Life of Sin Mentality

[Euphanasia]

I brought up this topic a long time ago and, unfortunately, many members on this board balked at the idea of discussing it for whatever reasons. I decided to bring it up again because I think it is very intriguing and I would like to see people give some thorough responses to the issue, that being - Tupac's contradictory beliefs concerning his conviction that he was living a fulfilling and righteous life but also constantly directly referring and alluding to "a life of sin." I can think of reasons, underlying issues, et cetera that might help explain these paradoxical views, but I would like to see some other insight on this issue. The evidence that this dichotomy existed in Tupac's mind is very evident in his music:

"this life of sin done got the both of us in trouble"
"and since my life is based on sinning, i'm hellbound"
"all i need in this life of sin is me and my girlfriend"

and, at the same time:

"don't rush me through the gates of heaven"
"but in my heart, i believe what i'm doing is right. so i feel like i'm going to heaven"

and obviously there are tons of other references to both. these are just off the top of my head.
i want to make sure people discuss specifically, instances where Tupac refers to a life of "sin" and not "crime." I want to make this distinction clear because they are very separate issues. For instance, his references to being an outlaw, a criminal, et cetera can be interpreted as righteous in an unfair and problematic society. In other words, a life of crime does not necessarily mean a life of sin.

Anyone else find this interesting? I think this could result in an interesting discussion.

one

 

[masta247]

sorry I haven't red it all because I'm kinda busy now but "I hope God see my heart is pure
Is heaven just another door?" comes to my mind so I thought I'll also post it because I thought it's when Pac thinks he's not a serious sinner.

 

[cap2_781]

........

 

[Rahim]

Referring to Ambitionz Az A Ridah, "Life is only what you make it to be", is what Tupac had said. So from that, I think that in all those different times when he was talking about being hell bound or going to heaven it was because that was the state of mind that he was in at that time, and this where the phrase "Life is only what you make it to be" comes in place.

 

[Euphanasia]

The guy drank, smoked cigarettes, got high, slept with many women, got in fights, in the song against all odds he's talking about getting blowed, he had a lot of bad habits that might have led to his downfall

right. but i don't think that answers the question. i drink and smoke cigarettes and i don't think of myself as living a "life of sin." i mean, that quotation implies something worse, don't you think?

 

[Euphanasia]

Referring to Ambitionz Az A Ridah, "Life is only what you make it to be", is what Tupac had said. So from that, I think that in all those different times when he was talking about being hell bound or going to heaven it was because that was the state of mind that he was in at that time, and this where the phrase "Life is only what you make it to be" comes in place.

yes, that may very well be true.

 

[Bender]

The 'sin mentality' in tupacs raps is about him looking up to no-one but God, like he said 'Only God can judge me'.

Looking deeper into this - the bible states that making personal statements about oneself is futile and stands for nothing. So what if he called himself a 'thug' a 'badboykillah' or a 'sinner'

 

[Euphanasia]

Looking deeper into this - the bible states that making personal statements about oneself is futile and stands for nothing. So what if he called himself a 'thug' a 'badboykillah' or a 'sinner'

ok but that's not really why i posed the question. a debate could definitely arise out of that notion, but my question wasn't meant to ask whether or not people think Tupac lived a "life of sin" and if he would be judged for it. Instead, I'm asking why Tupac believed himself to be living "a life of sin?"

I guess I find this curious for a few reasons. Firstly, I understand that no one is perfect. That people have faults and shortcomings. Yes Tupac drank heavily, smoked weed and cigarettes, fucked a lot of women, ran his mouth incessantly, et cetera. And although i believe that not all of these things are necessarily good, they can be looked upon as bad habits, lapses in judgment and so on. I don't look at these tendencies and see "a life of sin." i see a human being who made mistakes like everyone else. There was a comment posted earlier that I tend to agree with - the idea that when Tupac mentions going to heaven and then mentions being hell-bound, it is based on how he was feeling at that time. I think that's probably true. So, in his heart, Tupac believed he was doing the right thing. That he was living a just life and that his actions, although often too extreme, were in pursuit of the greater good. Yet, it's not a stretch to say that Tupac must have felt, at certain times, that he was doing something wrong. That somewhere along the line, he was allowing himself to veer off course. Perhaps after getting shot the first time, attacking the people he thought were involved or had set him up - going after Bad Boy and any and all affiliates. To me, this is perfectly understandable. But do you think he thought he was in too far over his head? That the so-called East Coast/West Coast, Deathrow/Badboy beef was consuming the majority of his time and energy when it should have been put elsewhere?

 

[Bender]

I'm asking why Tupac believed himself to be living "a life of sin?"

I never knew Tupac to attest to such a thing; I certainly haven't heard of him declaring himself as a transgressor in any interviews.


I think you are taking 2Pac's lyrics too literally mate.

 

[Euphanasia]

I never knew Tupac to attest to such a thing; I certainly haven't heard of him declaring himself as a transgressor in any interviews.

Well, i agree with you. In interviews and away from the music, he certainly did not believe himself to be living a life of sin. But references to it come up much too frequently in his music for me to shrug it off. Maybe much of it has to do with how he was feeling at that time, maybe it was his sense of hopelessness and desire to die (a desire that he knew went against what he believed God wanted). Example - "God, forgive me 'cause i'm wrong but i plan to die." Anyway, i just wanted to hear people's opinions.

peace