Song Analysis

Song: Ghetto Gospel
Artist: 2Pac
Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
Time period/year of release: 2004
Issue addressed: It addresses some serious social issues that people enounter everyday throughout their lives. Such as drug use, violence, etc.
Artist’s point of view: In this song, 2Pac sees the world as a corrupt place to live in. He sees people ruining their lives because of violence and drug use.

Lyrics:
Ghetto Gospel lyrics
(feat. Elton John)

[Chorus - Elton John:]
Those who wish to follow me (My ghetto gospel)
I welcome with my hands
And the red sun sinks at last into the hills of gold
And peace to this young warrior without the sound of guns

[2Pac]
If I could recelect before my hood dayz
I'd sit and reminisce, ni*ga and bliss on the good dayz
i stop and stare at the younger, my heart goes to'em
They tested, it was stressed that they under
In our days, things changed
Everyone's ashamed to the youth cuz the truth looks strange
And for me it's reversed, we left them a world that's cursed, and it hurts
cause any day they'll push the button
and yall condemned like Malcolm x and Bobby Hunton, died for nothin
Don't them let me get teary, the world looks dreary
but when you wipe your eyes, see it clearly
there's no need for you to fear me
if you take the time to hear me, maybe you can learn to cheer me
it aint about black or white, cuz we're human
I hope we see the light before its ruined
my ghetto gospel

[Chorus - Elton John]

[2Pac]
Tell me do you see that old lady aint it sad
Living out a bag, but she's glad for the little things she has
And over there there's a lady, cr*ck got her crazy
Guess she's given birth to a baby
I don't trip and let it fade me, from outta the frying pan
We jump into another form of slavery
Even now I keep discouraged
Wonder if they take it all back while I still keep the courage
I refuse to be a role model
I set goals, take control, drink out my own bottle
I make mistakes, I learn from everyone
And when its said and done
I bet this Brotha be a better one
If I'm upset, you don't stress
Never forget, that God hasn't finished with me yet
I feel his hand on my brain
When I write rhymes, I go blind, and let the lord do his thang
But am I less holy
Cuz I choose to puff a blunt and drink a beer with my homies
Before we find world peace
We gotta find peace in that war on the streets
My ghetto gospel

[Chorus - Elton John]

2004 Events:
- Summer olymics took place in Athens, Greece
- Scientists in South Korea cloned 30 human embryos
- President Bushwas reelected
- Flight 604 of flash airlines crashed into the Red sea. This killed 148 people which were on board
- Hajj Stampede kills 251 people in Mina
- An earthquake kills 186,983 people in Southeast Asia
- Several people are killed in Saudi Arabia because of a terrorist attack on U.S Consulate

Issue: Drug Use & Violence
Who it affects: Everyone
Significance of the issue: The corruption of society is related to the violence and drug use and other issues people encounter throughout their lives
Type of Issue: Political, Economic & Ethical issue
Control of the issue: There isn't a single person that has full control of the issue. We have to work together in order to fix the issue of drug use and violence.
What has been done to adress the issue: Laws that make it illegal but it's becoming more of a problem.

Yes, I do support the artist's opinion of society. I believe that violence and drug use is corrupting the world but we aren't doing a lot to solve these issues. I don't think there is a way to completely remove violence and drug use from this world.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004
http://www.metrolyrics.com/ghetto-gospel-lyrics-2pac.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jrRecvJZRM&hd=1
http://www.daviddfriedman.com/Academic/drugs_and_violence/Drugs_and_violence.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loyal_to_the_Game
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tupac_Shakur