Classic Tracks: I Get Around (1993)

Second single from Tupac's second album, Strictly For My N.I.G.G.A.Z., released on June 10th, 1993.

24 years ago, Tupac Shakur released "I Get Around", which went on to become one of the most recognizable songs of his legendary hip-hop career. Originally based in the Bay Area, Shakur and Digital Underground flowed smoothly over this beat and created a summer anthem that's lasted for over two decades.

Shock G, member of Digital Underground, produced this records iconic beat. He took the drums from The Honey Drippers' 1973 record "Impeach The President" and took vocals from Prince and The Revolution's 1985 record "The Ladder". He also geniu sly sampled Zapp's classic 1985 record "Computer Love". Shock G not only produced the track, but he has the second verse. He raps smoothly over the beat and was one of the first to use the phrase "Tryna make a dollar outta fifteen cent".

This track falls perfectly "I'm not gonna be your boyfriend" song category, as Pac, Shock G, and Money B let the ladies know how they get down. Pac's verse has one of the most well known hip hop lines ever, when he said, "Hate to sound sleazy, but tease me, I don't want it if it's that easy." It's one of the 90s best opening verses, as Pac has fun rapping as he speaks for men to the female population.

Money B has arguably one of the funniest (and smoothest) bars of the record on his third verse of the track. He's talking to a woman that he's involved with and says to her, "Well, I've been hangin', sangin', tryna do my thang, oh, you heard that I was bangin'...your homegirl you went to school with? That's cool, but did she tell you about her sister? And your cousin? Thought I wasn't...". He then continues to flow over the beat, but that line is what stands out in his verse.

Tupac's second verse on this record is a perfect example to give anyone who believes that he didn't have a strong flow and only had powerful lyrics. Shakur's flow over this beat is immaculate as he destroys the track for 40 seconds straight. Tupac wasn't only a powerful artist, but he was a very gifted rapper, or as Pac himself would put it, a poet.

"I Get Around" was, and still is, a great party record and an iconic hip-hop track in general, going well recognized by the industry. The record went on to peak at #11 on the Billboard Hot 100, went gold and sold 700,000 copies. The record came in at #14 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip-Hop, and is also beloved by Bay Area raps fans, as well as raps fans across the country and the world. "I Get Around" is the definition of a classic hip-hop record.