Dear Mama

"Dear Mama"
US cover
Single by 2Pac
from the album Me Against the World
B-side	"Old School"
Released	February 9, 1995
Studio	Encore Studios (Burbank, California)
Genre	Hip-hop
Length	4:39
Label	Interscope Jive
Songwriter	Tupac Shakur
Producer	Tony Pizarro
2Pac singles chronology
"Cradle to the Grave" (1994) "Dear Mama" (1995) "So Many Tears" (1995)
Music video
"Dear Mama" on YouTube

"Dear Mama" is a song by American rapper 2Pac from his third studio album, Me Against the World (1995). It was released on February 9, 1995, as the lead single from the album. The song is dedicated to his mother, Afeni Shakur. In the song, Shakur details his childhood poverty and his mother's addiction to crack cocaine, but argues that his love and deep respect for his mother supersede bad memories. The song became his first top ten on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number nine. It also topped the Hot Rap Singles chart for five weeks.^[1] As of March 2021, the song is certified 3× Platinum by the RIAA.

"Dear Mama" has been consistently ranked among the best of its genre, appearing on numerous "greatest" lists. In 2009, the song was inducted into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress, who deemed it a work that is "culturally, historically, or aesthetically important, and/or inform or reflect life in the United States",^[2] making it the first hip-hop recording by a soloist to be inducted.^[3] In a press release, the organization called the song "a moving and eloquent homage to both the murdered rapper's own mother and all mothers struggling to maintain a family in the face of addiction, poverty and societal indifference."

The song is a tribute to Shakur's mother, Afeni Shakur. She and her husband were active members of the Black Panther Party in New York in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Shakur was born a month after his mother was acquitted of more than 150 charges of "Conspiracy against the United States government and New York landmarks" in the New York "Panther 21" court case.^[4] She was often absent during his childhood in favor of being an activist, and also became addicted to crack cocaine during Shakur's adolescence.^[5] Shakur was kicked out by Afeni at age 17, and they had little contact for many years. Having "lost all respect" for his mother, he subsequently moved into a vacant apartment with friends and began writing poetry and rap lyrics.^[6] In 1990, realizing her habit was out-of-control,^[6] Afeni enrolled in a twelve-step program at a drug and alcohol treatment center in Norwalk, Connecticut. Following her completion, she reconciled with her son, who was at this point a successful rapper.^[7]

Record producer Tony Pizarro recalled that Shakur frequently referenced the idea of "Dear Mama" across multiple songs, which led Pizarro to believe it could be developed into a standalone track. He stated that Shakur later made a concept for the song and referenced "In My Wildest Dreams" (1978) by Joe Sample of the Crusaders as a musical inspiration. Pizarro prepared the beat based on the sample, after which Shakur recorded and completed the vocals for the track.^[8]

The song was written shortly before Shakur served a prison term.^[9] Upon completion of the track, Shakur called close friend Jada Pinkett-Smith, remarking "I wrote this song about our mothers and I want you to hear it." Similar to Afeni Shakur, Pinkett-Smith's mother had struggled with drug addiction, and their experiences growing up with this as children led to their friendship. She later remarked that the song gave her a "rush of emotions" upon her first listen.^[10] Johnny J, one of Shakur's producers, noted that his emotional and vulnerable songs were his personal favorites.^[11]

In a 1995 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Shakur revealed he was influenced by emotionally expressive songs including Don McLean's "Vincent" (1972), which he described as deeply "touching" lyrically. He explained that he wanted his own music to evoke similar emotional responses in listeners, and took for example that "Dear Mama" was written to directly appeal to his peers' emotional experiences. When questioned about misogyny in his lyrics, Shakur defended his music, noting that he worked in the studio with women and played his songs for women beofre their release, remarking that he wrote "Dear Mama" for Afeni due to his unconditional love.^[12]

In "Dear Mama", Shakur praises his mother's courage, arguing that many mothers share this trait, and also describes the "highs and lows" of her past.^[7] In a cultural and historical context, "Dear Mama" is one of notable hip-hop songs in which male rappers state their reverence for their mothers. Statistics show that a disproportionate number of African-American households are headed by single mothers, and author Mickey Hess asserts that their bravery and role in their children's lives leads to their status as an "eternal symbol of love" in their offspring's eyes.^[13] In another one of his book, Is Hip Hop Dead?: The Past, Present, and Future of America's Most Wanted Music, he asserts that his mother's appearance in Shakur's music is designed to establish credibility with listeners. In this sense, he "connects himself to black radical history through his mother's affiliation with the Black Panthers", and explains that his music is autobiographical, illustrating that 2Pac, as a performer, and Tupac Shakur, as a person, are one and the same.^[5] In addition, Shakur recorded the tune as he knew he was not the only person to grow up with a parent struggling with drug addiction.^[14]

