R U Still Down? (Remember Me)

Unborn Child

2Pac

Lyrics & Rhyme Analysis

43

End

175

Internal

71

Multi

184

Slant

11

Chain

Rhyme Groups — hover to spotlight
[Chorus: Natasha Walker]
I'm writing✦ you a letter✦
This is to my unborn✦ child
Wanna✦ let you know I love you
If you didn't know I feel this way
'Cause I think about✦ you every✦ day
I got so much to say
[Verse 2: 2Pac]
Seems so complicated to escape✦ fate
And you can never✦ understand✦ 'til we trade places✦
Tell the world I plead guilty✦ for bein' anxious
Ain't no way in hell that I could ever✦ be a rapist
It's hard to face this cold world on a good day
When will they let the little kids in the hood play?
I got shot five times,✦ but I'm still breathin'
Livin'✦ proof there's✦ a God if you need a reason
Can I believe in my own fate?
Will I raise my kids in the right or the wrong way?
Dear Mama,✦ I'm a man now
I wanna✦ make it on my own, not a handout
Make way for a whirlwind prophesized
I wanna✦ go in peace when I gotta✦ die
On these cold streets, ain't no love, no mercy✦ and no friends
In case you never✦ see my face again,✦ to my unborn✦ child
[Chorus: Natasha Walker]
I'm writing✦ you a letter✦
This is to my unborn✦ child
Wanna✦ let you know I love you
If you didn't know I feel this way
'Cause I think about✦ you every✦ day
I got so much to say
[Verse 3: 2Pac]
Dear Lord, can you hear me?
Tell me what to say to my unborn✦ seed, in case I pass away✦
Will my child get to feel love?
Or are we all just cursed✦ to be street thugs?
'Cause bein' black hurts, and even✦ worse if you speak first
Livin'✦ my life as an Outlaw – what could be worse?
'Cause maybe if I tried to change
Who'm I kiddin'?✦ I'm a thug 'til I die; I'm a rider,✦ mane
Touch bases,✦ eat lunch in plush places✦
Regular criminal oasis awaits✦ us
If there's✦ a ghetto✦ for true thugs, I'll see you there
And I'm sorry✦ for not bein' there
Just know your daddy✦ was a soldier: Me Against the World
Bless the boys and all my little girls
To the Lord: I'm eternal, restin'✦ in peace
Please take care of all my seeds, to my unborn✦ child
[Outro: 2Pac]
Please take care of all my kids and my unborn✦ child
To my unborn✦ child
This letter✦ goes out to my seeds
That I might not get to see 'cause of this lifestyle
Just know your daddy✦ loved✦ you
Got nothin'✦ but love for you
And all I wanted✦ was for you to have a better✦ life than I had
'Cause I was out there on a 24 hour 365 grind
When you get to be my age, you'll understand✦
Just know I got love for you
And I'll see you if there's✦ a ghetto✦ in Heaven✦
If there's✦ a Ghetto✦ Heaven,✦ I'll be there waitin'✦ for you
Heh heh, take care, run wild, but be smart
Follow✦ the rules✦ of the game
I know sometimes there's✦ confusion
Rules✦ of the game is gonna✦ get you through it all day every✦ day
Watch out for these snakes✦ and fakes✦
Friends come a dime-a-dozen
Be an individual, work hard
Study,✦ get your mind sharp, trust nobody✦

Technical Breakdown

8.4
Multisyllabic Rhymes8.5

Complexity of rhyme schemes (data-driven)

Internal Rhymes9.5

Rhymes within a line (data-driven)

Wordplay / Double Entendres6.5

Clever language, metaphors, punchlines

Cadence / Rhythm9.0

Flow variation and timing (data-driven)

Vocabulary Complexity7.0

Range and depth of words used (data-driven)

Delivery / Breath Control8.5

Performance and control

Computed Score8.41

Production

Be the first to rate the production

Critic Analysis
RAPLEDGER BAROMETER™

2Pac utilizes a direct, vulnerable narrative style that prioritizes emotional authenticity over complex linguistic gymnastics, effectively anchoring the track's thematic gravity through rhythmic consistency and raw personal conviction.

A
8.5
Multisyllabic
9.5
Internal Rhymes
9
Cadence / Flow
7
Vocabulary
6.5
Wordplay
8.5
Delivery
Assonance-heavy internal rhymingConfessional narrative structureRhythmic enjambmentThematic mirroring (personal trauma vs. systemic cycle)
Rhyme Architecture: The verse relies on AABB and AAAA couplet-based structures that frequently employ slant rhymes to maintain a conversational, urgent flow while adhering to a stable, mid-tempo cadence.
Verified Doubles & Entendres

"Seems so complicated to escape fate / And you can never understand 'til we trade places"

① The literal difficulty of navigating a predetermined, violent life path.② A challenge to the listener to step into the artist's shoes (perspective-taking) to understand the impossibility of his situation.

"Livin' proof there's a God if you need a reason"

① Surviving five gunshot wounds as a literal biological anomaly.② Using his physical survival as a theological argument for divine intervention.

Raw emotional delivery that elevates standard rhyme schemes

Strong narrative cohesion and thematic focus

Expert placement of rhymes on the strong beat to reinforce the 'letter' format

Literalistic approach leaves little room for multi-layered metaphors

Lacks the complex abstract wordplay characteristic of higher-tier lyricism

Occasional reliance on conventional hip-hop tropes

User Scores