'We suffered the generation of '60s activists who were really hurt and 'Pac was born to be political, he was born to touch the hearts of the world, and he did that,' Steinberg adds. So by the time 'Dear Mama' arrived, the world was given a proper introduction to Afeni Shakur as an embodiment of stoic grace, resilience and Black motherhood. I'll never forget being in the apartment and just crying because we all have really powerful mothers who were in tremendous pain around their commitment to service and we suffered that.'ДЄt the time, little was known about Afeni other than the news headlines about her affiliation with the Black Panther Party and the bits of info from 2Pac in interviews, such as one famous with Yo! MTV Raps, where he broke the news about his background story.

'When he wrote 'Dear Mama,' was one of the first people he shared it with,' Steinberg says.

While the song is credited as rap record, in all actuality it was 'Pac's own version of the blues - or as friend Leila Steinberg ever so perfectly describes, 'his Gil Scott-Heron record.' 'Even though I act crazy, I got to thank the Lord that you raised me,' he raps. More than 'Mama': Seven Inspiring Moments From Afeni ShakurДЄt nearly five minutes, Pac spoke of the life and times of his mother Afeni Shakur by highlighting the trials and tribulations that culminated into her becoming the hero she was to him. 'That's when he went from just being a really good hip-hop artist to being a voice.' 'It's just one of those songs that will play forever,' Outlaw member and friend of 2Pac, E.D.I.

Within its 16-song tracklist, each title played like statements ('So Many Tears,' 'Outlaw'), and the most poignant of them all arrived on track number nine, 'Dear Mama.' Whether or not he was fully aware at the time, 2Pac signed and delivered the game a magnum opus on 1995's Me Against The World.

Tupac dear mama video