Discover the story of the song > Dear Mama – 2Pac

In the song, Shakur details the poverty of his childhood and his mother's addiction to crack cocaine, but says his love and deep respect for his mother override the bad memories.
The song became his first top 10 hit on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number nine. It also topped the Hot Rap Singles chart for five weeks. In March 2021, the song was certified 3× Platinum by the RIAA.
"Dear Mama" has been consistently ranked among the best of its genre, appearing on numerous "greatest hits" lists. In 2009, the song was entered into the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress, which deemed it a work that is "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant, and/or informs or reflects life in the United States," making it the first hip-hop recording by a soloist to be inducted.