the rose that grew from concrete essay

“The Rose That Grew from Concrete” Analysis – A Deep Dive

Most of the poetry that we analyze here is basically very standard fare. It’s written by some poet and makes use of what you might expect from a poem. But what about an analysis of a poem written by a rapper? Today, we want to examine The Rose That Grew from Concrete meanings and interpretations by checking out this immensely famous rapper’s non-musical literary output, and we’ll do so by discussing Tupac Shakur himself, his poem, some of the themes and ideas within the poem, and the connections between this poem and his music. If an analysis of a rapper’s poetry, rather than their raps, leads to some interest in your mind, give this one a read!

Table of Contents

• 1 The Rose That Grew from Concrete by Tupac Shakur Analysis
• 2 The Rose That Grew from Concrete Analysis Summary Points
• 3 Biography of Tupac Shakur
• 4.1 Section One
• 4.2 Section Two
• 4.3 Section Three
• 4.4 Section Four
• 5 The Rose That Grew from Concrete Meanings and Themes
• 6 The Relation Between The Rose That Grew from Concrete and Other Tupac Shakur Songs and Poems
• 7.1 What Is The Rose That Grew from Concrete by Tupac Shakur?
• 7.2 Who Was Tupac Shakur?
• 7.3 What Type of Poem Is The Rose That Grew from Concrete?
• 7.4 What Are the Themes of The Rose That Grew from Concrete?
• 7.5 How Does The Rose That Grew from Concrete Relate to Other Tupac Shakur Poems and Songs?

The Rose That Grew from Concrete by Tupac Shakur Analysis

We are often told that poetry is just not really a thing anymore. Poetry was this old thing that is not much enjoyed by the general populace these days unless they’re in an English class and they’re forced to sit there and listen to some ancient poem. However, this isn’t really the case. Some of the oldest poetry in existence was traditionally set to music and performed. How is that different from contemporary music with lyrics?

Lyrics are poems. They may be written with the intention of setting them to music, and elements such as a chorus are not all that common in poetry in comparison to their place in music. However, lyrics are often poetically written and presented to the audience, and the work of Tupac Shakur is no exception. In fact, many would likely argue that the work of Shakur, often better known as 2Pac, was even more poetically constructed than most of the other music that was being produced at the time (or since). This is a good point to examine, and many of the raps by 2Pac can be read as poetry if we were to read a lyric sheet. However, what about an actual poem by this famous rapper from the nineties? Well, that is why we’ll be diving into a The Rose That Grew from Concrete analysis today. Before we get to any of that though, we’re first going to stop for a moment and check out a summary of the things to come.

The Rose That Grew from Concrete Analysis Summary Points

In this The Rose That Grew from Concrete analysis, we will be looking over various elements of this poem by an acclaimed rapper, but before we do get into any of that, we are first going to see some summarized points. The reason for this is because it can often be easier to analyze something when you have some background information in mind from the very beginning:

• The Rose That Grew from Concrete is a poem about adversity and celebration. This poem comes from a very real place for the poet because they grew up in a difficult and dangerous environment. In his life, he faced adversity and violence and was able to rise above it to make something of himself. This is the ultimate meaning of the poem as it celebrates this ability to survive and even thrive despite the harsh places from which we may arise.
• The Rose That Grew from Concrete is a free verse poem. While the poem was typically known as a rapper and made comprehensive use of rhyme, this poem is instead bereft of rhyme or more traditional structures. It is also a rather short poem that would not typically manage to sustain an actual rap like the other poetically constructed raps that Shakur produced.
• The Rose That Grew from Concrete is a poem by Tupac Shakur. This figure was a rapper, actor, and activist, but he also wrote poetry. While he is best known for producing rap music under his stage name, 2Pac, he did also do a lot more. This poem shows the range of talents that he possessed as a creative. However, despite the poetry that Shakur wrote, they will likely never be seen as the things that he is notable for creating.

This summary is hardly enough to understand The Rose That Grew from Concrete meanings, themes, and so on because the only way you’ll learn all of that is by going more on a line-by-line basis.

And that is exactly what we’re going to do in this analysis, but first, let’s chat about Tupac Shakur himself for a few moments.

