"So Many Tears" is a song by American rapper

2Pac Tupac Amaru Shakur (; born Lesane Parish Crooks; June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), also known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor, regarded as one of the greatest and most influential rappers of all tim ...

from his third studio album, '' Me Against the World'' (1995). It was released on June 13, 1995, as the album's second single. It was produced by Shock G, who used a sample of

Stevie Wonder Stevland Hardaway Morris (; Judkins; born May 13, 1950), known professionally as Stevie Wonder, is an American and Ghanaian singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. He is regarded as one of the most influential musicians of the 20th c ...

's " That Girl", and is often described as one of the album's best. A music video was made for "So Many Tears" and there were also numerous live performances of this song on ''

Saturday Night Live ''Saturday Night Live'' (''SNL'') is an American Late night television in the United States, late-night live television, live sketch comedy variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Michaels and Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC. The ...

'' and on Shakur's

House of Blues House of Blues is an American chain of live music concert halls and restaurants. It was founded by Isaac Tigrett, the co-founder of Hard Rock Cafe, and Dan Aykroyd, co-star of the 1980 film ''The Blues Brothers (film), The Blues Brothers''. The ...

concert, his last recorded show.

Composition

The song was produced by Shakur's longtime mentor, Shock G, who produced it using a sample of the song " That Girl" by

with a slowed down harmonica solo heard during the chorus. The song's lyrics are autobiographical with

Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. The magazine was first known fo ...

's Cheo H. Coker noting the track "finds an almost vulnerable 2Pac not only dealing with the senseless violence that marked his childhood but with the internal demons that threaten to consume him, snapping at his conscience like hellhounds on a bluesman’s trail".

Live performances

Shakur performed "So Many Tears" during his ''

'' appearance on February 17, 1996. He also performed the song on his

concert and it is included on the '' Live at the House of Blues'' live album.

Music video

Similar to the music video for " Dear Mama", many shots use a lookalike of 2Pac, mixed with previously released footage of the artist. Tupac himself was serving his four-and-a-half-year prison sentence. He released this song, and the associated album, while being sentenced. While in prison his album quickly climbed the charts. The demand for a video grew: the video was released while he was in prison and for that reason could not be in the video. No other video was made when he was released. The music video features cameo appearances by

Spice 1 Robert Lee Greene Jr. (born July 2, 1970), better known by his stage name Spice 1 (an acronym for "Sex, Pistols, Indo, Cash and Entertainment"), is an American rapper from Hayward, California. He began releasing albums in 1991, where he gained p ...

E-40 Earl Tywone Stevens (born November 15, 1967), better known by his stage name E-40, is an American rapper. Stevens is a founding member of the rap group The Click (band), The Click and the founder of Sick Wid It Records. He has released 27 stud ...

, B-Legit, Big Syke and

Treach Anthony Shawn Criss (born December 2, 1970), better known by his stage name Treach, is an American rapper and actor. He is perhaps best known as the lead rapper of the hip hop group Naughty by Nature. Early life, family and education Criss atte ...

Track listing

;Maxi-single # "So Many Tears" # "So Many Tears" (Key of Z Remix) # "So Many Tears" (Reminizim' Remix) # "Hard to Imagine" by Dramacydal # "If I Die 2Nite" ;Promo single # "So Many Tears" # "So Many Tears" (Key of Z Remix) # "So Many Tears" (Reminizm' Remix) # "If I Die 2Nite"

Credits

* Writers: T. Shakur, G. Jacobs, R. Walker, E. Baker, S. Wonder * Publishing: Joshua's Dream / Interscope Pearl Music / Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. / Grand Imperial Thug Music / Pubhowyalike Music, BMI / Triboy Music Publishing / Black Bull Music / Jobete Music Co., ASCAP * Produced by D-Flizno Production Squad for Stayin' Biznizzy Productions * Engineered by Mike Schlesinger & Tim Nitz * Recorded and Mixed at Soundcastle Studios * Background Vocals: Thug Life, Digital Underground (appears courtesy of Tommy Boy Records) & Stretch * Keyboards: The Piano Man * Guitar: Eric "Kenya" Baker * Contains a sample from " That Girl" (Stevie Wonder; Black Bull Music / Jobete Music Co., Inc., ASCAP), as recorded by Stevie Wonder, under license from Motown Records. During the chorus, a slowed-down harmonica solo is heard.

Charts

Certifications

References

{{Authority control Single chart usages for Billboardrandbhiphop Single chart called without song 1994 songs 1995 singles Tupac Shakur songs Interscope Records singles Songs written by Shock G Songs written by Tupac Shakur Songs written by Stevie Wonder