How Do U Want It by Tupac Shakur Lyrics Meaning – Unveiling the Socio-Political Depths of a Hip-Hop Anthem
Lyrics
How do you want it? How does it feel?
Comin’ up as a nigga in the cash game
Livin’ in the fast lane; I’m for real
How do you want it? How do you feel?
Comin’ up as a nigga in the cash game
Livin’ in the fast lane; I’m for real
Love the way you activate your hips and push your ass out
Got a nigga wantin’ it so bad I’m bout to pass out
Wanna dig you, and I can’t even lie about it
Baby just alleviate your clothes, time to fly up out it
Catch you at a club, oh shit you got me fiendin’
Body talkin’ shit to me but I can’t comprehend the meaning
Now if you wanna roll with me, then here’s your chance
Doin’ eighty on the freeway, police catch me if you can
Forgive me I’m a rider, still I’m just a simple man
All I want is money, fuck the fame I’m a simple man
Mr. International, playa with the passport
Just like Aladdin bitch, get you anything you ask for
It’s either him or me, champagne, Hennessey
A favorite of my homies when we floss, on our enemies
Witness as we creep to a low speed, peep what a hoe need
Puff some mo’ weed, funk, ya don’t need
Approachin’ hoochies with a passion, been a long day
But I’ve been driven by attraction in a strong way
Your body is bangin baby I love it when you flaunt it
Time to give it to daddy nigga now tell me how you want it
(Tell me how you want it! La-dy, yeah yeah)
[Chorus]
Tell me is it cool to fuck?
Did you think I come to talk am I a fool or what?
Positions on the floor it’s like erotic, ironic
Cause I’m somewhat psychotic
I’m hittin’ switches on bitches like I been fixed with hydraulics
Up and down like a roller coaster, I’m up inside ya
I ain’t quittin’ til the show is over, cause I’ma rider
In and out just like a robbery, I’ll probably be a freak
And let you get on top of me, get her rockin’ these
Nights full of Alize, a livin’ legend
You ain’t heard about these niggas play these Cali days
Delores Tucker, youse a motherfucker
Instead of tryin’ to help a nigga you destroy a brother
Worse than the others, Bill Clinton, Mr. Bob Dole
You’re too old to understand the way the game is told
You’re lame so I gotta hit you with the hot facts
Want some on lease? I’m makin’ millions, niggas top that
They wanna censor me; they’d rather see me in a cell
Livin’ in hell, only a few of us’ll live to tell
Now everybody talkin’ bout us I could give a fuck
I’d be the first one to bomb and cuss
Nigga tell me how you want it
[Chorus]
Raised as a youth, tell the truth I got the scoop
On how to get a bulletproof, because I jumped from the roof
Before I was a teenager, mobile phone, SkyPager
Game rules, I’m livin’ major, my adversaries
Is lookin’ worried, they paranoid of gettin’ buried
One of us gon’ see the cemetary
My only hope to survive if I wish to stay alive
Gettin’ high, see the demons in my eyes, before I die
I wanna live my life and ball, make a couple million
And then I’m chillin’ fade em all, these taxes
Got me crossed up and people tryin’ to sue me
Media is in my business and they actin like they know me
Hahaha, but I’ma mash out, peel out
I’m with it quick I’se quick to whip that fuckin’ steel out
Yeah nigga it’s some new shit so better get up on it
When ya see me tell a nigga how ya want it
How do you want it?
[Chorus: x2]
How you want it?
Yeah my nigga Johnny J
Yeah, we out
[Chorus]
Tell me
[Chorus]
Cash game, livin’ in the fast lane, I’m for real
In a career that was as meteoric as it was impactful, Tupac Shakur penned lyrics that cut deeply into the fabric of American society. ‘How Do U Want It’ is no exception. While on the surface it comes across as a hedonistic exploration of fame, sex, and the fast life, this track is laced with the acuity of Shakur’s social awareness. It is a document of its time, a complex tapestry of personal ambition and societal critique.
To understand ‘How Do U Want It,’ one must look beyond its catchy hook and delve into the wealth of Shakur’s experiences and worldview. Tupac was not just a rapper; he was a poet and an activist, using the platform of music to underscore the contradictions and hardships of life for African Americans in the 1990s.
The Allure of the Fast Life: Between Glamour and Grit
The song’s chorus serves as a gateway to Tupac’s reality, juxtaposing ‘livin’ in the fast lane’ with ‘coming up as a nigga in the cash game.’ Here, Shakur wrestles with the seductive nature of quick success and wealth in a system where the deck is often stacked against individuals from disenfranchised communities.
Yet, even as he celebrates the opulence that his success brings—champagne, Hennessey, and the freedom of the highway—he remains acutely aware of the fleeting nature of these pleasures. He presents the ‘fast lane’ as a relentless race, with the police as ever-present shadows in this high-stakes game he’s playing.
Unearthing the Hidden Narrative: Tupac’s Critique of Social Issues
In one powerful verse, Tupac calls out public figures like Dolores Tucker and Bill Clinton by name, brazenly criticizing their stances on hip-hop and their contributions to systematic oppression. His words reflect a consciousness that transcends personal success, reaching into the depths of social advocacy and resistance.
This serves as an indictment of the hypocrisy and censorship he faced from conservative voices and the political establishment. It reveals a layered meaning within the song, one that juxtaposes the pursuit of personal gratification with an articulate commentary on the social injustices of the era.
Vivid Memories and Visceral Dreams: The Dichotomy of Desire
Tupac’s lyrics often oscillate between the visceral allure of sexual conquest and profound introspection. ‘How Do U Want It’ does this dance masterfully, with sexual innuendos and euphemisms painting a picture of raw desire while simultaneously entertaining deeper introspection and critique of American culture.
Beyond just romantic escapades, his references to sex and pleasure can be seen as a metaphor for the hunger and ambition that drive individuals in a capitalistic society. It suggests a deeper yearning for freedom and autonomy, both in the metaphorical bedroom and in the broader social context.
The Soundtrack of a Generation: Tupac’s Timeless Influence
Decades after it’s release, ‘How Do U Want It’, remains emblematic of an era. Its unabashed approach to discussing social issues, personal goals, and societal pleasure paints a picture that many could relate to then, and even now. It cements Tupac’s legacy as an artist who gave voice to the silenced and questioned the status quo through rap.
This song, like much of his work, continues to be a source of inspiration for artists and activists. It’s a testament to the power of music as a medium for expressing complex and intersectional truths about the human experience.
Echoing Through Time: The Immortal Lines of a Hip-Hop Icon
Tupac’s work is revered not just for its beats and melodies, but for the potency of its lyrics. Lines from ‘How Do U Want It’ like ‘Forgive me I’m a rider, still I’m just a simple man’ and ‘Raised as a youth, tell the truth I got the scoop on how to get a bulletproof’ resonate profoundly with audiences, encapsulating the duality of vulnerability and resilience prevalent in his life and the lives of many others.
Such memorable lines contribute to the song’s longevity and relevance, encouraging listeners to find their voice within his lyrics and continue the conversation around personal ambition and societal change that Tupac Shakur so boldly initiated.
