“California Love” is a hip hop song by 2Pac featuring Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman. The song was released as 2Pac’s comeback single upon his release from prison in 1995. A popular remix version of the song appeared on his 1996 double album All Eyez on Me. This is perhaps 2Pac’s best-known song and his most successful, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks. The song was also nominated for two posthumous Grammy Awards in 1997. “California Love” was Shakur’s only entry on Rolling Stone’s 2004 list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, ranked #346, and #51 on VH1’s countdown of the 100 Greatest songs of the 90s (taken verbatim from Wikipedia).
In this song, 2Pac and Dr. Dre celebrate the unique and vibrant culture of California. They acknowledge and give props to several California cities that have influenced West Coast hip-hop, including Los Angeles, Compton and the San Francisco Bay Area.
California knows how to party.
In the city of L.A.
In the city of good, old Watts.
In the city, the city of Compton.
We keep it rocking.
Grammar: The Verb ‘Let’
Use the verb let for suggestions, orders or for permission.
For permission, use: Subject + let + object + base verb.
- I sometimes let my friends borrow my car. In other words, I allow them to borrow my car.
- My wife doesn’t let me eat junk food. She wants me to eat a lot of fruit and vegetables.
- Our teacher lets us work together in class. I like this more because our other teachers want us to be quiet all the time.
For group suggestions or orders: Let’s + base verb. Let’s not + base verb.
Let’s (informal) = Let us (formal)
- Let’s go to the restaurant. I’m starving!
- Let’s buy our tickets as soon as possible. I really want to go to the concert.
- Let’s not go to that neighborhood after dark. I hear it’s dangerous at night.
For instructions to yourself: Let me + base verb. Think and see are common.
Let me = Lemme (informal pronunciation)
- Do you know where my coat is? ~Let me see… I think it’s in the other room.
- What is the best dish in this restaurant? ~Let me think… The lobster ravioli is very good!
- Excuse me for one minute. Lemme answer this phone call from my mother.
For instructions to another person: Let + him / her/ it / them + base verb
- Let him eat all of the candy. He will be sorry when he gets a stomachache!
- Let her borrow my CD. She should definitely listen to it!
Examples from Song
Now let me welcome everybody to the wild, wild West.
Worldwide, let them recognize from Long Beach to Rosecrans.
Let me serenade the streets of L.A.
Let’s show these fools how we do it over on this West Side.
Discussion Questions
2Pac and Dr. Dre are proud to be from California. Where are you from? Are you proud to be from your country, province and city? Why are you proud to be from there? Please write your comments below!