Some Of Tupac's Most Inspirational Songs

Honoring Pac's 43rd birthday with these uplifting tracks.

The Rose That Grew From Concrete - Today, June 16, would have marked the 43rd birthday of Makaveli the Don. To celebrate this special occasion, we’re taking a look at some of Tupac Shakur's most inspirational songs to see why he touched so many people. Whether encouraging Black unity or demanding better treatment of Black women, Pac always left you with gems to get up and better yourself. (Photo: Tupac Shakur  Photo by Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

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The Rose That Grew From Concrete - Today, June 16, would have marked the 43rd birthday of Makaveli the Don. To celebrate this special occasion, we’re taking a look at some of Tupac Shakur's most inspirational songs to see why he touched so many people. Whether encouraging Black unity or demanding better treatment of Black women, Pac always left you with gems to get up and better yourself. (Photo: Tupac Shakur Photo by Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

"Still I Rise" - “Still I Rise” was the title and one of the singles from the Outlawz's official debut with Tupac on Death Row Records. The album was released after Pac’s murder and featured Makaveli depicting the trials of a Black male born into hopelessness but determined to make it out despite the odds. Pac was kicking realness with rhymes like, "Not to disrespect my peoples but my poppa was a loser/Only plan he had for momma was to f--k her and abuse her/Even as a little seed, I could see his plan for me/Stranded on welfare, another broken family."(Photo: Steve Eichner/Getty Images)

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"Still I Rise" - “Still I Rise” was the title and one of the singles from the Outlawz's official debut with Tupac on Death Row Records. The album was released after Pac’s murder and featured Makaveli depicting the trials of a Black male born into hopelessness but determined to make it out despite the odds. Pac was kicking realness with rhymes like, "Not to disrespect my peoples but my poppa was a loser/Only plan he had for momma was to f--k her and abuse her/Even as a little seed, I could see his plan for me/Stranded on welfare, another broken family."(Photo: Steve Eichner/Getty Images)

Photo By Steve Eichner/Getty Images

"I Wonder If Heaven Got a Ghetto" - Pac originally dropped this gem as a B-side single to "Keep Ya Head Up" in 1993 and it was re-released in 1997 on the posthumous album R U Still Down? (Remember Me). A posthumous video was also released as Pac called for the streets to stand up and wondered what the pearly gates would be like for the boyz n da 'hood. Addressing social ills, Pac holds a mirror to America's face as he proclaims, "It ain't a secret, don't conceal the fact, the penitentiary's packed and it's filled with Blacks."(Photo: Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

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"I Wonder If Heaven Got a Ghetto" - Pac originally dropped this gem as a B-side single to "Keep Ya Head Up" in 1993 and it was re-released in 1997 on the posthumous album R U Still Down? (Remember Me). A posthumous video was also released as Pac called for the streets to stand up and wondered what the pearly gates would be like for the boyz n da 'hood. Addressing social ills, Pac holds a mirror to America's face as he proclaims, "It ain't a secret, don't conceal the fact, the penitentiary's packed and it's filled with Blacks."(Photo: Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

"Baby Don’t Cry (Keep Ya Head Up II)" - Pac and The Outlawz supplied another women's anthem here as they discussed a teenager's rape and deadbeat fathers. "For just a moment I was trapped in the pain, Lord come and take me/Four n----s violated, they chased and they raped me/Even though it wasn't me, I could feel the grief," he spit.Straight to the point here, Pac and the Outlawz encourage men to treat women with respect, and let women know they should leave if it gets too hectic.  (Photo: Death Row Records)

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"Baby Don’t Cry (Keep Ya Head Up II)" - Pac and The Outlawz supplied another women's anthem here as they discussed a teenager's rape and deadbeat fathers. "For just a moment I was trapped in the pain, Lord come and take me/Four n----s violated, they chased and they raped me/Even though it wasn't me, I could feel the grief," he spit.Straight to the point here, Pac and the Outlawz encourage men to treat women with respect, and let women know they should leave if it gets too hectic. (Photo: Death Row Records)

"My Block" - Arguably one of Tupac's best tracks, the song was originally featured on the 1995 soundtrack to the hip hop film Russell Simmons Presents The Show. A remix version was also released on the posthumous 2002 release Better Dayz. Giving a rundown of all the 'hoods that raised him, Pac's mission was clear: He wanted to save the communities we came from but also knew about the hurdles and roadblocks. "Used to be a close knit community but now we're all cold strangers/Time changes us to stone, them crack pipes/All up and down the block, exterminating Black life."(Photo: Death Row Records)

