“This Ain’t Just a Rap Song”: 2Pac, Sociopolitical Realities, and Hip Hop Nation Language

Authors

Leah Tonnette Gaines, University of Central FloridaFollow

Author ORCID Identifier

0000-0003-3867-023X

Abstract

2Pac’s music was not merely rap songs. His music was and continues to be a platform for communicating important messages and concerns with his audiences. To relay these messages, he often used Hip Hop Nation Language (HHNL). In this research, I will conduct a linguistic analysis to illustrate how 2Pac’s music communicated sociopolitical realities through his use of HHNL. To construct possible answers for the questions that guided this work, the researcher transcribed, coded, and analyzed a sample size of 2Pac’s music. From the sample of songs used, the researcher was able to detect three common themes throughout, namely relaying, resisting, and remaining resilient. This paper will present how 2Pac’s music (1) relays sociopolitical messages, (2) calls for resisting sociopolitical oppressions, and (3) urges strong resilience within the Black community.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.34718/ce1e-8428

Volume

9

Issue

1

Recommended Citation

Gaines, Leah Tonnette (2022) "“This Ain’t Just a Rap Song”: 2Pac, Sociopolitical Realities, and Hip Hop Nation Language," Journal of Hip Hop Studies: Vol. 9: Iss. 1, Article 7.
Available at: https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/jhhs/vol9/iss1/7