I Wonder If Heaven Got A Ghetto

Nicole Man
May 30th, 2018
Found Objects


[Lyrics]
Here on Earth, tell me what's a black life worth
A bottle of juice is no excuse, the truth hurts
And even when you take the shit
Move countries, get a lawyer, you can shake the shit
Ask Rodney, LaTasha, and many more
It's been goin' on for years, there's plenty more
When they ask me, when will the violence cease?
When the troops stop shootin' niggas down in the street

Lyrics from "I Wonder If Heaven Got A Ghetto", Track #10 on 2Pac's R U Still Down (Remember Me) Album. Released September 21st, 1997. Offical Music Video

It is no question why Tupac Shakur has the reputation as one of the best rappers of all time. Genuine and hoarse with rage, Tupac incorporated reoccurring themes of violence, racism, and hardship in the inner cities in his music that essentially defined California and mainstream rap of the 1990's. It is no surprise then, that more than two songs in his R U Still Down (Remember Me) album, are articulately written to openly critique the system, rage in anger of the Rodney King beating and LaTasha Harlins murder, and ultimately mourn in the loss of countless victims to the authority.

In the first four lines of the lyrics quoted above in "I Wonder If Heaven Got A Ghetto", Tupac is referencing to the murder of LaTasha Harlins. On March 16th, 1991, a 15 year old African American girl named LaTasha, entered Empire Liquor to buy an orange juice and never walked out alive. She was fatally shot by a Korean American grocer by the name Soon Ja Du, who was thought to believe that Harlins was attempting to steal the juice. They then got in a scuffle which resulted in Soon Ja Du fatally shot LaTasha in the head. Store security cameras later showed that Harlins had money in her had, ready to pay for the juice. Soon Ja Du was consequently only sentenced to a ten year suspended prison term, five years of probation, 400 hours of community service, and a $500 fine for the murder of a teenaged girl. Tupac's lyrics question if stealing an orange juice was worth to kill someone for and if a $500 fine sufficed for the justice served against the murder of a girl, who walked into a store to buy a juice. Thus, ultimately stating, what a black person's life is worth in Amerikkka.

Additionally, the death of LaTasha happens only 13 days after the brutal beating of Rodney King. Where Tupac says "Ask Rodney, LaTasha, and many more. It's been goin' on for years, there's plenty more", he contextualizes and puts into perspective the scope of which the blood of African Americans are in the hands of those that have the power to get away with senseless violence, torment, and murder against the African American community by acknowledging that Rodney King and LaTasha are not isolated events. It's just this time, people have decided to listen.

[Lyrics]
I see no changes, all I see is racist faces
Misplaced hate makes disgrace to races

Ultimately, this song is filled with anguish and a pain deeper than can be accurately described in words. His lyrics both in this song and in his music overall captured a wide and broad audience because of the truth he spits out in his rap; representing a time capsule of the events of the 1990's and the emotions that arise from these events. Though he is no longer alive, the honesty and truth behind his words have and will always translate across time.


-Nicole Man