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"My Block" - Arguably one of Tupac's best tracks, the song was originally featured on the 1995 soundtrack to the hip hop film Russell Simmons Presents The Show. A remix version was also released on the posthumous 2002 release Better Dayz. Giving a rundown of all the 'hoods that raised him, Pac's mission was clear: He wanted to save the communities we came from but also knew about the hurdles and roadblocks. "Used to be a close knit community but now we're all cold strangers/Time changes us to stone, them crack pipes/All up and down the block, exterminating Black life."(Photo: Death Row Records)

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"Until the End of Time" - This track was unveiled as the title and lead single in 2001 for Makaveli's third release after his death. With R.L. from Next supplying the hook and re-singing the pulsating vocals from the '80s classic "Broken Wings," Pac compared his life to an injured bird still fighting to survive and in his case the ghetto was Pac's roadblock as he tries to soar. "This all night money making got me outta touch, s--t/Ain't flashed a smile in a long while/An unexpected birth, worst of the ghetto childs."(Photo: Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

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"Until the End of Time" - This track was unveiled as the title and lead single in 2001 for Makaveli's third release after his death. With R.L. from Next supplying the hook and re-singing the pulsating vocals from the '80s classic "Broken Wings," Pac compared his life to an injured bird still fighting to survive and in his case the ghetto was Pac's roadblock as he tries to soar. "This all night money making got me outta touch, s--t/Ain't flashed a smile in a long while/An unexpected birth, worst of the ghetto childs."(Photo: Al Pereira/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

"Never Had a Friend Like Me" - Pac dropped a blueprint of how friends remain true on this rolling till the wheels fall off hidden gem. Featured on the Gridlock’d soundtrack, Makaveli states his case with, "Just me and you evading enemies/Let you get my last shot of Hennessy/Ain't never had a friend like me."(Photo: Public Domain)

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"Never Had a Friend Like Me" - Pac dropped a blueprint of how friends remain true on this rolling till the wheels fall off hidden gem. Featured on the Gridlock’d soundtrack, Makaveli states his case with, "Just me and you evading enemies/Let you get my last shot of Hennessy/Ain't never had a friend like me."(Photo: Public Domain)

"I Ain't Mad at Cha" - Times change and friends grow apart. Pac encouraged folks to get up out the 'hood and find a better way despite the haters. Shedding light on the crabs in a barrel mentality, he promotes change and asks, "So many questions and they ask me if I'm still down/I moved up out of the ghetto, so I ain't real now?"(Photo: Death Row Records) 

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"I Ain't Mad at Cha" - Times change and friends grow apart. Pac encouraged folks to get up out the 'hood and find a better way despite the haters. Shedding light on the crabs in a barrel mentality, he promotes change and asks, "So many questions and they ask me if I'm still down/I moved up out of the ghetto, so I ain't real now?"(Photo: Death Row Records)

"If My Homie Calls" - Tupac had the dance floors packed in 1991 with the brotherly love inspiring "If My Homie Calls." Pac showed the comraderie and closeness of Black males and highlighted that initial bond that keeps you together as one. "My homie is making it elsewhere/Striving, working nine to five with no health care/We both had dreams of being great, but his deferred and blurred and changed in shape/It's fate, it wasn't my choice to make/To be great, I'm giving it all it takes."(Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)

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"If My Homie Calls" - Tupac had the dance floors packed in 1991 with the brotherly love inspiring "If My Homie Calls." Pac showed the comraderie and closeness of Black males and highlighted that initial bond that keeps you together as one. "My homie is making it elsewhere/Striving, working nine to five with no health care/We both had dreams of being great, but his deferred and blurred and changed in shape/It's fate, it wasn't my choice to make/To be great, I'm giving it all it takes."(Photo: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images)

"Changes" - The rebel of the underground took on police brutality, Black-on Black crime and the drug epidemic in this 1998 release. Recorded in 1992, Pac sent chills up people's spines as he called for society to make some much needed adjustments to it's thinking. "Cops give a damn about a Negro, pull the trigger, kill a n---a, he's a hero/Give the crack to the kids, who the hell cares? One less hungry mouth on the welfare!" (Photo: Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

