Senior Alexis Arias is listening to “Dear Mama” by 2Pac. The song was released in 1998 in Tupac’s third album, “Me Against the World.” This track was also the first of Tupac’s to reach the Billboard Hot 100.

“It’s really good,” Arias said. “It’s about him still loving his mom even though she’s terrible.”

The song starts off with a slow beat, followed by drums that really pull you into the song. Despite the calm tone, the meaning behind the lyrics show a darker side to the infamous rapper’s childhood.

“It’s more mellow, and I relate to it a lot,” Arias said.

Tupac Shakur, better known as 2Pac, is considered one of the most influential rappers of all time. Shakur is among the giants in the music world, having sold more than 75 million records around the globe. Born in New York to parents who were both political activists and Black Panther members, Shakur has always been one to address social issues, especially in his music. 

“Tupac talks about his mom’s addiction to crack, but argues that his love and deep respect for his mother supersedes bad memories,” Arias said.

After the release of his debut album “2Pacalypse Now” in 1991, he quickly became an influential member in West Coast hip hop. His diamond certified album “All Eyez on Me,” released in 1996, was the first double-length album in hip-hop history. Besides his outstanding career in the music industry, Shakur also went on to star in movies such as “Juice,” “Poetic Justice,” and “Above the Rim.”

“Dear Mama” touches on a lot of deeper topics, so if you want a song to listen to when you are out driving in the rain, do not hesitate to give this one a try.