‘Same Song’: The first recorded rap verse of 2Pac’s career
‘Do for Love’ musician 2Pac is one of the most iconic hip-hop artists of all time, and his music is still as relevant today as it was 30 years ago. However, before he got the opportunity to rap on a track, the lyricist (real name Tupac Shakur) played a different role in hip-hop.
The rhymer received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame last year. However, before he broke into the music business and created an undeniably awful feud with Biggie Smalls, 2Pac was a nomad who moved from city to city. From New York to Baltimore, Oakland and LA, the emcee found his fame on the West Coast.
However, prior to joining Death Row Records, Shakur had his own career and buzz in Oakland and was turning heads on the underground, so much so that he started gaining the attention of other local acts in the region who were keen on promoting a new rising to star to represent the Bay Area after their tenure.
For non-Americans, the term Bay Area may be unfamiliar. The North California region refers to the area surrounding the Bay of San Francisco, which includes the cities of San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Vallejo, and Fremont. This is where 2Pac first learned the game; the ways of the street became a prominent part of hip-hop.
While Shakur lived in Oakland, he became part of the alternative hip-hop outfit Digital Underground. Formed by the Oakland rapper Shock G, Digital Underground had a lot of different members coming in and out of the group, and 2Pac was one of them.
Most known for their 1990 song ‘The Humpty Dance’, Digital Underground were quite eccentric with their image and took an uplifting approach to performances. Shakur was a backup dancer and hype man for the group in the late-80s and early-90s.
However, Shakur only joined the outfit in the hope that, while around Shock G and the rest of the crew, one day, he would be able to feature on a track, and eventually, he did. Released in 1990, before Dr Dre had even formed Death Row Records, Pac appeared on ‘Same Song’ by Digital Underground.
During this period, Shakur was still releasing tracks on the underground, but following his appearance on ‘Same Song’ the All Eyez On Me star signed with Interscope and began recording his 1991 debut album, 2Pacalypse Now, which featured the now-iconic track ‘Brenda’s Got a Baby.’ This paved the way for him to get cast in Juice and more.
Although 2Pac eventually recorded songs such as ‘California Love’, which references cities in the state’s south, such as Compton, Watts, and LA, he always made sure to praise Oakland, as it was integral to his development as an artist.