Dear Mama
by 2Pac

Album: Me Against the World (1995)
Charted: 27 9
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Tupac wrote this for his mother, Afeni Shakur, to let her know that he appreciates all hardship she went through in raising him. It was one of the first popular rap songs to sing the praises of the artist's mother, something that became common as rappers like Kanye West and Nas dedicated songs to their mothers. Eminem also made his mother the subject of his rhymes, but in a very unflattering way. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France
  • This samples "In All My Wildest Dreams" by Joe Sample.
  • When the Me Against The World album entered the charts at #1 in March 1996, Tupac became the first artist to have a #1 album while in jail: he was serving a 4 ½ year prison sentence for sexual assault. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Bertrand - Paris, France
  • The video, which was filmed while Tupac was in prison, shows the rapper's mom looking through old photo albums. Model and magazine editor Tracii McGregor played Afeni in the clip.

    McGregor recalled to Watchloud in a 2015 interview: "For this role I looked like Afeni, I looked close enough. So they hired me for the role. [Afeni] came over and said hi and she was just marveling at how much I looked like her, couldn't believe the casting. We got to watch the parts where she was looking through the photos and it just made it more real and there was more pressure to get it right and not make it contrived."

Comments: 6

  • Obeid Daud Lyanga from TanzaniaGreat song of all time...!
  • Bamidele Jesse from Nigera I love this
  • AnonymousThe song remind me of my sweet morther each thing i lesting the song
  • Rupert from Delta State. Nigeria.I love this music.. I love 2pac.
  • Phillip from Tulsa, OkThis is possibly the best Hip Hop song ever in my eyes. every time i see the video its takes me back to my child hood sort of. i had it ruff but not as bad as the video depicts..
  • Barry from Greenville, NcThe chorus of this song is lifted from the Spinners' "Sadie," which went to #7 on the R&B charts in 1975.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real Group

Modern A Cappella with Peder Karlsson of The Real GroupSong Writing

The leader of the Modern A Cappella movement talks about the genre.

Lajon Witherspoon of Sevendust

Lajon Witherspoon of SevendustSongwriter Interviews

The Sevendust frontman talks about the group's songwriting process, and how trips to the Murder Bar helped forge their latest album.

Mike Campbell

Mike CampbellSongwriter Interviews

Mike is lead guitarist with Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, and co-writer of classic songs like "Boys Of Summer," "Refugee" and "The Heart Of The Matter."

Def Leppard Quiz

Def Leppard QuizMusic Quiz

Can you name Def Leppard's only #1 hit in America? Get rocked with this adrenalized quiz.

Mike Love of The Beach Boys

Mike Love of The Beach BoysSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist of The Beach Boys talks about coming up with the words for "Good Vibrations," "Fun, Fun, Fun," "Kokomo" and other classic songs.

Danny Kortchmar

Danny KortchmarSongwriter Interviews

Danny played guitar on Sweet Baby James, Tapestry, and Running On Empty. He also co-wrote many hit songs, including "Dirty Laundry," "Sunset Grill" and "Tender Is The Night."