Trapped (Tupac Shakur song)

"Trapped"
Single by 2Pac
from the album 2Pacalypse Now
B-side"Tha' Lunatic"
ReleasedSeptember 25, 1991 (1991-09-25)
Recorded1991
StudioStarlight Sound Studio (Richmond, California)
GenrePolitical hip hop
Length4:44
LabelInterscope
Songwriter(s)
Lyricist(s)Tupac Shakur
Producer(s)Pee-Wee
2Pac singles chronology
"Same Song"
(1990) 		"Trapped"
(1991) 		"Brenda's Got a Baby"
(1991)
Audio sample
"Trapped"
Music video
"Trapped" on YouTube

"Trapped" is the political hip hop song written and performed by American rapper 2Pac. It was released on September 25, 1991, through Interscope Records as the lead single from his debut solo studio album 2Pacalypse Now. Recording sessions took place at Starlight Sound Studio in Richmond, California. Production was handled by Ramone "Pee-Wee" Gooden, who utilised samples from the Bar-Kays's "Holy Ghost" and James Brown's "The Spank".

It deals with police brutality.[1][2] The first verse tells a story of 2Pac being harassed by the police with one even shooting at him.[1] He then fires back and says he did it because he was tired of constantly being profiled and abused by police officers.[1]

The song was featured on 2Pac's 1998 posthumous Greatest Hits album.

Music video

The music video features Shock G singing part of the song's chorus and depicts Shakur in jail.[3] It features cameos by J-Dee of Da Lench Mob and Stretch. It was filmed on August 11, 1991.[4]

It appeared as a bonus on the DVD for Tupac: Resurrection. Around the time the music video was debuting, Tupac was assaulted by the Oakland Police Department after he cursed at them for demeaning his name and prolonging the issuing of a ticket sustained during a jaywalking incident.[5]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Trapped" (LP Version)
Pee-Wee 
2."Trapped" (Instrumental Mix)   
3."The Lunatic" (LP Version)
Shock G 
4."The Lunatic" (Instrumental Mix)   

Personnel

  • Tupac "2Pac" Shakur — lyrics, vocals
  • Ramone "Pee-Wee" Gooden — producer, songwriter
  • Raymond "Ray Luv" Tyson — songwriter
  • Gregory "Shock G" Jacobs — backing vocals
  • Dank — backing vocals
  • Wiz — backing vocals
  • Atron Gregory — executive producer
  • Kevin Hosmann — art direction
  • Victor Hall — photography
  • Tom Whalley — A&R

References

  1. ^ a b c 2Pac (Ft. Shock G) – Trapped, retrieved 2021-04-15
  2. ^ "Tupac Shakur - Trapped Lyrics Meaning". Lyric Interpretations. Retrieved 2021-04-15.
  3. ^ 2Pac - Trapped, retrieved 2021-04-15
  4. ^ "2Pac "Trapped" BTS Footage (Dear Mama FX)". YouTube. April 23, 2023. Retrieved August 31, 2023.
  5. ^ Pareles, Jon (September 14, 1996). "Tupac Shakur, 25, Rap Performer Who Personified Violence, Dies". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 15, 2021.