Ambitionz Az a Ridah by 2Pac Lyrics Meaning – Decoding Street Philosophy and Unbreakable Spirit
Lyrics
You don’t wanna fuck with me
Got the police bustin’ at me
But they can’t do nothing to a G
Let’s get ready to rumble
Now you know how we do it like a G
What really go on in the mind of a nigga
That get down for theirs
Constantly, money over bitches
Not bitches over money
Stay on your grind, nigga
My ambitions as a ridah
My ambitions as a ridah
So many battlefield scars while driven in plush cars
This life as a rap star is nothing without heart
Was born rough and rugged, addressing the mass public
My attitude was “fuck it”, ’cause motherfuckers love it
To be a soldier, must maintain composure at ease
Though life is complicated, only what you make it to be
Uh, and my ambitions as a ridah to catch her
While she hot and horny, go up inside her
Then I spit some game in her ear, “Go to the telly, ho”
Equipped with money in a Benz, ’cause bitch, I’m barely broke
I’m smoking bomb ass weed, feeling crucial
From player to player, the game’s tight, the feeling’s mutual
From hustling and prayers, to breaking motherfuckers to pay up
I got no time for these bitches, ’cause these hoes try to play us
I’m on a meal ticket mission, want a mill’, so I’m wishing
Competition got me ripped, on that bullshit they stressing (booyah)
I’ma rhyme though, clown hoes like it’s mandatory
No guts no glory, my nigga, bitch got the game distorted
Now it’s on and it’s on because I said so
Can’t trust a bitch in the business so I got with Death Row
Now these money hungry bitches getting suspicious
Started plotting and planning on schemes, to come and trick us
But thug niggas be on point and game tight
Me, Syke and Bogart, strapped up the same night
Got problems then handle it, motherfuckers see me
These niggas is jealous ’cause deep in they heart they wanna be me
Uh, yeah, and now ya got me right beside ya
Hoping you listen I catch you paying attention
To my ambitions as a ridah
I won’t deny it, I’m a straight ridah
You don’t wanna fuck with me (my ambitions as a ridah)
Got the police bustin’ at me
But they can’t do nothing to a G
It was my only wish to rise
Above these jealous coward motherfuckers I despise
When it’s time to ride, I was the first off this side, give me the nine
I’m ready to die right here tonight, and motherfuck they life (yeah, nigga)
That’s what they screaming as they drill me, but I’m hard to kill
So open fire, I see you kill me, witness my steel
Spitting at adversaries, envious and after me
I’d rather die before they capture me, watch me bleed
Mama come rescue me I’m suicidal, thinking thoughts
I’m innocent, so there’ll be bullets flying when I’m caught (shoot)
Fuck doing jail time, better day, sacrificing
Won’t get a chance to do me like they did my nigga Tyson
Thugging for life, and if you right, then nigga die for it
Let them other brothers try, at least you tried for it
When it’s time to die, to be a man, you pick the way you leave
Fuck peace and the police, my ambitions as a ridah
I won’t deny it, I’m a straight ridah
You don’t wanna fuck with me (my ambitions as a ridah)
Got the police bustin’ at me
But they can’t do nothing to a G
My murderous lyrics equipped with spirits of the thugs before me
Pay off the block, evade the cops ’cause I know they coming for me
I been hesitant to reappear, been away for years
Now I’m back my adversaries been reduced to tears
Question my methods to switch up speeds, sure as some bitches bleed
Niggas’ll feel the fire of my mother’s corrupted seed
Blast me but they didn’t finish
Didn’t diminish my powers
So now I’m back to be a motherfucking menace, they cowards
That’s why they tried to set me up
Had bitch ass niggas on my team, so indeed, they wet me up
But I’m back reincarnated, incarcerated
At the time I contemplate the way that God made it
Lace ’em with lyrics that’s legendary, musical mercenary
For money, I’ll have these motherfuckers buried (I been)
Getting much mail in jail, niggas telling me to kill it
Knowing when I get out, they gon’ feel it
Witness the realest, a hoo-ridah when I put the shit inside
The cry from all your people when they find her
Just remind ya, my history’ll prove authentic
Revenge on them niggas that played me
And all the cowards that was down with it
Now it’s yo nigga right beside ya
Hoping you listening, catch you paying attention
To my ambitions as a ridah
I won’t deny it, I’m a straight ridah
You don’t wanna fuck with me (my ambitions as a ridah)
Got the police bustin’ at me
But they can’t do nothing to a G
I won’t deny it, I’m a straight ridah
You don’t wanna fuck with me
Got the police bustin’ at me
But they can’t do nothing to a G
I won’t deny it, I’m a straight ridah
You don’t wanna fuck with me
Conjuring the visceral streets of the 90s, 2Pac’s ‘Ambitionz Az a Ridah’ captures the indomitable spirit of a man, a movement, and a moment in time. Replete with the raw, unfiltered reality of Tupac Amaru Shakur’s life, this track off the iconic ‘All Eyez on Me’ album is more than just music; it’s a manifesto of survival, defiance, and dogged determination in the face of insurmountable odds.
