Changes (Tupac song)
Encyclopedia
"Changes" is a hip hop
song by the late Tupac Shakur
, the song was originally recorded during his tenure at Interscope records in 1992. Changes was later remixed during 1997-1998. The song re-uses lines from another 2Pac song called "I Wonder If Heaven Got A Ghetto" which was recorded during the same year. The song samples the 1986 hit "The Way It Is" by Bruce Hornsby and the Range
. 2Pac at times re-used lines from other unreleased songs because he would try to make an updated version. However, since his death many of the unreleased and unmastered songs are being officially released. The song makes references to the Black Panther Party
.
and The Netherlands and reached the top ten in the singles charts of several other countries, including #3 in the United Kingdom
. It is one of 2Pac's most notable and popular songs. Released posthumously on his album Greatest Hits
, the song talks about all of the different issues that were related to 2Pac's era of influence - notably racism
, police brutality
, drugs
and gang violence.
"Changes" was nominated for Best Rap Solo Performance at the Grammy Awards of 2000
and remains the only posthumous song to be nominated in this category. In 2009, "Changes" was chosen as one of 12 songs to appear on the Vatican
's official Myspace
music page. The "Huey" that 2Pac mentions in the song ("two shots in the dark, now Huey's dead") is Huey P. Newton
, founder of the Black Panther Party
. In 2008
, "Changes" climbed to Number One on Billboard
magazine's Hot Ringtones chart.
is a compilation of a number of previous music videos 2Pac released in addition to home videos and never-before-seen pictures, similar to the format of The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Dead Wrong
", also released in 1999.
. Bay Area rapper E-40
had interpreted the song already on his track, "Things'll Never Change," for his album Tha Hall of Game
. The Tupac 'Changes' instrumental was used by Insane Clown Posse
in "Mom Song" a mothers day song. Nas samples the song for his song Black President.
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
song by the late Tupac Shakur
Tupac Shakur
Tupac Amaru Shakur , known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. Shakur has sold over 75 million albums worldwide as of 2007, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world...
, the song was originally recorded during his tenure at Interscope records in 1992. Changes was later remixed during 1997-1998. The song re-uses lines from another 2Pac song called "I Wonder If Heaven Got A Ghetto" which was recorded during the same year. The song samples the 1986 hit "The Way It Is" by Bruce Hornsby and the Range
Bruce Hornsby
Bruce Randall Hornsby is an American singer, pianist, accordion player, and songwriter. Known for the spontaneity and creativity of his live performances, Hornsby draws frequently from classical, jazz, bluegrass, folk, Motown, rock, blues, and jam band musical traditions with his songwriting and...
. 2Pac at times re-used lines from other unreleased songs because he would try to make an updated version. However, since his death many of the unreleased and unmastered songs are being officially released. The song makes references to the Black Panther Party
Black Panther Party
The Black Panther Party wasan African-American revolutionary leftist organization. It was active in the United States from 1966 until 1982....
.
Overview
The song was a #1 hit in NorwayNorway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and The Netherlands and reached the top ten in the singles charts of several other countries, including #3 in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It is one of 2Pac's most notable and popular songs. Released posthumously on his album Greatest Hits
Greatest Hits (2Pac album)
Greatest Hits is a double disc greatest hits album for late rapper 2Pac, released by Amaru/Death Row Records in 1998. The album's non-chronological sequence highlights 2Pac's career; the 21 popular hits, some slightly re-edited for legal reasons, are accompanied by four previously unreleased songs:...
, the song talks about all of the different issues that were related to 2Pac's era of influence - notably racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
, police brutality
Police brutality
Police brutality is the intentional use of excessive force, usually physical, but potentially also in the form of verbal attacks and psychological intimidation, by a police officer....
, drugs
DRUGS
Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows are an American post-hardcore band formed in 2010. They released their debut self-titled album on February 22, 2011.- Formation :...
and gang violence.
"Changes" was nominated for Best Rap Solo Performance at the Grammy Awards of 2000
Grammy Awards of 2000
The 42nd Grammy Awards were held on February 23, 2000. During the show, Santana won 8 Grammys, tying Michael Jackson's record for most awards won in a single night. Santana's album Supernatural was awarded a total of nine awards....
and remains the only posthumous song to be nominated in this category. In 2009, "Changes" was chosen as one of 12 songs to appear on the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
's official Myspace
Myspace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
music page. The "Huey" that 2Pac mentions in the song ("two shots in the dark, now Huey's dead") is Huey P. Newton
Huey P. Newton
Huey Percy Newton was an American political and urban activist who, along with Bobby Seale, co-founded the Black Panther Party for Self Defense.-Early life:...
, founder of the Black Panther Party
Black Panther Party
The Black Panther Party wasan African-American revolutionary leftist organization. It was active in the United States from 1966 until 1982....
. In 2008
2008 in music
2008 was a huge year in music history with the emergence of pop superstars Lady Gaga and Katy Perry into the mainstream. Also, this is the year that is widely agreed upon by critics as the start of the fall of hip hop from the mainstream and the rise of Synthpop into the mainstream due to acts such...
, "Changes" climbed to Number One on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
magazine's Hot Ringtones chart.
Music video
The Chris Hafner-directed music videoMusic video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
is a compilation of a number of previous music videos 2Pac released in addition to home videos and never-before-seen pictures, similar to the format of The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Dead Wrong
Dead Wrong
"Dead Wrong" is a song by The Notorious B.I.G. from his third album Born Again. It features rapper Eminem and was released as a single posthumously in 1999. The song samples the drum break from Al Green's song, "I'm Glad You're Mine". It reached number 39 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles &...
", also released in 1999.
Samples
The song is an interpretation of the 1986 hit "The Way It Is" by Bruce Hornsby and the RangeBruce Hornsby
Bruce Randall Hornsby is an American singer, pianist, accordion player, and songwriter. Known for the spontaneity and creativity of his live performances, Hornsby draws frequently from classical, jazz, bluegrass, folk, Motown, rock, blues, and jam band musical traditions with his songwriting and...
. Bay Area rapper E-40
E-40
Earl Stevens , better known by his stage name E-40, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and investor from Vallejo, California. He is also part of the rap group The Click and the founder of Sick Wid It Records. His solo debut album, Federal, was released in November 1992, after The Click's debut...
had interpreted the song already on his track, "Things'll Never Change," for his album Tha Hall of Game
Tha Hall of Game
Tha Hall of Game is the third studio album by American rapper E-40, released October 29, 1996 on Jive and Sick Wid It Records. The album features production by Ant Banks, Mike Mosley, Rick Rock, Studio Ton and Tone Capone. It peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and at number...
. The Tupac 'Changes' instrumental was used by Insane Clown Posse
Insane Clown Posse
Insane Clown Posse is an American hip hop duo from Detroit, Michigan. The group is composed of Joseph Bruce and Joseph Utsler, who perform under the respective personas of the "wicked clowns" Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope. Insane Clown Posse performs a style of hardcore hip hop known as horrorcore...
in "Mom Song" a mothers day song. Nas samples the song for his song Black President.
Peak positions
| Charts (1999) | Peak position |
|---|