Let’s Talk About It (Tupac Shakur)

A book review of Let’s Talk About It: A Deep Look into the Words of Tupac Shakur (More than the music: open, honest and objective conversations around the isms of our communities through the timeless lyrics of Tupac Shakur and other prolific writers by Desiree Carpenter

Stars: ****

Self-Published (2024)
Music and Society
133 pages

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This post contains affiliate links.

Summary: Safe space conversations can be the foundations to build bridges between our differences of race, culture, social issues, and all things that affect everyday people. This workbook is intended to help professors and other educators, public leaders, non-profits, community organizers, and the public interested in having the dialogues that can bring about community growth and positive change.
Each chapter contains a Tupac song that we will break down and discuss through conversation and questions. The chapters begin and end with relatable quotes by prolific writers from, Tzu Sun, St. Augustine, and Harriet Tubman to Jay Z, Beyonce, KRS One, Meek Mill and Barack Obama. These quotes are intended to spark our brains into thinking of things greater than ourselves. The challenge would be to ask ourselves, “Why did this person say this?” and “Did it need to be said at all?” What were the conditions that would drive someone to say something so profound?
The goal is to encourage heartfelt dialogue between people from different communities and perspectives that is challenging yet inviting.
Professors and group leaders can use this tool to guide these deep and at times very uncomfortable conversations and differences of opinion in safe space atmospheres without the fear of backlash due to the perception of a position. Incorporating hip-hop lyrics from an artist such as Tupac can aid in the growth of what we have in common and better understand what we don’t have in common in a more meaningful way.

Let’s Talk About It

This workbook is different than anything else I’ve seen. It analyzes the lyrics of songs by Tupac Shakur and includes questions you can ask yourself or a group of adults (or perhaps older teens) to discuss racism, civil rights and similar concepts.

Each chapter analyzes a different song starting by listing the lyrics. Following that is an analysis of what the song means or refers to and/or the reaction by Tupac fans and haters of the song. Questions are peppered throughout such as:

• Can you forgive a person who will not acknowledge that they causes you harm?
• Can music be detrimental to children? Why or why not?
• Are you open to opposing opinions or facts that challenge your belief systems?
• What is your definition of poverty?
• How often do you stop and imagine the world from someone else’s point of view?
• Is there a timeline for grief?

As you can see these questions are very deep and require thought. They would be good for self reflection but even better as a group discussion. Another thing included in the book in between songs is some timeline period reference photos which show newspaper articles and such from the time period to help set the scene. This is especially helpful for younger adults who might not have been around in the time periods mentioned.

Please note the lyrics often include the N word and the questions do talk about tough or controversial subjects such as Black Lives Matter, racism, poverty, KKK, drugs, suicide, police brutality and more.

What an interesting resource.

Buy Let’s Talk About It on Amazon.com and help support the blog.