God Bless The Dead

Overview

God Bless The Dead was first officially released on Greatest Hits in 1998, one of four previously unreleased recordings included to accompany the compilation. Although released two years after Tupac's death, the song was recorded several years earlier during his Interscope era and features a guest appearance from Stretch.

The recording is a heartfelt tribute to friends and loved ones lost to street violence. Both Tupac and Stretch reflect on grief, loyalty and the lasting impact of losing those closest to them, creating one of the most emotional collaborations between the two artists.

The opening line, "Rest in peace my nigga Biggie Smalls", has generated debate among fans for many years. Because the song predates the death of Christopher Wallace, the lyric is widely believed to refer to an earlier friend who shared the nickname "Biggie Smalls", rather than The Notorious B.I.G.

For the Live Squad archive, God Bless The Dead remains one of the most important officially released Stretch collaborations, preserving a previously unheard recording from the early years of Tupac and Stretch's friendship.

Release History

Year	Release	Format	Notes
1998	Greatest Hits	2CD	First official release. Previously unreleased recording.
1998	Greatest Hits	4LP	First vinyl release.
1998	God Bless The Dead	Promo Single	Promotional release.

Samples

Samples Used

No confirmed samples have currently been identified.

Lyrics

2Pac

God bless the dead, and buried
Nigga, don't worry if you see God first
Tell him shit got worse, I ain't mad
I know you representin the crew
And I can picture you in Heaven with a blunt and a brew
Fuck the world, pain was a part of the game
If you a baller, money went as quick as it came
My role models, gone or they locked in the pen
Straight hustlers, caught up in the whirlwind
The other day, I thought I seen my homeboy Biggy sayin shit don't stop,
nigga no pity
We all hoods, and all we ever had was dreams
Money makin motherfuckers plot scandalous schemes
In the gutter, you learn to have a criminal mind
I was addicted to tryin, never meant to do time
My epitaph, will read, "Was the last of G's"
Kicked the shit to make the white man bleed
God bless the dead

Chorus - 2Pac

God bless the dead (echos in background)
God bless the dead
God bless the dead

2Pac

Man, ain't nobody promised me a thang
I been caught up in this game
Ever since I was a little motherfucker wantin to hang
I can see 'em in my head, pow
Memories of my nigga but he dead now
Lookin back in my yearbook, all the years took
Half my peers, they're stretched for years
And if I die will they all shed tears?
Two to the dome, leave me alone, let me get my head clear
Paranoid got me lookin in the mirror
Behind me, life without my nine, I'd rather do the time
See I'm old enough to know there ain't no justice
Fuck the police and all the courts, same way they fucked us
And why the hell am I locked in jail
They let them white boys free, we be shocked as hell
In my mind I can see it comin
And all the time it's a plot to keep a nigga runnin
I keep a gun and never run unless I'm comin at ya
Cry later but for now let's enjoy the laughter
God bless the dead

Chorus

2Pac

Rest in peace to all the motherfuckers that passed too early
All the young motherfuckers that was took in they prime
Real motherfuckin G's, this one is for you
Yo Stretch, Biggy

Stretch

Yo Big, this is to you my nigga
Springfield Hollis Crew, Thug Life, YG'z
Sendin they respect, yaknowhatImean?
You my nigga for life, forever
You're always gonna be with a nigga
No matter what, don't forget that
I pray before I go to sleep, "Dear God"
Say my grace before I start to eat, cause times is hard
So I'm droppin to my knees, OH WHY?
Why you had to take my nigga with the rock-a-bye?
You had to take a good one, a ghetto hood son, uzi weighin a ton
Niggaz terrified of drama from the Young Gun
Hearin that they did it outta fear don't amaze me
But it's mind blowin so I'm flowin goin crazy
Slip for cock the gun but he didn't run like a punk
He shoulda had the gauge in the trunk
But spunk is what he had, kid, I'd ratha attack Big
Now ya bout to smell the aftermath of what the mag did
Wannabe suckers wanna test, I'm tellin you, yes
The teflon's bout to rip through your fuckin vest
Guess who? I'll make a mess of your crew quick
The spirit Biggy Smallz and the Thuggadon clique, yeah

God bless the dead
God bless the dead
God bless the dead
God bless the dead