2Pac — Brenda’s Got A Baby
She didn’t know what to throw away or what to keep!
“Brenda’s Got a Baby” is a song by American rapper 2Pac from his debut album, 2Pacalypse Now (1991). The song was first released as a promotional CD single a month prior to the album’s release and then, in February 1992, it was re-released as a double A-side single with the song If My Homie Calls. The song, which features R&B singer Dave Hollister singing background vocals with Roniece Levias, is about a 12-year-old girl named Brenda who lives in a ghetto and has a baby she can’t support. The song explores the issue of teen pregnancy and its effect on young mothers and their families.
With all of the lord's respect for #BlackLivesMatter.
I believe this song speaks to issues that transcend race, that once addressed, will acknowledge our differences while healing and uniting people with the single purpose of love and equality for all.
It brings into light the god-given right of heritage, identity, social connection and issues surrounding stolen motherhood. When you hear 2-Pac says “She didn’t know what to throw away or what to keep!”
All I can think of is when I lost my mother at birth because her support and choice were stolen from her. #familypreservation
2-Pac’s insight is masterful.
“ We need to take more responsibility for our sisters, because if we don’t, who will?”
2-Pac
Lyrics
Brenda's (Brenda's)
Got a (got a)
Baby
Say that one more time Brenda
Brenda's
Got a (baby)
Baby
I hear Brenda's got a baby
But, Brenda's barely got a brain
A damn shame, the girl can hardly spell her name
(That's not our problem, that's up to Brenda's family)
Well let me show ya how it affects the whole community
Now Brenda really never knew her moms and her dad was a
Junky, went in death to his arms, it's sad 'cause I bet
Brenda doesn't even know
Just 'cause your in the ghetto doesn't mean you can't grow (you can't grow)
But oh, that's a thought, my own revelation
Do whatever it takes to resist the temptation
Brenda got herself a boyfriend
Her boyfriend was her cousin, now let's watch the joy end
She tried to hide her pregnancy, from her family
Who didn't really care to see, or give a damn if she
Went out and had a church of kids
As long as when the check came they got first dibs
Now Brenda's belly is gettin' bigger
But no one seems to notice any change in her figure
She's 12 years old and she's having a baby
In love with the molester, who's sexing her crazy
And yet she thinks that he'll be with her forever
And dreams of a world with the two of them are together,
Whatever, he left her and she had the baby solo
She had it on the bathroom floor and didn't know so
She didn't know, what to throw away and what to keep
She wrapped the baby up and threw him in the trash heep
I guess she thought she'd get away, wouldn't hear the cries
She didn't realize
How much the the little baby had her eyes
Now the baby's in the trash heep balling
Momma can't help her, but it hurts to hear her calling
Brenda wants to run away
Momma say, you makin' me lose pay
The social workers here everyday
Now Brenda's gotta make her own way
Can't go to her family, they won't let her stay
No money no babysitter, she couldn't keep a job
She tried to sell crack, but end up getting robbed
So now what's next, there ain't nothing left to sell
So she sees sex as a way of leaving hell
It's paying the rent, so she really can't complain
Prostitute, found slain, and Brenda's her name, she's got a baby
Baby
(Don't you know she's got a)
(Don't you know she's got a)
(Don't you know she's got a baby)
(Don't you know she's got a)
(Don't you know she's got a)
(Don't you know she's got a baby)
(Don't you know she's got a)
(Don't you know she's got a)
(Don't you know she's got a baby)
(Don't you know she's got a)
(Don't you know she's got a)
(Don't you know she's got a baby)
(Don't you know she's got a)
(Don't you know she's got a)
(Don't you know she's got a baby)
(Don't you know she's got a)
(Don't you know she's got a)
(Don't you know she's got a baby)