Biography of Tupac Shakur

Tupac Shakur is predominantly remembered as an influential American rapper, but he was also an activist, and actor. He was a major proponent of the West Coast hip-hop scene, and his work would go on to inspire many other rappers over the decades. He was also one of the best-selling musical artists of all time, and his work was often directed at an unflinching critique and portrayal of oppression, violence, racism, and so on.

He would also find success as an actor and would lay the groundwork for many other rappers who followed a similar general career trajectory. However, he did experience a variety of issues in his life. For instance, he was convicted of sexual assault and served time in prison shortly before his death. When it comes to his death, there is often still speculation about it as he was murdered in a drive-by shooting incident by an unknown assailant. Conspiracies have swirled ever since about the reasons for his murder.

However, his death at the age of 25 solidified his place as a rapper who was taken young while being one of the most influential to have ever lived.

An In-Depth The Rose That Grew from Concrete Analysis

We have now reached The Rose That Grew from Concrete analysis which was promised at the start of this article. This 2Pac text is written in free verse, and for this reason, there are no ordinary formal aspects of the poem to keep in mind as we proceed with the analysis. There is no use of rhyme or standard meter. This frees the poem up to read more like ordinary communication. In terms of the poem’s presentation here for analysis, I have arbitrarily broken it into pieces to make it easier to analyze. The poem is arranged as four different statements or questions, each of which is broken into two lines, for a total of eight lines. So, I have separated it into four different sections so that each of them can be analyzed on its own terms.

Section One

Did you hear about the rose that grew

from a crack in the concrete?

The first statement of the poem posits a question to us. This is a means of engaging with the audience by forcing them to consider the question. In this case, the question asks whether any of us have heard about the rose that has grown out of a crack in the concrete. This is a very powerful image. The opposing views of the man-made concrete can be seen as a representation of the urban environments that humans occupy against the rose, and the crack is something broken and in disrepair within that urban environment.

In this early part of the poem, we can already see that the crack is something from which adversity arises for those who are exposed to it.

Those who grow up in these “cracks” are the ones who need to have perseverance to be able to make it at all. Because out of it, something like a rose can have the means to grow. A rose is a potent image that has so many symbolic attachments. For instance, we can see the rose as something beautiful that arose from the cracks and managed to survive, but despite its beauty, it is surrounded by thorns to protect itself.

Section Two

Proving nature’s law is wrong it

learned to walk with out having feet.

The second statement in the poem tells us that the supposed laws of nature are wrong. This rose that arose out of the crack in the ground was never meant to rise. The oppressive nature of the urban environments that 2Pac often wrote and rapped about, which affected African Americans above all others, are oppressive places that do not foster growth. It goes against the supposed “laws of nature” that such places produce for something beautiful to ever be able to escape its clutches. We can see the hope embedded within this beauty and joy.

Perseverance has paid off for this rose as it grew in the most inhospitable of places.

Section Three

Funny it seems, but by keeping its dreams,

it learned to breathe fresh air.

The second-last stanza opens by pointing out the seeming absurdity of the rose ever being able to grow out of such a place, but there is where the poem shifts to a focus on dreams. The rose, which metaphorically represents Tupac Shakur and, by extension, others who might have risen out of the same kind of oppressive situations, was only able to grow because it had dreams that it refused to give up on. Those who managed to escape are suggested, by the poem, to only get out of those places because they had hope and perseverance.

It was able to learn to breathe the air that was freer than anything they’d experienced before.

Section Four

Long live the rose that grew from concrete

when no one else ever cared.

The final statement of the poem is our final point of wrapping up the text as a whole. It tells the rose that it must live as long as it is able to live. It grew out of the worst kind of place it could have grown from, but it survived, and it has continued to survive in such a place. The final line is a darker and more unpleasant one because while the rose may have survived and thrived by breaking through the concrete, no one had ever cared about it.

So, the speaker wants it to live and hopes that it will despite no one really caring as he does.

The Rose That Grew from Concrete Meanings and Themes

In my The Rose That Grew from Concrete analysis, I looked at various themes for this poem, but as a more definitive wrap-up, let’s discuss them a little more here. The poem examines, through the use of metaphor, a person who is forced to live through adversity and must fight to rise above the odds and come out on top. This view of oppression is integral to an understanding of the poem.

