California Love

Roger Troutman, Dr. Dre, 2Pac

About California Love

"California Love" is a hip hop song by 2Pac featuring Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman. The song was released as 2Pac's comeback single after his release from prison in 1995 and was his first single as the newest artist of Death Row Records. This is one of 2Pac's most widely known singles and his most successful, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks (as a double A-side single with "How Do U Want It") and five weeks at number one in New Zealand. The song was nominated for a posthumous Grammy Award as a Best Rap Solo Performance and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group (with Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman) in 1997. A popular remix version of the song appeared on his 1996 double album All Eyez on Me. 


Year:
2005
5:48
2,204 
#8

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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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Dr. Dre

Andre Romelle Young (born February 18, 1965), known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and Beats Electronics. Dre was previously the co-owner and artist of Death Row Records. He has produced albums for and overseen the careers of many rappers, including Snoop Dogg, Eminem, 50 Cent and Game. He is credited as a key figure in the popularization of West Coast G-funk, a style of rap music characterized as synthesizer-based with slow, heavy beats. In 2011, Dr. Dre was ranked as the third richest figure in the American hip hop scene by Forbes with a net worth of $250 million. more »

5 fans

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.
Chart Success
The song became an instant hit and reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100, staying in the top position for two weeks.
Multiple Versions
The 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.
Iconic Opening
The opening line of the song "California...knows how to party" is sampled from the 1982 song "West Coast Poplock" by Ronnie Hudson.
Grammy Nomination
The song was nominated for a posthumous Grammy Award as Best Rap Solo Performance in 1997 but lost to "Hey Lover" by LL Cool J.
Music Video
There 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".
Collaboration History
The song is known as the iconic collaboration of 2Pac and Dr. Dre, marking the first time the two had worked together on a project.
Final Appearance
"California Love" was the last music video that 2Pac would ever film before his untimely death in September 1996.
Platinum Certification
"California Love" was certified Platinum by the RIAA for sales of over 1,000,000 in the United States alone.
Cultural Significance
The 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.
Retrospective Acclaim
The 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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