Ashur said:
Mikehelix made some good points but he was wrong. Pac asserts that pussy and paper is poetry, power, and pistols. Because that’s the way he starts third verse – he is not saying “they”, he indeed makes clear that it’s what he is thinking.
Pac would not put that line just for alliteration; henceforth he puts it 2 times in one song.
I don't believe there is a "wrong" or "right" interpretation of this, and I didn't claim to have the "right" answer to begin with.
I think that the parallel with the intro to Bomb First, "it's about niggaz & bitches(
pussy), power & money(
paper), ridahz & punks(..picturin pitiful
punk niggaz..), which side are you on?" is no coincidence. the first verse Pac is riding on his enemies, there's no question about that. there are certainly 2 different sides to choose... but "they say" that they are the same, are they are punks. the argument this interpretation is based on is stronger than any other argument I've seen. truly, this is pretty intuitive in my opinion.
alliteration of strong popping sounds is present throughout the ENTIRE song not just this part. these "popping" sounds remind me first instinct of a gun. I was gonna cite examples but there's so many it would take some time that I don't have at the moment.
however, you do bring up a very important point that I never thought about, and I thank you for noticing this - I've changed my opinion. Pac does NOT start out the third verse with "they say." and, not only this, the rhyme directly after that is not "picturin pitiful punk niggaz... as I position myself to clock g's." instead, the next rhyme is "pray to the heavens 357z to tha sky & I hope I'm forgiven 4 thug livin when I die..." which is basically the OPPOSITE message of the first verse. he's praying to God and hoping that he's forgiven when he dies. later, he says "I wonder if heaven got a ghetto for thug niggaz," and "don't shed a tear for me nigga I aint happy here." this is very personal for Pac - it's no longer about pitiful punk niggaz in this verse, it's about his lifestyle.
so, based on your post, I've changed my opinion of the meaning of this line. I think Pac had two different meanings for the same line in the beginning and end of this song. with the two conflicting sides of himself that Pac frequently referred to (for example "it's the hard side that likes to blow up my good side" , the quotes about him talking about being a Gemini, and countless other examples) I think this is not an extraordinary idea at all.
as explained above. I think that surely the line in the first verse means what I said earlier. however, with such a sentimental, change-of-heart, religious, and personal third verse, I think he says "pussy and paper is poetry, power, and pistols, plottin on murderin mothafuckaz before they get you..." almost as if he's confessing the experiences he has had with the rap game. we know that Me Against the World was a very sentimental and personal cd for Pac, and I think that by saying this line and immediately afterwards asking for forgiveness for his sins, he brings an entirely different meaning to the same line. because again, you're right - he does not begin the line with "they say."
this is just an interpretation. I really don't think there's a right or wrong per say when looking at lyrics like these, especially Pac's lyrics since we all know they're as deep as lyrics get. instead there are just stronger arguments about different interpretations.