However, out of that sense of oppression and misery, there is the chance for growth despite the difficulties in doing so.

The poem becomes a piece of celebration. It wants us to strive to be better in our lives regardless of any of the hardships that we might face. The world is often a cruel and tough place, but the poem valorizes those who are strong enough to continue to follow their dreams through perseverance and self-assertiveness.

The Relation Between The Rose That Grew from Concrete and Other Tupac Shakur Songs and Poems

One of the things that anyone familiar with the work of Tupac Shakur will probably realize immediately is that The Rose That Grew from Concrete shares very similar themes with the music for which he was predominantly known. His work often focused on social issues, such as systemic racism in African American communities and the dangers of life in gang territory cities.

This poem, like many of the raps that Shakur wrote, is concerned with resilience and perseverance in the face of these difficulties. Much of his music would share many commonalities with this poem. While many of his raps are aggressive, in keeping with gangsta rap tradition, he does also have many raps, and poems, that show a more sensitive disposition. This The Rose That Grew from Concrete analysis should have shown part of that more sensitive side that wanted to express feelings of hope in what is often a hopeless world for many.

Today, we have examined a text that is a little different from the usual poetry we discuss here. Music is a fascinating thing because lyrics are basically poems that are set to instruments, but we don’t often think of it that way. Many of the raps by Tupac Shakur are highly poetic in their structure, presentation, and content, yet many may not agree. However, when it comes to my The Rose That Grew from Concrete analysis, we can see that rappers such as these are also capable of writing more standard poetry that is not intended to be set to music at all. Regardless of this, there is poetry throughout the music of 2Pac, so if you want to experience more of that, give some of it a listen!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the rose that grew from concrete by tupac shakur.

The Rose That Grew from Concrete is a poem by Tupac Shakur, often better known by his stage name, 2Pac. This poem is an examination and exploration of personal growth and resolve. The poem comes from a dark place in which Shakur metaphorically recounts the way in which he was forced to grow up in an oppressive environment. It is a celebration of overcoming adversity and developing as a person despite the difficulties faced in life. It is a poem about self-love and self-respect.

Who Was Tupac Shakur?

Tupac Shakur was an American rapper who was best known under the stage name, 2Pac. He would go on to become one of the most influential figures in hip hop and was a major figure in West Coast hip hop in the nineties. He grew up in and around gang culture, and much of this existence would lead to the later raps that he produced. He was ultimately shot and killed when he was only 25 years old in a drive-by shooting incident. 

What Type of Poem Is The Rose That Grew from Concrete ?

In my The Rose That Grew from Concrete analysis, we saw that this text is a free verse poem. This means that it doesn’t adhere to the standard rules of poetry that one might ordinarily expect. For instance, there is no use of rhyme or consistent meter. Instead, it makes use of a very informal presentation and basic vocabulary. The simplicity of the words and structure contribute to the straightforward nature of the message that is being presented to the reader.

What Are the Themes of The Rose That Grew from Concrete ?

The basic idea behind The Rose That Grew from Concrete is that it is about growing up in a difficult situation and still managing to not only survive, but also to thrive. The poem examines oppression, and how one can pull themselves out of situations in which the odds are not in their favor. The poem is about overcoming diversity through willpower and the desire to grow and improve as a person.

How Does The Rose That Grew from Concrete Relate to Other Tupac Shakur Poems and Songs?

When it comes to a The Rose That Grew from Concrete analysis, it is easy to see how it relates to other works by Tupac Shakur, provided you are familiar with his work. His music was often related to the dangers of growing up in gang territory, the oppression felt by African American people, the pervasive role of violence in society, and so on. However, many of his poems are also about persevering despite that, and The Rose That Grew from Concrete falls into this category like many of 2Pac’s raps.

Justin van Huyssteen is a freelance writer, novelist, and academic originally from Cape Town, South Africa. At present, he has a bachelor’s degree in English and literary theory and an honor’s degree in literary theory. He is currently working towards his master’s degree in literary theory with a focus on animal studies, critical theory, and semiotics within literature. As a novelist and freelancer, he often writes under the pen name L.C. Lupus.