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"Changes" - The rebel of the underground took on police brutality, Black-on Black crime and the drug epidemic in this 1998 release. Recorded in 1992, Pac sent chills up people's spines as he called for society to make some much needed adjustments to it's thinking. "Cops give a damn about a Negro, pull the trigger, kill a n---a, he's a hero/Give the crack to the kids, who the hell cares? One less hungry mouth on the welfare!" (Photo: Raymond Boyd/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

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"Young N----z" - Chicago's gang violence and high murder rate is at an all-time high, but Tupac was addressing this epidemic back in 1995 on this increase-the-peace anthem from Me Against the World. Pac dedicated it to Robert "Yummy" Sandifier, an 11-year-old gang banger who had already committed murder, arson and armed robbery before being murdered by O.G.s in his own gang, the Black Disciples. 2Pac addressed the pitfalls these kids have to avoid and how easy it is to get caught up. "Now that I'm grown, I got my mind on being something/Don't wanna be another statistic, out here doing nothing…/My young n----s, break away from these dumb n----s/Put down the guns and have some fun n---a."(Photo: Ron Galella/WireImage)

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"Young N----z" - Chicago's gang violence and high murder rate is at an all-time high, but Tupac was addressing this epidemic back in 1995 on this increase-the-peace anthem from Me Against the World. Pac dedicated it to Robert "Yummy" Sandifier, an 11-year-old gang banger who had already committed murder, arson and armed robbery before being murdered by O.G.s in his own gang, the Black Disciples. 2Pac addressed the pitfalls these kids have to avoid and how easy it is to get caught up. "Now that I'm grown, I got my mind on being something/Don't wanna be another statistic, out here doing nothing…/My young n----s, break away from these dumb n----s/Put down the guns and have some fun n---a."(Photo: Ron Galella/WireImage)

Photo By Ron Galella/WireImage

"Definition of a Thug N---a" - “I played the cards I was given, thank God I'm still living/Pack my nine 'til it's time to go to prison/As I'm bailing down the block that I come from, still gotta pack a gun/Case some young motherf-----s wanna play dumb.”Don’t be fooled by the title, “Definition Of A Thug N---a” is really a call to arms about doing whatever you have to do to achieve success and climb your way out of poverty for some. Told from a hustler’s perspective over a Warren G track, the cut was originally released on the Poetic Justice soundtrack in 1993.(Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/GettyImages)

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"Definition of a Thug N---a" - “I played the cards I was given, thank God I'm still living/Pack my nine 'til it's time to go to prison/As I'm bailing down the block that I come from, still gotta pack a gun/Case some young motherf-----s wanna play dumb.”Don’t be fooled by the title, “Definition Of A Thug N---a” is really a call to arms about doing whatever you have to do to achieve success and climb your way out of poverty for some. Told from a hustler’s perspective over a Warren G track, the cut was originally released on the Poetic Justice soundtrack in 1993.(Photo: Michael Ochs Archives/GettyImages)

"Me Against the World" - Makaveli provided a lot of hope for those feeling the weight of the world on their shoulders as he painted vivid pictures to show people that they were not going through the storm of life alone. His own lines are haunting as he stresses his will to survive despite adversity. "I'm losing my homies in a hurry, they're relocating to the cemetery/Got me worried, stressing, my vision's blurried/The question is will I live? No one in the world loves me/I'm headed for danger, don't trust strangers."(Photo: Ron Galella/WireImage)

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"Me Against the World" - Makaveli provided a lot of hope for those feeling the weight of the world on their shoulders as he painted vivid pictures to show people that they were not going through the storm of life alone. His own lines are haunting as he stresses his will to survive despite adversity. "I'm losing my homies in a hurry, they're relocating to the cemetery/Got me worried, stressing, my vision's blurried/The question is will I live? No one in the world loves me/I'm headed for danger, don't trust strangers."(Photo: Ron Galella/WireImage)

Photo By Ron Galella/WireImage

"Nothin' But Love" - Tupac rapped about a Black utopia here and how the Black community could be if we stood strong and put our best foot forward. Going back to the days of it taking a village to raise a child, Pac spits, "When I was young I used to want to be a dealer see/'Cause the gold and cars they appealed to me/I saw our brothers getting rich slangin' crack to folks ... Started thinking 'bout a plan to get paid myself/So I made myself, raised myself/'Til the dealer on the block told me, 'That ain't cool, you ain't meant to slang crack, you a rapper fool."(Photo: Ke.Mazur/WireImage)

