Creative expression can take many forms, one of the most common being music. Music allows one to communicate with a wider audience about a feeling or experience through melody as well as an expression of culture. Music scholar Craig Werner notes that gospel is a genre that helps us understand black culture through three characteristics: the first being recognizing a burden, then bearing witness to that burden and describing it, and finally finding the redemption from this burden. . These three traits parallel the lyrics of Tupac's 1993 song "Keep Ya Head Up." Although Tupac's music was born years after gospel music began in America, he still manages to demonstrate all three characteristics of gospel music in his hip hop rap. Say no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned”?Get Original Essay Tupac begins the song discussing the burden of being a black American in the ghetto noting, “I'm shouting out to my sister who receives social assistance. / Tupac cares, if no one else cares” (Shakur). Tupac highlights, through the use of the word "nobody", the lack of attention that black Americans receive not only from the government, which considers welfare to be sufficient, but also from other Americans . Tupac continues to reinforce the burden of being in a poor region by saying "they got money for wars, but can't feed the poor" (Shakur). The word “they” refers to the government's lack of attention to black Americans. This is similar to how blues and gospel music originally developed during a “time of broken promises” to black people (Sanchez 8). The government also obscured the importance of the struggles of black Americans "outside the South," such that Tupac's nationally recognized song helped share the struggles that the government was not highlighting (Ezra xiii ). Although the government implemented social and other programs for the poor, these programs did not improve the overall situation, they only provided temporary “relief”. The government also did little to change the attitudes of other Americans, leading to “no one” else caring. Tupac tries to relate his own situation to those in his community, especially to "women who have babies alone" in order to bear witness to first-hand experience (Shakur). He associates it with thanking "the Lord for my children, even if no one else wants them", which helps make him more accessible to people who are going through the same experience as him: raising children alone since the other parental figure is not involved. (Shakur). This relatability was also a goal during slavery, as “a song could help create community and provide artistic expression in some of the worst conditions” (Sanchez 7). Tupac raps to represent the community, since “the struggle for black freedom was a national social movement,” building relationships with others while adding the artistic expression of hip hop music (Ezra xiv). Although finding redemption seems like a challenge, Tupac sums it up in the song title “Keep Your Head Up.” Continually throughout the rap, he utters this phrase, implying that the struggles that come with being a black American will improve. His ending line is the best example of seeking redemption as he says "and it's crazy, it feels like it'll never stop, but/ please you have to.