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"Dear Mama" is a song by American hip hop recording artist 2Pac, released on February 21, 1995 as the lead single from his third studio album, Me Against the World (1995). The song is a tribute to his mother, Afeni Shakur. In the song, Shakur details his childhood poverty and his mother's addiction to crack cocaine, but argues that his love and deep respect for his mother supersede bad memories. The song topped the Billboard Hot Rap Singles chart for five weeks and also peaked at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100. The single was certified Platinum by the RIAA on July 13, 1995.
"Dear Mama" has been consistently ranked among the best of its genre, appearing on numerous "greatest" lists. In 2010, the song was added to the National Recording Registry in the Library of Congress, who deemed it a work that is "culturally, historically, or aesthetically important, and/or inform or reflect life in the United States." In a press release, the organization called the song "a moving and eloquent homage to both the murdered rapper's own mother and all mothers struggling to maintain a family in the face of addiction, poverty and societal indifference."
The video features an appearance by Afeni Shakur, who re-enacts her reconciliation with a look a like of her son.
The song is often considered Shakur's most "emotionally resonant" song. Rolling Stone placed "Dear Mama" at number 18 on its 2012 list of The 50 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time, writing, "The song is the ne plus ultra of hip-hop odes to Mom."The song was also ranked number four on About.com's "Top 100 Rap Songs" list. Carrie Golus of USA Today opined that "Dear Mama" was the sole reason for the double-platinum certifications of Me Against the World. Golus also argues that the song revealed a softer side of the rapper, leading to increased recognition, especially among female fans. Following the rapper's death, his mother mentioned the song in a People article: "Can I listen to it without crying? No. It gets worse every time. It gets harder, it really does. That song gets deeper and deeper." LA Weekly placed the song 6 on their list The 20 Best Hip-Hop Songs in History. Rate Your Music ranked the song at 7th on their list of The 200 Best Hip Hop Songs Of All Time.
"Dear Mama" was one of 25 recordings selected for preservation at the National Recording Registry in the Library of Congress in 2010, making it the third hip hop song to do so, following tracks by Public Enemy and Grandmaster Flash.The Library of Congress has called the song "a moving and eloquent homage to both the murdered rapper's own mother and all mothers struggling to maintain a family in the face of addiction, poverty and societal indifference." On the subject of the inclusion, Afeni Shakur stated, "It could have been any song, but I'm honored they chose "Dear Mama" in particular. It is a song that spoke not just to me, but every mother that has been in that situation, and there have been millions of us. Tupac recognized our struggle, and he is still our hero.
The song has impacted numerous rappers. Eminem stated that the song played constantly in his car in the year following its release. ""Dear Mama" was one of Tupac's songs that influence me the most; it was one of the most heartfelt songs I've ever heard in hip-hop,” said Common. “It also showed that you could be a real cat but still express compassionate love. The music sounded beautiful. It showed courage." Kendrick Lamar noted that the song profoundly impacted his life, writing, "I can really go back and appreciate the value of vulnerability and being able to express yourself and not being scared to express yourself."
Afeni Shakur died, suspected by heart attack, on May 2, 2016.
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