Words of Wisdom: Why 2pac’s Political Message is Still Dangerous
Track six, "Words of Wisdom" from 2pac's 2pacalypse Now debut release, is one of my favorite tracks of all time. It is probably the main reason why this release is considered "overly political."
In this track, Pac gives inspiration to his audience by explaining the righteous indignation of those trapped in the ghetto. He doesn't pull any punches when describing the systematic erasure of his people.
He opens with a chilling reality check: "In one way or another American will find a way to eliminate the problem / The problem is the troubles in the black youth of the ghettos / And one by one we are being wiped off the face of this earth / at an extremely alarming rate / And even more alarming is the fact that we are not fighting back."
Redefining the Language
Pac then explores the definition of the word "nigga," but he flips the script on how the world uses it. He exclaims that he is referring to it as an acronym meaning "Never Ignorant Getting Goals Accomplished." He makes it clear that this is "not the 'nigga' we say as if it has no meaning." This was a call to consciousness, a way to take a slur and turn it into a blueprint for success and awareness.
He explains how those in the ghetto were left out of society through mental, historical, and educational manipulation. I’ve always admired how he wasn't afraid to challenge the "official" version of history taught in schools.
Challenging the Narrative
Pac incites instances of history that most textbooks gloss over, including the fact that the Civil War was not originally about slavery. He points out that the Emancipation Proclamation was instituted primarily to preserve the union, not out of a moral debt.
He raps with a heavy sense of betrayal: "Pledge a legiance to a flag that neglects us / Honour a man that refuse to respect us / Emancipation, proclamation, Please! / Nigga just said that to save the nation."
It seems Pac fully understood the resistance he would see in his life. He knew the establishment didn't want to see him educating the masses and Black youth about the conditions created by poverty.
The Mission of Nation Building
Despite the pushback, he stayed focused on the mission of teaching the next generation. He knew that the only way out of the trap was through a radical shift in education and self-worth.
He urged the community: "Steady strong nobody's gonna like what I pumpin' / But its wrong to keeping someone from learning something / So get up, its time to start nation building / I'm fed up, we gotta start teaching children / That they can be all that they wanna to be / There's much more to life than just po
I think this is the most important message in his catalog. It’s a reminder that our potential is not limited by the concrete we were raised in.
Peace vs. Revolution
He continues to amaze the listener by referring to the historical controversy between peaceful and violent resistance. He asks the questions that the school system is too afraid to answer.
"No Malcolm X in my history text; Why is that? / Cause he tried to educate and liberate all blacks / Why is Martin Luther King in my book each week? / He told blacks, if they get smacked, turn the other cheek."
Pac was pointing out that society only celebrates the revolutionaries that they find "safe." By highlighting Malcolm X, he was choosing the path of liberation over the path of assimilation.
Master the Science of Greatness
If you want to understand how 2pac used his lyrics as a tool for social engineering and became a permanent fixture in the GOAT conversation, you need to read my book. I use a 10-point grading system to analyze how innovation, impact, and mythology define the legends.
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