Changes (Tupac Shakur song)
| "Changes" | |
|---|---|
| Song |
"Changes" is a hip hop song by 2Pac, the song was originally recorded during his tenure at Interscope records in 1992 and was produced by Shock G. Changes was later remixed during 1997-1998. The song re-uses lines from "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. A sample of Bruce Hornsby singing the chorus of The Way It Is is used for the chorus of this song. At times 2Pac re-used lines from other unreleased songs because he planned to make an updated version at a later date. However, since his death many of the unreleased and unmastered songs are being officially released. The song makes references to the Black Panther Party. "Changes" remains one of 2Pac's most notable and popular songs.
Overview
The song was the #1 hit in Norway and The Netherlands and reached the top ten in the singles charts of several other countries, including #3 in the United Kingdom. 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. 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.
The song refers to the possibility of a black President of the United States, claiming 'we ain't ready'. Further, the last verse of the song refers to Shakur's anxiety about being shot to death, mimicking the sound of a gun with the phrase "rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat". In 1996, 2pac was shot and killed in a drive by in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Music video
The Chris Hafner-directed music video 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.
Samples
The song is an interpretation of the 1986 hit "The Way It Is" by Bruce Hornsby and the Range. 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 Mother's Day song. Nas also sampled the song for his song "Black President".
Peak positions
| Charts (1999) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[2] | 7 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[3] | 6 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[4] | 2 |
| Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)[5] | 11 |
| Denmark (Tracklisten)[6] | 7 |
| France (SNEP)[7] | 39 |
| songid field is MANDATORY FOR GERMAN CHARTS | 7 |
| Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[8] | 1 |
| New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[9] | 3 |
| Norway (VG-lista)[10] | 1 |
| Sweden (Sverigetopplistan)[11] | 3 |
| Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[12] | 2 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[13] | 32 |
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[14] | 12 |
| US Pop Airplay (Billboard)[15] | 38 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[16] | 3 |
References
- ^ Ascap entry for song ASCAP, accessed May 1, 2011
- ^ "2 Pac – Changes". ARIA Top 50 Singles.
- ^ "2 Pac – Changes" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40.
- ^ "2 Pac – Changes" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "2 Pac – Changes" (in French). Ultratop 50.
- ^ "2 Pac – Changes". Tracklisten.
- ^ "2 Pac – Changes" (in French). Les classement single.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – 2 Pac" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
- ^ "2 Pac – Changes". Top 40 Singles.
- ^ "2 Pac – Changes". VG-lista.
- ^ "2 Pac – Changes". Singles Top 100.
- ^ "2 Pac – Changes". Swiss Singles Chart.
- ^ "2Pac Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
- ^ "2Pac Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "2Pac Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard.
- ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.