California Love
2Pac
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California love! [Chorus] California, knows how to party California, knows how to party In the city of L.A. In the city of good ol' Watts In the city, the city of Compton We keep it rockin! We keep it rockin! [Dr. Dre] Now let me welcome everybody to the wild, wild west A state that's untouchable like Elliot Ness The track hits ya eardrum like a slug to ya chest Pack a vest for your Jimmy in the city of sex We in that sunshine state with a bomb ass hemp beat The state where ya never find a dance floor empty And pimps be on a mission for them greens, Lean mean money-makin-machines serving fiends I been in the game for ten years making rap tunes Ever since honeys was wearing Sassoon Now it's '95 and they clock me and watch me Diamonds shinin', lookin' like I robbed Liberace It's all good, from Diego to the Bay Your city is the bomb if your city making pay Throw up a finger if ya feel the same way Dre putting it down for Californ-I-a [Chorus] California (California) knows how to party (knows how to party!) California (west coast) knows how to party (yes they do)(that's right) In the city of L.A. (city of L.A.) In the city of good ol' Watts (good ol' Watts) In the city, the city of Compton (city of Compton) We keep it rockin! We keep it rockin! (come on, come on, come on) Shake it shake it baby Shake it shake it, shake it baby Shake it shake it mama Shake it Cali Shake it shake it baby (that's right, uh) Shake it shake it baby baby, shake it shake it mama, shake it Cali [2Pac] Out on bail fresh outta jail, California dreaming Soon as I stepped on the scene, I'm hearing hoochies screamin Fiendin for money and alcohol The life of a west side player where cowards die And its all war Only in Cali where we riot not rally to live and die In L.A. we wearing Chucks not Ballies (that's right, uh) Dressed in Locs and khaki suits and ride is what we do Flossing but have caution we collide with other crews Famous cause we program worldwide Let'em recognize from Long Beach to Rosecrans Bumping and grinding like a slow jam, it's west side So you know the row won't bow down to no man Say what you say But give me that bomb beat from Dre Let me serenade the streets of L.A. From Oakland to Sactown The Bay Area and back down Cali is where they put they mack down Cali-love [Chorus] California (California) knows how to party California, knows how to party (come on baby) In the city (south-central) of L.A. (L.A.) In the city of good ol' Watts (uh, that's right) In the city, the city of Compton (yup, yup) We keep it rocking! We keep it rocking! (yeah, yeah now make it shake, c'mon) Shake it shake it baby (uh) Shake it shake it, shake it baby (yeah) Shake it shake it mama Shake it Cali (shake it Cali) Shake it shake it baby (shake it Cali) Shake it shake it, shake it shake it mama (west-coast) shake it Cali [Dre & 2Pac] Uh, yeah, uh, long beach in the house, uh yeah Oaktown, Oakland definitely in the house Frisko, Frisko [Tupac] Hey, you know LA is up in this Pasadena, where you at Yeah, Inglewood, Inglewood always up to no good (Tupac) Even Hollywood trying to get a piece baby Sacramento, Sacramento where ya at? yeah Throw it up y'all, throw it up, Throw it up (I can't see ya!) California Love! Let's show these fools how we do this on that west side Cause you and I know it's the best side Yeah, that's right West coast, west coast Uh, California Love California Love Yeah [Chorus] Just c'mon, shake, shake it baby baby baby Shake it mama shake it mama shake it mama, rector scale Talkin' 'bout our earthquake on the rector scale City of Compton City of Compton, where the girls shake their booties. Shake it mama shake it baby shake, shake it baby. Shake, shake it. Computer Dribble. Dribble
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Written by: Andre Romell Young, Roger Troutman, Larry Troutman, Tupac Amaru Shakur, Christopher Stainton, Ronnie Hudson, Mikel Hooks, Joe Cocker
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, T.R.O. INC., Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
11 facts about this song
Release Date"California Love" by Tupac Shakur, featuring Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman was released as a lead single from 2Pac’s double album "All Eyez on Me" on December 3, 1995.
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Chart SuccessThe song became an instant hit and reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, staying in the top position for two weeks.
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Multiple VersionsThe song has two versions. The original version was not included in Tupac's studio album, but was later added. The remix version, known as the official album version, is the one included within the album.
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Iconic OpeningThe opening line of the song "California...knows how to party" is sampled from the 1982 song "West Coast Poplock" by Ronnie Hudson.
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Grammy NominationThe song was nominated for a posthumous Grammy Award as Best Rap Solo Performance in 1997 but lost to "Hey Lover" by LL Cool J.
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Music VideoThere were two music videos made for "California Love", known as the Mad Max and Remix versions. The Mad Max version was post-apocalyptic-themed and influenced by the movie "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome".
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Collaboration HistoryThe song is known as the iconic collaboration of 2Pac and Dr. Dre, marking the first time the two had worked together on a project.
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Final Appearance"California Love" was the last music video that 2Pac would ever film before his untimely death in September 1996.
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Platinum Certification"California Love" was certified Platinum by the RIAA for sales of over 1,000,000 in the United States alone.
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Cultural SignificanceThe song is considered a classic West Coast hip-hop anthem and is iconic for its celebration of the state of California and its hip-hop culture.
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Retrospective AcclaimThe track continues to receive high acclaim, with Rolling Stone including "California Love" in their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time in 2021.
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