To Live and Die in L.A.
Title | To Live and Die in L.A. |
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Artist | 2Pac |
Album | The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory |
Release Date | 1996-09-26 |
Description | Although he was born in New York, “To Live and Die in L.A.” is Tupac’s ode to the metropolis he loved the most: Los Angeles. In this “California Love Part 2,” he talks about all the particularities that make the City of Angels such a great place to live—and die, ranging from its immigrants to its infamous gangs. 2Pac once again reconnects with producer QDIII, who revealed that the song was done in less than two hours, with 2Pac writing his lyrics in about 15 minutes and laying his vocals in one take before singer Val Young and guitarist Ricky Rouse came in to do their parts. |
Lyrics | [Intro] “Street Science, you’re on the air. What do you feel when you hear a record like 2Pac’s new one?” “I love 2Pac’s new record.” “Right, but don’t you feel like that creates tension between East and West? I mean, he’s talking about killing people, ‘I had sex with your wife’ — and not in those words. But he’s talking about, ‘I wanna see you deceased’…" [Intro: 2Pac] I love L.A No Doubt To live and die in L.A. (California) No matter what you say about Los Angeles It's still the only place for me It never rains in Southern California [Verse 1: 2Pac] To live and die in L.A Where everyday we try to fatten our pockets Us niggas hustle for the cash, so it's hard to knock it Everybody got they own thing, currency chasin' Worldwide through the hard times, worrying faces Shed tears as we bury niggas close to heart What was a friend, now a ghost in the dark Cold part about it, nigga got smoked by a fiend Tryin' to floss on him, blind to a broken man's dream A hard lesson, court cases keep me guessin' Plea bargain ain't an option now, so I'm stressin' Cost me more to be free than a life in the pen' Makin' money off of cuss words, writin' again Learn how to think ahead, so I fight with my pen Late night down sunset, likin' the sin What's the worst they can do to a nigga? Got me lost in Hell, to live and die in L.A. on bail [Chorus: Val Young & 2Pac] My angel sing To live and die in L.A., it's the place to be And the angels go You've got to be there to know it When everybody wanna see To live and die in L.A To live and die in L.A., it's the place to be You've got to be there to know it When everybody wanna see You might also like[Verse 2: 2Pac] It's the city of angels and constant danger South Central L.A. can't get no stranger Full of drama like a soap opera On the curb watchin' the ghetto bird helicopters I observe so many niggas gettin' three strikes, tossed in jail I swear, the pen' right across from hell I can't cry, ‘cause it's on now I'm just a nigga on his own now Livin' life thug style, so I can't smile Writing to my peoples when they ask for pictures Thinkin' Cali just fun and bitches Better learn about the dress code, B's and C's All them other niggas copycats, these is G's I love Cali like I love women ‘Cause every nigga in L.A. got a little bit of thug in 'em We might fight amongst each other But I promise you this: we'll burn this bitch down, get us pissed To live and die in L.A [Chorus: Val Young & 2Pac] To live and die in L.A., it's the place to be Let my angels sing You've got to be there to know it When everybody wanna see And my angels go To live and die in L.A., it's the place to be To live and die in L.A You've got to be there to know it When everybody wanna see [Verse 3: 2Pac] It wouldn't be L.A. without Mexicans Black love, Brown Pride in the sets again Pete Wilson tryin' to see us all broke I'm on some bullshit out for everything they owe Remember KDAY? Weekends, Crenshaw, MLK? Automatics rang free, niggas lost they way Gang signs being shown, nigga, love yo' hood But recognize and it's all good Where the weed at? Niggas gettin' shermed out Snoop Dogg in this mufucka permed out M.O.B., Big Suge in the Lo-Lo, bounce and turn Dogg Pound in the Lex with a ounce to burn Got them Watts niggas with me, O.F.T.B They got some hash, took the stash, left the rest for me Neckbone, Tre, Heron, Buntry too Big Rock got knocked, but this one's for you I hit the studio and drop a jewel, hopin' it pay Gettin' high, watchin' time fly; to live and die in L.A [Chorus: Val Young & 2Pac] To live and die in L.A., it's the place to be Let my angel sing You've got to be there to know it When everybody wanna see And my angels go To live and die in L.A., it's the place to be To live and die in L.A You've got to be there to know it When everybody wanna see Let my angel sing [Outro: 2Pac] This go out for 92.3 and 106 All the radio stations that be bumpin' my shit Makin' my shit sells quadruple quintuple platinum (To live and die in L.A., mhmmm) This go out to all the magazines that support a nigga All the real motherfuckers (To live and die in L.A., mhmmm) All the stores, the mom and pop spots A&R people, all y'all mothafuckers (To live and die in L.A., mhmmm) L.A., "California Love" part mothafuckin' two Without gay ass Dre (To live and die in L.A., mhmmm) (To live and die in L.A., mhmmm) |