Nas is from Queens, as is Russell Simmons. Russell Simmons is the hip-hop mogul who started Def Jam. Jay-Z’s Roc-A-Fella records was a Def Jam label, so Jay-Z’s boss was, like Nas, a guy from Queens.

Additionally, Russell Simmons' brother, Joseph Simmons a.k.a. “Run”, was part of the group “Run DMC” from Queens, NY.

Snoop was 22 when this song was released (although he was 19 when he blew up on the West Coast ur-rap “Deep Cover”). I think Snoop just says he’s 19 because that’s the age mentioned in Slick Rick’s version (Slick Rick actually was 19 when his version was recorded). Another possibility is that this all “happened” before Snoop blew up, showing how powerful of an effect on women he really has.

Let’s see…

On the one hand, being real: hard work, low pay, implies agreeing with your mother

On the other hand, selling crack: easy, big money, popular with the ladies

Pac’s trying to bring to the dealer’s attention they are profiting out of the kids who are hooked on the drugs. And as we all know, drugs are destructive to people’s lives. Pac doesn’t agree with him, but he understands that life’s a game and we all need to make money for obvious reasons. I believe Pac’s bringing up a morality issue here and this is an example of how some people don’t care about others as long as they make money. But that’s the way it is and it must be changed.

Criticizing the capitalist status quo which motivates people to do evil things (like selling drugs to kids) in order to turn a profit. The definition of status quo is “the way it is”

Recorded in 1992, Pac thinks a black president would end up being more divisive for the country and it would be best to wait for more tolerant times.

2Pac was mostly right. Were we really ready for Obama in 2008? No, not at all in fact. As soon as the results were announced in 2008, outcry ensued all over the United States, primarily in the South. Many ignorantly believe he was elected for the sole reason of being black. No one was really ready for a black President, and evidence can be found in the media or even right outside your door.

Sadly, Pac, you can never go home again (just ask Jay-Z)

“The Way it is” refers to the sample the song uses, Bruce Hornsby and the Ranges “The Way it Is” (1986), also about racial intolerance. Hornsby reported he was “honored” by 2pac’s use of his melody.

Two ways to look at this couplet:

a) Literally, the places and conditions that existed when ‘Pac was a kid have changed and he can never re-visit them because everything is different.

b) Growing up has changed ‘Pac’s outlook on life, and he can no longer re-capture the same energy and happiness he had felt as a kid. when you’re a child, you don’t automatically see differences first, you see a potential to make a new friend. Skin color doesn’t inherently matter. Racism is taught, not bred.

This also might remind the listener of the movie Juice, which 2Pac played in, where at the end of the movie, after Bishop dies, it flashes back to the scene where the whole crew is together, likely Q remembering how things used to be, and wishing they could still be that way, but they obviously can’t be.

Huey P. Newton, the founder of the Black Panthers, was shot dead by a drug dealer in Oakland in 1989 at the age of 47.

Reports say there were three shots.

2Pac’s parents were active members of the Black Panther Party. Also refers to the FBI’s history of targeting and monitoring Black and other supposed revolutionary figureheads and implementing strategies to eliminate them by smearing their public image—or worse, assassinating them. You only have to look at their sister organisation the CIA, who have repeatedly instigated coups and assassinations of International leaders.