2Pac Friday
23 June 2023
Representin’ 93. This underrated and under-the-radar 2pac song, is perfect for the second 2pac Friday, which is also currently underrated and under-the-radar.
It’s a shame not more people know about it, because when this track is played, it immediately screams “energy” and “optimism.”
It makes you want to dance. At least it did for my friend L.G.--no relation to G.R. from the previous 2pac Friday, despite both having G’s in their initials–who would break into a dance every time he walked by the gas station I was working at and I played this song over the loudspeaker. This local tradition reached its short-lived height of popularity back in 2014 and 2015 (though we hope gas station workers around the country–and world–will rekindle this tradition, at least on 2pac Fridays). L.G. would get so into the song so much that he would attract a crowd and eventually others would join in the dance. L.G.--whose initials we use here in lieu of his full name to protect him from the pitfalls of internet fame and retribution from 2pac Friday employers that has been well-documented–-was definitely representing. And can any blame him?
No, of course not. This is an amazing song. It hits hard with an earthly, Old School vibe–even for 1993. It was the only song on 2pac’s second album produced by Truman Jefferson, who was planning to write a book about his experiences with 2pac titled Representin’ 93: The Story Behind The Making of . I hope Jefferson does finish that book, because there would be at least one customer right here. Here is some footage Jefferson made in the studio from the actual making of the song: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/representin-93-the-story-behind-the-making-of#/
This song is appropriate for an early SLP 2pac Friday for many reasons. The second verse of this song largely acts as a shout out to other rappers 2pac knew or respected at the time. Somewhat similarly, this lays the groundwork for 2pac Fridays, which act as sort of an eternal shout out to the lengthy list of 2pac songs we know and respect During the chorus 2pac says “strictly representin’” and during this lengthy, eternal shout out, we will be strictly representing 2pac. Yet, new generations will be able to look through 2pac’s second-verse shout out and discover rappers they otherwise would have never known about.
In addition, this track being from 2pac’s second solo studio album, corresponds with the second 2pac Friday–a youthful sort of coming of age with a quality that rejects the so-called inevitability of the supposed “sophomore slump.”
Furthermore, this year, 2023, marks the 30th anniversary of the song’s release–and we believe that 2pac is representing just as much now as he was 30 years ago back in 1993. While this song will likely ultimately be featured in many 2pac Fridays, you can certainly expect it to be prominent this year and 2033, 2043 2053, and so on.
As long as there is a Friday in the week, there is a 2pac Friday. And as long as there is a 2pac Friday, 2pac Shakur will be representing.
Strictly.