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"Nothin' But Love" - Tupac rapped about a Black utopia here and how the Black community could be if we stood strong and put our best foot forward. Going back to the days of it taking a village to raise a child, Pac spits, "When I was young I used to want to be a dealer see/'Cause the gold and cars they appealed to me/I saw our brothers getting rich slangin' crack to folks ... Started thinking 'bout a plan to get paid myself/So I made myself, raised myself/'Til the dealer on the block told me, 'That ain't cool, you ain't meant to slang crack, you a rapper fool."(Photo: Ke.Mazur/WireImage)

Photo By Ke.Mazur/WireImage

"White Man'z World" - Makaveli sent out an apology to the Black women forced to hold it down while the brothers are locked up in the penitentiary. Despite the obstacles since slavery and being an endangered species, Pac stresses for Black people to use their brain and not be victim to the white man's plots and schemes.Dedicated to his O.G.s and freedom fighters Mutulu Shakur, Geronimo Pratt, Mumia Abu Jamal and Sekou Odinga, Pac spits truths such as, "In time I learned a few lessons, never fall for riches/Apologies to my true sisters, far from b-----s/Help me raise my Black nation, reparations are due/It's true, caught up in this world, I took advantage of you."(Photo: Death Row Records)

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"White Man'z World" - Makaveli sent out an apology to the Black women forced to hold it down while the brothers are locked up in the penitentiary. Despite the obstacles since slavery and being an endangered species, Pac stresses for Black people to use their brain and not be victim to the white man's plots and schemes.Dedicated to his O.G.s and freedom fighters Mutulu Shakur, Geronimo Pratt, Mumia Abu Jamal and Sekou Odinga, Pac spits truths such as, "In time I learned a few lessons, never fall for riches/Apologies to my true sisters, far from b-----s/Help me raise my Black nation, reparations are due/It's true, caught up in this world, I took advantage of you."(Photo: Death Row Records)

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"It Ain't Easy" - Pac got his B.B. King on with this classic from Me Against the World. The blues melody and guitar licks fit perfect as Pac detailed his struggles at the time which included his run-ins with the law and jail stints. Making you realize everyone has problems, he kicks the real with lyrics like, "Gettin calls from my n---a Mike Tyson, ‘ain't nothing nice/Yo 'Pac, do something righteous witcha life/And even though you're innocent you still a n----a, so they figure/Rather have you behind bars than triggers."(Photo: Reuters)

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"It Ain't Easy" - Pac got his B.B. King on with this classic from Me Against the World. The blues melody and guitar licks fit perfect as Pac detailed his struggles at the time which included his run-ins with the law and jail stints. Making you realize everyone has problems, he kicks the real with lyrics like, "Gettin calls from my n---a Mike Tyson, ‘ain't nothing nice/Yo 'Pac, do something righteous witcha life/And even though you're innocent you still a n----a, so they figure/Rather have you behind bars than triggers."(Photo: Reuters)

"Keep Ya Head Up" - "Keep Ya Head Up" was one of Tupac's first major hits as he called for better treatment of women and for single mothers to keep striving forward despite the odds. The chorus also featured a young Dave Hollister before his success with Blackstreet, when he was known as The Black Angel. Verses like, "I give a holla to my sisters on welfare/2Pac cares, if don't nobody else care" flow throughout the track.(Photo: Kevin Mazur Archive/WireImage)

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"Keep Ya Head Up" - "Keep Ya Head Up" was one of Tupac's first major hits as he called for better treatment of women and for single mothers to keep striving forward despite the odds. The chorus also featured a young Dave Hollister before his success with Blackstreet, when he was known as The Black Angel. Verses like, "I give a holla to my sisters on welfare/2Pac cares, if don't nobody else care" flow throughout the track.(Photo: Kevin Mazur Archive/WireImage)

"Life Goes On" - Pac's tribute to fallen homies has been played at funerals and wakes for 15 years now. The mission statement is to live life to the fullest because life isn't promised. "Bury me smilin', with Gs in my pocket/Have a party at my funeral, let every rapper rock it," he recommends.(Photo: Barry King/WireImage)

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"Life Goes On" - Pac's tribute to fallen homies has been played at funerals and wakes for 15 years now. The mission statement is to live life to the fullest because life isn't promised. "Bury me smilin', with Gs in my pocket/Have a party at my funeral, let every rapper rock it," he recommends.(Photo: Barry King/WireImage)