Keep Ya Head Up by 2Pac Song Info
"Keep Ya Head Up" is a 1993 hit single by Tupac Shakur. The song features R&B singer Dave Hollister and is dedicated to Latasha Harlins and women. The song is at once a call for better treatment of women by fellow men, and a call to women, children, and poor people of color to 'keep ya head up' through inevitable tough times that arise in a system and society that make it 'hard to be legit and still pay the rent'. 2Pac also talks about rape, saying men have no right to tell a women where and when women should have babies or have sex. This song encourages women to stay strong. It addresses issues concerning lack of respect toward the female gender, especially poor black women. It has a very positive message, and is often used as an example of Shakur's softer side. Many consider it to be one of the deepest rap songs ever made and is often referenced by other artists in their work, building Shakur's persona as a very conscious and influential rapper. The video opens up with the words "Dedicated to the memory of Latasha Harlins, it's still on", in reference to the L.A. Riots. The video has a basic format with Shakur rapping in the middle of a circle surrounded by a crowd of people and in some scenes seen holding a young child. His mother Afeni Shakur also appears in the video. The same beat was used the year before on southern rapper Big Mello's song "Love Don't Love Nobody" from his 1992 album Bone Hard Zaggin and H-Town's hit single, Knockin' da Boots. This song was also used by South Central Cartel "Gangsta Love", covered by Lyfe Jennings and released on his 2006 album, The Phoenix, used in the soundtrack of the movie Freedom Writers and performed live by Nas at the MTV Rap Memorial in 2005 and at VH1's Hip Hop Honors in tribute to Shakur in 2004. The title of the song was mentioned on Ludacris' verse on Usher's song, "She Don't Know" on his 2010 album Raymond vs. Raymond. A2: mixed for Vibe Tribe Entertainment. B1: remix and additional production for Madukey Productions. B2: produced for Stayin' Busy Productions. A1, A2, B1 contain samples from "Be Alright" (R. Troutman; Rubberband Music, BMI) as recorded by Roger. B2 contains samples from "Computer Land" (Saja Music/Troutman's Music, BMI) as recorded by Zapp.
