“Holler If Ya Hear Me,” Tupac Shakur
Tupac Shakur, when he was in his most celebrated conscious mind, was a sublime poet and master of conscious streams of thought. His song, “Holler If Ya Hear Me,” from the 1993 Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z. album, was a revolutionary call to action that demonstrated to the world — his unique gifting and personal socio-political positioning.
In efforts to highlight the daily injustices and the atrocities enacted toward the Black community, this son of a Black Panther used this song as protest. It, to this day, is a direct response to the systemic white supremacy.
“Until then … Raise up! Tell my young Black males … Blaze up! Life’s a mess don’t stress … Test … I’m givin’ … Much love to my brothers in tha pen … See ya when I free ya … If not, when they shut me in … Once again, is there no one else strapped
Keep ya hands on ya gat … Now ya boys watch ya back … Cause in tha alleys of cali I’ma tell ya … Mess with tha best and tha vest couldn’t help ya … Scream, if ya feel me … See it clearly? your too near me … Holler if ya hear me!”
Pac is calling for the return of the Black radicals. With “Holler …” he is beckoning to individuals who are willing to make change by force and through the classic “pump ya fists like this,” providing an anthem that Hip-Hop in the 90s could stand in solidarity to.