the critics'll leave your boy alone, G

On the streets or on TV

It just don't pay to be, a truth tellin' MC

They won't be happy 'til I'm banned

The most dangerous weapon: an educated black man

So point blank in your face

Pump up the bass, and join the human race

I throw peace to The Bay

'Cause from The Jungle to Oaktown, they backin' me up all the way

You know you gotta love the sound

It's from the rebel - the rebel of the underground

[Chorus]

Rebel, he's a rebel

Rebel of the underground

Rebel, he's a rebel

Rebel of the underground

Rebel, he's a rebel

Rebel of the underground

Rebel, he's a rebel

Rebel of the underground

[Verse 2]

Now I'm face to face with the devils

'Cause they breedin' more rebels than the whole damn ghetto

And police brutality

Shit, it put you in the nip and call it technicality

So you reap what you sow

So reap the wrath of the rebel, jackin' 'em up once mo'

Now the fox is in the henhouse

Creepin' up on your daughter while you, sleep I got her sneakin' out

2Pac ain't nothin' nice, I'll be nothin' how I wanna

And doin' what I'm gonna

Now I'm up to no good

The mastermind of mischief movin' more than most could

So sit and slip into the sound

Peep the rebel - the rebel of the underground

[Chorus]

Rebel, he's a rebel

Rebel of the underground

Rebel, he's a rebel

Rebel of the underground

Rebel, he's a rebel

Rebel of the underground

Rebel, he's a rebel

Rebel of the underground

[Verse 3]

They say they hate me, they wanna hold me down

I guess they scared of the rebel - the rebel of the underground

But I never let it get me

I just make another record 'bout the punks tryna sweat me

In fact, they tryin' to keep me out

Try to censor what I say

'Cause they don't like what I'm talkin' 'bout

So what's wrong with the media today?

Got brothers sellin' out cause they greedy to get paid

But me? I'm comin' from the soul

And if it don't go gold, my story still gettin' told

And that way they can't stop me

And if it sells a couple of copies, the punks'll try to copy

It's sloppy, don't even try to

I'm a slave to the rhythm, and I'm about to fly through

So, yo, to the people in the ghetto

When ya hear the bass flow, go ahead and let go

Now everybody wanna gangbang

They talkin' street slang, but the punks still can't hang

They makin' records 'bout violence

But when it comes to the real, some brothers go silent

It kinda make you wanna think about

That ya gotta do some sellin' out, just to get your record out

But 2Pacalypse is straight down

So feel the wrath of the rebel - the rebel of the underground

[Outro]

2Pac is a rebel

Rebel of the underground

2Pac is a rebel

Rebel of the underground

2Pac is a rebel

Rebel of the underground

2Pac is a rebel

Rebel of the underground

2Pac is a rebel

Rebel of the underground

2Pac is a rebel

Rebel of the underground

2Pac is a rebel

Rebel of the underground

2Pac is a rebel

Rebel of the underground

## References

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