Justin’s preferred literary movements include modern and postmodern literature with literary fiction and genre fiction like sci-fi, post-apocalyptic, and horror being of particular interest. His academia extends to his interest in prose and narratology. He enjoys analyzing a variety of mediums through a literary lens, such as graphic novels, film, and video games.

Justin is working for artincontext.org as an author and content writer since 2022. He is responsible for all blog posts about architecture, literature and poetry.

Learn more about Justin van Huyssteen and the Art in Context Team .

Cite this Article

Justin, van Huyssteen, ““The Rose That Grew from Concrete” Analysis – A Deep Dive.” Art in Context. February 3, 2024. URL: https://artincontext.org/the-rose-that-grew-from-concrete-analysis/

van Huyssteen, J. (2024, 3 February). “The Rose That Grew from Concrete” Analysis – A Deep Dive. Art in Context. https://artincontext.org/the-rose-that-grew-from-concrete-analysis/

van Huyssteen, Justin. ““The Rose That Grew from Concrete” Analysis – A Deep Dive.” Art in Context , February 3, 2024. https://artincontext.org/the-rose-that-grew-from-concrete-analysis/ .

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The Rose that grew from Concrete by Tupac Shakur- Analysis and summary

Tupac shakur – introduction.

Tupac Amaru Shakur is popularly known as 2pac is an American rapper, song writer and actor. He was born on June 1971 and died in a homicide gunshot on September 13, 1996. His works represent contemporary social issues and he is considered as the symbol of resistance, activism and against inequality.

Poem The Rose that grew from Concrete

Did you hear about The rose that grew from a crack

in the concrete

Proving nature’s laws wrong it learned to walk

without having feet

Funny it seems but by keeping its dreams

it learned to Breathe fresh air

long live the rose that grew from concrete

When no one else ever cared!

Line by line Interpretation

in the concre te

Did you hear about the rose that grew from a crack

The opening lines of the poem starts with a question, in a way poet is asking to readers whether you are aware of a rose that grew from a crack in the concrete. This sets the mood of narration where poet is going to tell a short story. Interestingly, there is no question mark at the end of the line. Looking at the meaning of the lines, we understand that something unusual has happened where a rose has grown breaking all odds from harsh realities of life.

The poet calls it as rose and not as a plant which raises a question, Why did he choose a rose instead of a plant? One interpretation can be drawn that a flower is always derived as a symbol for life. So it might be appropriate to use rose apart from plant. Considering rose as symbol for life will help us analyse the rest of the poem better.

Concrete is symbol for all the troubles, criticism and obstacles faced in life. The will of the rose is so strong that it can break the concrete and grow. It can also mean concrete as society being broken from its unity and infilled with negatives like a crack (criticism, racial discrimination, domination etc) yet a human like rose manages to stand alone and grow.

Proving nature’s laws wrong it learned to wa lk

Learned to walk signifies that it has done something incredible that has shocked nature (society). While reading this line we feel that he is fantasizing rose by making it walk, but he keeps the poem near to reality by adding the rest of the line that is without having feet . This shows that rose is actually doing something incredible in its life which is phenomenal. Another interpretation that can be drawn from walked without feet is that the rose is a man who came up in life without any help or guidance from others. He has climbed this success without any support.

He says that rose proves nature’s law wrong , it doesn’t mean that the rose is illegitimate or unlawful but it is unique in its own way and lives it’s life as nobody does. This can also mean that a human not meeting the common expectations of society following the way that is accepted by the majorities.

it learned to breathe fresh air

The word funny is capital, which stresses the meaning more and grabs reader’s more attention towards it. Poet says, it seems just funny perhaps it is not funny. It also justifies the above paragraph’s interpretation that it is not fantasy.

Dreams helped rose to breathe fresh air . Here Dreams stands for its goals and aspirations and fresh air can be clarity or new approach to life.We can notice here that dreams and fresh air both serve motivation and energy to face future. So the combination promotes the intention rightly.

long live the rose that grew from con crete

In the closing lines of the poem, poet wishes that long live the rose which grew from concrete . The line presents two purposes here, one he is wishing good to rose and another it also reminds reader regarding the hardships that rose has overcome.

The line completes with the when no one else ever cared , which shows how the rose was ignored by others and the struggles it has undergone to reach this stage as to grow from concrete, walk without feet. Thus the poem celebrates the journey of rose.

