On Sept. 25, 1991, rapper 2Pac released a single from his debut album ‘2Pacalypse Now’ titled “Trapped.”
Though the song was released over twenty years ago, the subject still holds true in today’s society. Through his impeccable storytelling, 2Pac tells the story of police brutality that people of color know all too well.
The first part of the song is about 2Pac being harassed by the police, even being shot at by one. Instead of backing down, he shoots back at the officer which launches a chase. The police eventually corner him resulting in the last line of the song, “What do I do? Live my life in a prison cell?/ I’d rather die than be trapped in a living hell.”
Similar to other songs from this poetic lyricist, “Trapped” is another relatable tale of what black people, especially black men, experience when they interact with police officers. It also is another example of how hip-hop continues to be the voice of the urban youth.
