"Keep Ya Head Up" is a song by American rapper 2Pac from his second studio album, '' Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z...'' (1993). It was released on October 28, 1993 by

Interscope Records Interscope Records is an American record label based in Santa Monica, California, owned by Universal Music Group through its Interscope Geffen A&M imprint. Founded in late 1990 by Jimmy Iovine and Ted Field as a $20 million joint venture ...

as the album's third single, peaking at numbers 12 and 13 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 and ''Cash Box'' Top 100.

Background

The song features R&B singer Dave Hollister and is dedicated to Shakur's godson Elijah, and Corin, daughter of

Salt In common usage, salt is a mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride (NaCl). When used in food, especially in granulated form, it is more formally called table salt. In the form of a natural crystalline mineral, salt is also known as r ...

from

Salt-N-Pepa Salt-N-Pepa (sometimes stylized as Salt 'N' Pepa) is an American hip-hop, hip hop group formed in New York City in 1985, that comprised Salt (rapper), Salt (Cheryl James), Pepa (rapper), Pepa (Sandra Denton), and DJ Spinderella (Deidra Roper). ...

— the two had met through Treach of Naughty by Nature. The song focuses on black womanhood. Additionally, it makes reference to Latasha Harlins, who was shot by a Korean shopkeeper in 1991, increasing tensions between the Black and Korean communities of Los Angeles before the

1992 Los Angeles riots The 1992 Los Angeles riots were a series of riots and civil disturbances that occurred in Los Angeles County, California, United States, during April and May 1992. Unrest began in South Los Angeles, South Central Los Angeles on April 29, after ...

. The music video for the song opens up with the words "Dedicated to the memory of Latasha Harlins, it's still on."

Production and release

The beat is sampled from Zapp's " Be Alright" and the chorus is taken from The Five Stairsteps' " O-o-h Child". It was first released in Shakur's 1993 album '' Strictly 4 My N.I.G.G.A.Z.'' later appearing after his death in 1998 in his '' Greatest Hits'' compilation. A "sequel" to the song, " Baby Don't Cry (Keep Ya Head Up II)" was released on 2Pac's posthumous album '' Still I Rise'' in 1999. The song was featured in the Tupac biopic '' All Eyez on Me''.

Music video

The music video for "Keep Ya Head Up" has a basic format with Shakur rapping in the middle of a circle surrounded by a crowd of people and in some scenes he is seen holding a young child. His mother Afeni Shakur and close friend Jada Pinkett Smith made cameo appearances in the video.

Critical reception

Alyssa Rosenberg of ''

Brisbane Times ''Brisbane Times'' is an online newspaper for Brisbane and Queensland, Australia. It is owned and run by Nine Publishing, publishers of ''The Age'', ''The Sydney Morning Herald'' and other mastheads. As of 2024, the editor is Sean Parnell. H ...

'' felt the song "weaved together a critique of negligent fathers, an argument for abortion rights and a sharp analysis of misogyny."

Track listing

* CDS – maxi single # "Keep Ya Head Up" (LP version) # "Keep Ya Head Up" (Vibe Tribe remix) # "Keep Ya Head Up" (Madukey remix) # "Rebel of the Underground" # "I Wonda If Heaven's Got a Ghetto" * 7" vinyl # "Keep Ya Head Up" # "Keep Ya Head Up" (instrumental)

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Credits

*Engineer – Bob Tucker (tracks: A2, B2), Norman "Slam" Whitfield, Jr.* (tracks: A2, B2) *Engineer emix– Eric Flickinger (tracks: B1), Franklin Purrell (tracks: B1) *Mixed By – D. Nettlesbey* (tracks: A2), Norman "Slam" Whitfield, Jr.* (tracks: A2) *Producer – D-Flow Production Squad, The* (tracks: B2), D.J. Daryl* (tracks: A1, B1) *Remix dditional– Norman "Slam" Whitfield, Jr.* (tracks: B2) Remix, *Producer dditional Production– Bryant "Moe Doe" Johnson* (tracks: B1), Battlecat* (tracks: B2), Howard Johnson (2) (tracks: B2), Kris Kellow* (tracks: B2), Lea Reis (tracks: B1), Paul Arnold (tracks: B2), Vibe Tribe (10) (tracks: A2) *Vocals – Black Angel, The (tracks: A1, B1), Money B (2) (tracks: B2), Shockalock (tracks: B2)

References

External links

"Keep Ya Head Up" music video
{{authority control 1992 songs 1993 singles Tupac Shakur songs Interscope Records singles Jive Records singles Songs with feminist themes Protest songs Songs written by Tupac Shakur Songs written by Roger Troutman American contemporary R&B songs Music videos directed by David Dobkin