2pac Couplets

one line for each year he lived

ninety six minutes after tyson wins and you’re gone

las vegas quickly strips you of your last song

every black man in nevada pilgrims to trudge you

walk last rites, as only god can judge you

nomad, you baltimore, you new york, you l.a.

captured only by wind, a consummate stray

west coast makes you ours. claims you loudest

you gave game for free, we recoup it proudest

don’t want no producers dancing in our videos

named our first borns after brenda’s embryo

your dear mama, eschews her crackfiend fame

afeni becomes household, recognized name

the people used to clown when you came around

with the underground mimic and savior your sound

mark your ink, the lives of thugs on their stomachs

their bottoms, their rolling twenties, their hunneds

your words so sacrament so memorized so litmus

test and testament so wretched so generous

never knew malcolm as machiavellian text, hence

you vexed and cursing: our black and shining prince

our sweetest thing, our prism and its light

lynched by bullet, won’t survive the knight

now your blood spills and the people crowd around

just one question:

r u

still

Down