The Rose that grew from Concrete Analysis

It appears that the rose in the poem refers to Tupac Shakur himself. It seems like the story of rose is of his own life. It talks about how a beautiful flower like rose can grow from something that is not beautiful, like the concrete. Concrete represents the hardships we face and the problems we inherit, the crack symbolises an opportunity to grow from that concrete. It is an inspirational poem that gives motivation and need to achieve something in life.

The poem is single stretched and has no full stop or coma in between. It is a free verse and does not have a rhyme scheme. Only exclamatory mark has been used to intensify the expression.

The style of the poem is very informal and the way words are in simple diction. The words like rose, concrete and learned are repeated twice in the poem.

Poetic Devices in the poem The Rose that Grew from Concrete

• Symbols : Rose, concrete, crack, nature’s law, without having feet and fresh air.
• Personification : Rose is personification for either Tupac’s life or any other person.
• Crack in the concrete,

Tone and Speaker

The tone of the poem is Optimistic. It motivates the reader to rise above hardships in life. However, it is neither too serious nor too careless.

The speaker of the poem may be assumed to be Tupac Shakur himself, as indicated by the line “Did you hear about…”. The poet is talking about the rose to the reader directly.

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The Rose That Grew from Concrete

By Tupac Shakur

Did you hear about the rose that grew from a crack in the concrete? Proving nature’s law is wrong it learned to walk with out having feet. Funny it seems, but by keeping its dreams , it learned to breathe fresh air. Long live the rose that grew from concrete when no one else ever cared.

Summary of The Rose That Grew from Concrete

• Popularity of “The Rose That Grew from Concrete”: The poem ‘The Rose That Grew From Concrete’ was written by Tupac Shakur, an African American lyricist, actor, rapper, and songwriter. This interesting poem first appeared in 1999 in the book with the same title. The poem illustrates a peculiar event, in which a rose plant sprouts out of a concrete wall. Despite this, the poem’s charm stems from its illustration of nature’s unyielding expansion beyond human establishments.
• “ The Rose That Grew from Concrete” As a Representative of Defiant Nature: The poet presents a scene where a concrete wall shows a rose plant growing out of it. The poet, on the other hand, poses a rhetorical inquiry, questioning whether the readers have witnessed such an occurrence. He continues arguing that this is against the law of nature that a plant should sprout from a concrete building or wall. It seems funny to the poet after which he surmises that the rose has kept his dream of having a buffet of fresh air, the reason that he learns a lesson from it. Next, he proclaims a slogan in honor of the rose, expressing his wish for its longevity. He notes that the rose has persevered in the face of adversity, emerging from concrete to achieve its dreams.
• Major Themes in “The Rose That Grew from Concrete”: Realization of dreams, hard work, and persistence are three major themes of the poem. The poet presented a beautiful example of a rose sprouting from a concrete wall to show that persistence in a person makes him a hero . The reason is that he continuously works hard to reach his destination and he does after a long struggle. That is why such a rose looks beautiful. The poet conveyed the same message that a person having persistence and will to work hard to have a touch of fresh air can get it, though, after a long struggle.

Analysis of Literary Devices Used In The Rose That Grew from Concrete

literary devices are what give poems their impressive and impactful nature. Tupac Shakur also used some literary devices in this poem whose analysis is as follows.

• Assonance : Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /i/ in “Proving nature’s law is wrong it” the sound of /ee/ in “learned to walk with out having feet.”
• Alliteration : The poem shows the use of alliteration in using initial consonant sounds of the neighboring words, such as the sound of /w/ in “walk with out” and the sound of /l/ in “Long live.”
• Consonance : Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in the same line, such as the sound of /t/ and /m/ in “Funny it seems, but by keeping its dreams” and the sound of /r/ in “Long live the rose that grew from concrete.”
• Enjambment : It is defined as a thought in verse that does not come to an end at a line break ; rather, it rolls over to the next line. For example,

Long live the rose that grew from concrete when no one else ever cared.