The song's most famous lyric is one in which Shakur declares his love for Afeni, as well as his disappointment in her. Michael Eric Dyson, the author of Holler If You Hear Me: Searching for Tupac Shakur, interprets that this line reflects Shakur's emotional maturity, arguing that he is able to acknowledge his mother's love while recognizing and naming her struggles. Dyson further suggests that Shakur's willingness to present both praise and difficulty reveals the honesty in his portrayal of their relationship.^[15] In the song, Shakur addresses the absence of a father figure, stating that he received no love from his father because "the coward wasn't there", adding that he did not cry upon his death, and explaining that his anger prevented him from grieving for someone who he viewed as a stranger. The father mentioned here was Lumumba Shakur, who divorced Afeni after learning Shakur was not his biological son and later died in February 1986. According to Black Fathers: An Invisible Presence in America, this sentiment "seemed to resonate with a generation of Black males who felt estranged from their fathers."^[16]

The lyrics also reference Shakur's difficult adolescence, including getting kicked out of his home by his mother at age 17, involvement in drug dealing, and hugging his mother while incarcerated.^[9] Scholar George Yancy, writing for The Philadelphia Tribune, argued that the song's slow tempo contributes to a reflective tone, noting that Shakur begins by framing a context in which his mother was taken for granted amid his own disruptive behavior. The song recalls lines such as being "suspended from school" and "scared to go home", followed by reflections on misdirected blame toward his mother, including the admission that "when things went wrong, we blamed mama." These lyrics underscore the regret and self-reflection expressed in the narrative.^[17] Emphasizing the song's writing, Yancy described "Dear Mama" as a praise song centered on Black motherhood, arguing that it speaks to how many listeners perceive their own mothers. He notes that the song draws attention to Shakur's personal relationship with his mother, suggests that listening to the song can renew appreciation for one's mother. He further emphasized that the song has a transformative effect, encouraging listeners to reconsider how they see, understand, and value their mothers.^[17]

Released on February 9, 1995,^[18] "Dear Mama" entered Billboard's Hot R&B Singles chart on March 11, rose to number 2 the next week, then to number 1 during the week of March 25.^[19] The song topped the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart for five weeks and peaked at number nine on the Hot 100. It also topped the Hot Dance Music Maxi-Singles sales chart for four weeks.^[20] The single was certified platinum by the RIAA on July 13, 1995, and sold 700,000 copies domestically.^[18][21]

The video features an appearance by Afeni Shakur, who re-enacts her reconciliation with a lookalike of her son.^[5] Tupac himself was serving his four-and-a-half-year prison sentence. He released this song, and the associated album, while being sentenced. While in prison his album quickly climbed the charts. The demand for a video grew: the video was released while he was in prison and for that reason could not be in the video. No other video was made when he was released.^[22]

Jeff Weiss, writing for the Los Angeles Times, praised "Dear Mama", stating that it demonstrates Shakur's ability to distill complex emotions into clear and stark imagery.^[9] Cheo Coker of Rolling Stone described the song as a heartfelt, at times unflinching dedication to his mother that reflects the mutual hardships they experienced.^[23] Robert Christgau included "Dear Mama" the eighth best single of 1995 in his Pazz & Jop critics' poll.^[24]

The song is often considered Shakur's most "emotionally resonant" song.^[9] Rolling Stone placed "Dear Mama" at number eighteen on its 2012 list of The 50 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time.^[11] Carrie Golus of USA Today opined that "Dear Mama" was the sole reason for the double-platinum certifications of Me Against the World. He explained that the song presents a sensitive side of the rapper, which led to increased recognition, particularly among female fans.^[6] In 1997, shortly after the rapper's death, Afeni mentioned "Dear Mama" in a People article. She revealed that she could not listen to it without crying, explaining that the emotional impact of the song "gets worse every time".^[25]

LA Weekly placed the song at number six on their list The 20 Best Hip-Hop Songs in History.^[26] In 2009, "Dear Mama" was one of the twenty-five recordings selected for preservation at the National Recording Registry in the Library of Congress, making it the third hip-hop song to do so after Public Enemy and Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five.^[9] The Library of Congress described the song as a "moving and eloquent homage" not just to Afeni, but also to mothers more broadly who struggle to support their families amid addiction, poverty, and social neglect.^[27] Afeni stated she was honored that "Dear Mama" was selected, noting that it resonated with her personally as well as with many other mothers who have faced similar circumstances. She added that Shakur recognized those struggles and remains a hero to many people.^[9]

"Dear Mama" has influenced numerous rappers. In an interview with MTV, Eminem reflected that he frequently played the song in his car shortly after his release.^[28] Common described "Dear Mama" as one of Shakur's songs that influenced him the most, calling the song courageous and "one of the most heartfelt songs I've ever heard in hip-hop". He further emphasized that "Dear Mama" demonstrated how a rapper could maintain authenticity while expressing compassion and love.^[10] Kendrick Lamar said the song had a profound impact on him, explaining that it helped him understand the importance of vulnerability and expressing oneself without fear.^[29]

12", cassette, CD, maxi^[30]

1. "Dear Mama" (LP Version) — 4:41
2. "Dear Mama" (Instrumental) — 5:21
3. "Bury Me a G" — 4:59
4. "Dear Mama" (Moe Z. Mix) — 5:09
5. "Dear Mama" (Instrumental Moe Z. Mix) — 5:09
6. "Old School" (LP Version) — 4:59

Credits are adapted from the single's liner notes.^[31]