2Pac’s narrative in this anthem of survival dives deep into the psyche of a ‘ridah’ – a term emblematic of steadfastness and ruthless ambition. It’s a tangle of personal strife, societal struggles, and a relentless quest for respect. The song, much like Shakur’s short-lived life, is a tome of poetic aggression and an intimate glance at the imperishable legacy he left behind.
Embattled Warrior with a Poet’s Heart
2Pac’s lyricism in ‘Ambitionz Az a Ridah’ verges on the cinematic, painting the picture of an embattled warrior riding through life’s relentless battlefield. The scars are badges of honor, yet Tupac’s rhapsody isn’t hollow bravado; it harbors an innate recognition of the importance of perseverance and a reputation built not on materialism, but on the palpitations of a fearless heart.
The rapper’s journey is chronicled through verses that allude to personal trauma, industry battles, and the perpetual confrontation with law enforcement. Yet, within the strife, emerges the story of a man steadfast in his ideologies, refusing to skew his compass for the fleeting and often vacuous accolades of stardom.
Dissecting the Creed of Loyalty Over Greed
Permeating the track is the systemic mantra of ‘money over bitches,’ a phrase that on its surface exudes misogyny, yet upon closer inspection unravels the intricate layers of survivalist mentality in a dog-eat-dog world. Here, Tupac isn’t merely glorifying wealth; he’s underscoring the paramount importance of loyalty and self-respect over transient pleasures and deceitful companionships.
This attitude contextualizes the environment of mistrust and relentless grind that Tupac found himself in, perhaps foreshadowing his untimely demise. Shakur communicates a potent message about the dangers and illusions presented by those keen to exploit the naive and the dedicated.
Visceral Narration of Street Warfare and Injustice
In true 2Pac fashion, ‘Ambitionz Az a Ridah’ doesn’t shy away from the brutal realities of street life and the adversarial relationship with authorities. Lines like ‘Got the police bustin’ at me / But they can’t do nothing to a G’ reflect not just personal experience, but the collective narrative of African American persecution and the defiance against an imbalanced justice system.
These words echo a historical struggle, resonating with instances of police brutality and racial profiling that are sadly still relevant today. Shakur invokes a defiant stance in the face of institutional oppression, solidifying his position as an outspoken critic and champion for civil rights issues.
The Hidden Meaning: Immortality Through Resilience
‘Ambitionz Az a Ridah’ is imbued with a subtle yet profound statement – the promise of immortality through resilience. Tupac weaves his impending death narrative, riddled with foes and traitors, yet there’s a fierce pronouncement of enduring through his art, his influence, and his spirit. It’s a bittersweet premonition of his legacy, foreshadowing his physical departure but noting the perpetual vitality of his message.
By embedding his soul into verses, Tupac entrenches himself into the very fabric of cultural discourse, ensuring his voice and vision live on. It is in this resilience where the true meaning of the song emerges – not as a mere track on an album but as an eternal testament to the unyielding spirit of a cultural icon.
Memorable Lines: The Lasting Echoes of a Revolutionary
‘My murderous lyrics equipped with spirits of the thugs before me’ – In this potent lyric, Tupac acknowledges his predecessors and the lineage of revolutionary thought he’s a part of. It’s a collective chant of those who’ve suffered, fought, and ultimately shaped the individual he’s become, crowning his verses as a continuation of their legacy.
The song’s inextinguishable fire is encapsulated in lines like ‘I won’t deny it, I’m a straight ridah / You don’t wanna fuck with me,’ a bold proclamation of his unwavering nature and a direct challenge to anyone daring to quash his spirit. These words resonate not just as a personal anthem but as the clarion call of anyone who’s had to rise up and claim their space despite the suffocating pressures of adversity.
