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If 2Pac’s legendary status within urban America is to be examined, folks should start with the video below. Released in 1991 on his stellar 2Pacalypse Now album, “Brenda’s Got a Baby” is one of the most poignant songs to ever be composed within the genre of hip-hop. They’re bold words, I know, but the topic seemed to hit close to home for countless families across the country and regardless of your age the first time you heard “Brenda’s Got a Baby,” it was a song that people could instantly relate to.
Lyrics aside, the video was even more compelling–a piece of art that instantly left an impression. Sort of like Jane’s Addiction’s “Been Caught Stealing”–only more serious.
I can still remember where I was the first time I saw this video. Maybe you can too.
At the time that the “Brenda’s Got a Baby” video was in heavy rotation on The Box (for those that remember the best video channel of them all) 2Pac practically became an urban legend over night.
This was the start of it all. —Jonathan Cunningham
