California Love

Song Meaning of California love by 2Pac

"California Love" is a song by American rapper 2Pac featuring fellow American rapper-producer Dr. Dre and American singer Roger Troutman.

The song was released as 2Pac's comeback single after his release from prison in 1995 and was his first single with Death Row Records, and is one of 2Pac's most widely known singles.

2Pac first heard Dr. Dre's session while at Dre's in-house studio and asked Dre to put him on the song.

The song was made and written in Dr. Dre's in house studio, 2Pac came in and wrote his verse straight away; it took him just 15 minutes to write his verse. The weekend after the song was completed the video was then recorded.

The original version contains a sample taken from Joe Cocker's 1972 song "Woman to Woman".

The remix version contains a sample taken from Kleeer's 1984 song "Intimate Connection".

The chorus, "California knows how to party", was sung by Roger Troutman using his characteristic talk box and was taken from the 1982 song "West Coast Poplock" by Ronnie Hudson & The Street People which was written by Ronnie Hudson and Mikel Hooks.

In the song where Troutman sings "shake it, shake it baby", he interpolates the chant he used on his 1982 Zapp single, "Dance Floor".

It reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks (as a double A-side single with "How Do U Want It") and also topped the charts of Italy, New Zealand, and Sweden.

Lyrics of the song California Love by 2Pac

[Roger Troutman:]

California love

California knows how to party

California knows how to party

In the city of L.A

In the city of good ol' Watts

In the city, the city of Compton

We keep it rockin', we keep it rockin'

[Dr. Dre:]

Now let me welcome everybody to the wild, wild west

A state that's untouchable like Eliot Ness

The track hits your eardrum like a slug to your chest

Pack a vest for your Jimmy in the city of sex

We in that sunshine state where the bomb-ass hemp be

The state where you never find a dance floor empty

And pimps be on a mission for them greens

Lean mean money-making-machines serving fiends

I been in the game for 10 years making rap tunes

Ever since honeys was wearing Sassoon

Now it's '95 and they clock me and watch me

Diamonds shining, looking like I robbed Liberace

It's all good, from Diego to the Bay

Your city is the bomb if your city making pay

Throw up a finger if you feel the same way

Dre putting it down for Californ-i-a

[Roger Troutman:]

California knows how to party

California knows how to party (Yes, they do)

In the city of L.A

In the city of good ol' Watts

In the city, the city of Compton

We keep it rockin', we keep it rockin'

[Roger Troutman:]

Shake, shake it, baby

Shake, shake it, mama

Shake it Cali, shake it shake it baby

Shake it, shake it, shake it, shake it

[2Pac:]

Out on bail, fresh out of jail, California dreaming

Soon as I step on the scene, I'm hearing hoochies screaming

Fiending for money and alcohol

The life of a Westside player where cowards die and the strong ball

Only in Cali where we riot not rally to live and die

In L.A. we wearing Chucks not Ballys (yeah, that's right)

Dressed in Locs and Khaki suits, and ride is what we do

Flossing, but have caution: we collide with other crews

Famous because we throw grams

Worldwide, let them recognize from Long Beach to Rosecrans

Bumping and grinding like a slow jam, it's Westside

So you know the row won't bow down to no man

Say what you say, but give me that bomb beat from Dre

Let me serenade the streets of L.A

From Oakland to Sac-town, the Bay Area and back down

Cali is where they put their mack down

Give me love!

[Roger Troutman:]

California knows how to party

California knows how to party (Yes, they do)

In the city of L.A

In the city of good ol' Watts

In the city, the city of Compton

We keep it rockin'

[Dr. Dre:] South Central

[2Pac:] Uh, that's right

[Dr. Dre:] Now make it shake

[Roger Troutman:]

Shake, shake it, baby

Shake, shake it, mama

Shake it Cali, shake it shake it baby

Shake it, shake it, shake it, shake it

[Dr. Dre:]

Shake it Cali

Uh, uh, West Coast

Uh, yeah, uh, uh, Long Beach in the house

Uh, yeah, Oaktown, Oakland definitely in the house

Frisco, Frisco

[2Pac:]

And you know L.A. up in here

[Dr. Dre:]

Pasadena where you at?

Yeah, Inglewood

Inglewood always up to no good

[2Pac:]

Even Hollywood trying to get a piece, baby

[Dr. Dre:]

Sacramento, Sacramento where you at?

[2Pac:]

Throw it up ya'll, throw it up, throw it up!

I can't see ya

Let's show these fools how we do it over on this West Side

Cause you and I know it's the best side

Yeah, that's right

West Coast, West Coast