• Imagery : Imagery is used to make readers perceive things involving their five senses. For example, “from a crack in the concrete”, “learned to walk with out having feet” and “Funny it seems, but by keeping its dreams.”
• Metaphor : It is a figure of speech in which an implied comparison is made between the objects that are different. The poet has used the extended metaphor of the germination of a rose in the concrete to show human evolution.
• Rhetorical Question : The poem shows the use of rhetorical questions such as “Did you hear about the rose that grew / from a crack in the concrete?”
• Symbolism : Symbolism is using symbols to signify ideas and qualities, giving them symbolic meanings that are different from literal meanings. The poem shows the use of symbols such as a rose, cracks, and concrete to show the process of birth.

Analysis of Poetic Devices Used in The Rose That Grew From Concrete

Poetic and literary devices are the same, but a few are used only in poetry. Here is the analysis of some of the poetic devices used in this poem.

• Diction and Tone : The poem shows the use of descriptive diction with modern wording and a quizzical tone.
• Rhyme Scheme : The poem shows the rhyme scheme of ABCBDEFE throughout the poem.
• Stanza : A stanza is a poetic form of some lines. There are no fixed stanzas in this poem, as it is a single stanza with eight verses.

Quotes to be Used

These lines from “The Rose That Grew From Concrete” are appropriate to quote when talking about the impossible happenings or tasks.

The moon won’t use the door, only the window.

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Home — Essay Samples — Entertainment — Tupac Shakur — Analysis Of The Poem ‘the Rose That Grew From Concrete’ Written By Tupac Shakur

Analysis of The Poem 'The Rose that Grew from Concrete' Written by Tupac Shakur

• Categories: Poetry Tupac Shakur

About this sample

Words: 876 |

Published: Dec 16, 2021

Words: 876 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

The essay explores Tupac Shakur's poem "The Rose that Grew from Concrete" and delves into the various layers of irony and symbolism present in the poem. It begins by introducing the poem and its central theme, which is the idea of resilience and success despite challenging circumstances. The essay highlights that the rose symbolizes a person with strength and determination, while the concrete represents the harsh environment that seeks to hinder growth and progress.

The first layer of irony discussed is situational irony, where the poem's protagonist defies expectations by resorting to violence when faced with a proposed breakup. This unexpected turn of events challenges the conventional response to adversity.

Dramatic irony is the next focus, emphasizing how the audience knows that the lamb used to murder the husband is served to the police, while the characters remain oblivious. This creates tension and suspense in the narrative.

The essay also explores the recurring theme of determination and never giving up on one's dreams. It points out that despite the challenges and lack of support, the rose in the concrete continues to chase its dreams, symbolizing the resilience of the human spirit.

Furthermore, the essay discusses the personal connection between Tupac Shakur and the poem, as he reflects on his own experiences growing up in a challenging environment and finding an outlet in music and poetry to express his feelings.

• Shakur, Tupac “The Rose that Grew from Concrete”

Should follow an “upside down” triangle format, meaning, the writer should start off broad and introduce the text and author or topic being discussed, and then get more specific to the thesis statement.

Provides a foundational overview, outlining the historical context and introducing key information that will be further explored in the essay, setting the stage for the argument to follow.

Cornerstone of the essay, presenting the central argument that will be elaborated upon and supported with evidence and analysis throughout the rest of the paper.

The topic sentence serves as the main point or focus of a paragraph in an essay, summarizing the key idea that will be discussed in that paragraph.

The body of each paragraph builds an argument in support of the topic sentence, citing information from sources as evidence.

After each piece of evidence is provided, the author should explain HOW and WHY the evidence supports the claim.

Should follow a right side up triangle format, meaning, specifics should be mentioned first such as restating the thesis, and then get more broad about the topic at hand. Lastly, leave the reader with something to think about and ponder once they are done reading.

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Analysis of "The Rose That Grew From Concrete"

Table of contents, resilience and adversity, unlikely beauty, empowerment and hope, legacy and influence.

• Shakur, T. (1999). The Rose That Grew From Concrete. MTV Books/Pocket Books.
• Forman, M. (2002). The ‘Hood Comes First: Race, Space, and Place in Rap and Hip-Hop. Wesleyan University Press.
• Neal, M. A. (2004). New Black Man: Rethinking Black Masculinity. Routledge.
• Williams, B. (2010). The Rose That Grew from Concrete: Black Power and Hip-Hop. Black Music Research Journal, 30(1), 111-130.
• Tate, G. (1997). "Now Don't Everybody Like the smell of Roses?": On Being "Loved" by Young Black Men. Rethinking Schools, 12(3), 2-7.

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The Rose that Grew from Concrete

20 pages • 40 minutes read

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Neglect Versus Perseverance

Though “The Rose That Grew from Concrete” is a short poem, it offers a profound message that has longstanding consequences. This message is the struggle between neglect and perseverance. The consequences are dire because, as Hughes’s poem (referenced earlier) suggests, dreams can and do get deferred, and this deferral can lead to dire consequences. Neglect is one way that dreams become deferred, and Tupac’s poem takes issue with this neglect. The poem ultimately paints a picture of hope, hope that the lasting consequences of dreaming big will result in perseverance and a negation of neglect. What Tupac’s poem doesn’t state outright, however, is that it takes more than an individual to ensure that perseverance triumphs over neglect.

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The Rose That Grew From Concrete

Tupac shakur 1971 (new york city, new york) – 1996 ( las vegas, nevada).

Did you hear about the rose that grew from a crack in the concrete? Proving nature's law is wrong it learned to walk with out having feet. Funny it seems, but by keeping it's dreams, it learned to breathe fresh air. Long live the rose that grew from concrete when no one else ever cared.

Submitted on November 20, 2015

Modified on May 03, 2023

Quick analysis:

Tupac Shakur

Tupac Amaru Shakur ( TOO-pahk shə-KOOR; born Lesane Parish Crooks, June 16, 1971 – September 13, 1996), better known by his stage name 2Pac and by his alias Makaveli, was an American rapper, songwriter, and actor. He is considered by many to be one of the most influential rappers of all time. Much of Shakur's work has been noted for addressing contemporary social issues that plagued inner cities, and he is considered a symbol of resistance and activism against inequality. Shakur was born in Manhattan, a borough of New York City, but relocated to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1988. He moved to Los Angeles in 1993 to further pursue his music career. By the time he released his debut album 2Pacalypse Now in 1991, he had become a central figure in West Coast hip hop, introducing social issues in the genre at a time when gangsta rap was dominant in the mainstream. Shakur achieved further critical and commercial success with his follow-up albums Strictly 4 My N. I. G. G. A. Z... (1993) and Me Against the World (1995). Shakur became heavily involved in the growing East Coast–West Coast hip hop rivalry between 1995 and 1996. His double-disc album All Eyez on Me (1996) became certified Diamond by the RIAA. On September 7, 1996, Shakur was shot four times by an unknown assailant in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas; he died six days later and the gunman was never captured. The Notorious B. I. G., Shakur's friend turned rival, was at first considered a suspect, but was also murdered in another drive-by shooting six months later. Five more albums have been released since his death, all of which have been certified platinum in the United States. Shakur is one of the best-selling music artists of all time having sold over 75 million records worldwide. In 2002, he was inducted into the Hip-Hop Hall of Fame. In 2017, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility. Rolling Stone named Shakur in its list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time. Outside music, Shakur also gained considerable success as an actor, with his starring roles as Bishop in Juice (1992), Lucky in Poetic Justice (1993) where he starred alongside Janet Jackson, Ezekiel in Gridlock'd (1997), and Jake in Gang Related (1997), all garnering praise from critics.   more…

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Home / Essay Samples / Music / Tupac Shakur / Rhetorical Analysis Of Tupac Shakur’s ‘The Rose That Grew From Concrete’

Rhetorical Analysis Of Tupac Shakur's 'The Rose That Grew From Concrete'

• Category: Music
• Topic: Song Analysis , Tupac Shakur

Pages: 3 (1414 words)

Views: 1653

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• Biography.com. (2017, December 04). Tupac Shakur Biography.
• https://www.biography.com/musician/tupac-shakur
• Foss, S.K. (2009). Rhetorical criticism: exploration and practice. Long Grove, IL.: Waveland Press, Inc.
• Greenburg. Z.O. (2011, March 21). Tupac Shakur Earning Like He's Still Alive.
• https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackomalleygreenburg/2011/05/31/tupac-shakur-earning-like-hes-still-alive/#11f54843641e
• History.com. (2009, November 13). Tupac Shakur dies. https://www.history.com/this-day-in- history/tupac-shakur-dies

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