The Art of Storytelling: Brenda’s Got a Baby

In 1991 a young aspiring rapper named Tupac Amaru Shakur was crafting his debut album as a Hip Hop artist. With his background of coming from a family of Black revolutionaries and his love of conscious music, especially that of Hip Hop, he wanted to tell stories that focused on the struggles of the Black community. The first glimpse of insight he gave us into the plight of Black America came in the form of his debut single “Brenda’s Got a Baby” off his debut album 2Pacalypse Now.

🎶I hear Brenda's got a baby

But Brenda's barely got a brain

A damn shame, the girl can hardly spell her name

(That's not our problem, that's up to Brenda's family)

Well, let me show ya how it affects our whole community

Now Brenda really never knew her moms and her dad was a

Junky, puttin' death to his arms, it's sad 'cause I bet

Brenda doesn't even know

Just 'cause you're in the ghetto doesn't mean you can't grow (you can't grow)🎶

“Brenda’s Got A Baby” chronicles the true story of a teenage Black female name Brenda and her struggles as a teen mom. Brenda is a poorly educated young girl growing up in the rough streets of the inner city. Her mother was not present in her life and her father is a drug addict and Brenda is most likely ignorant to these circumstances.

🎶Brenda got herself a boyfriend

Her boyfriend was her cousin, now let's watch the joy end

She tried to hide her pregnancy, from her family

Who didn't really care to see, or give a damn if she

Went out and had a church of kids

As long as when the check came they got first dibs

Now Brenda's belly is gettin' bigger

But no one seems to notice any change in her figure

She's 12 years old and she's having a baby

In love with the molester, who's sexing her crazy

And yet and also she thinks that he'll be with her forever

And dreams of a world with the two of them are together

Whatever, he left her and she had the baby solo

She had it on the bathroom floor and didn't know so

She didn't know, what to throw away and what to keep

She wrapped the baby up and threw him in the trash heap

I guess she thought she'd get away, wouldn't hear the cries

She didn't realize

How much the the little baby had her eyes🎶

Brenda’s unhealthy upbringing takes an even more troubled twist of fate when she begins an incenstuous relationship with an older male cousin. Soon enough Brenda ends up pregnant and the father abandons his responsibility to Brenda. After having the baby Brenda tries to dispose of the child but is affectionately drawn back to the duty of motherhood after hearing the cries of the baby.

🎶Now the baby's in the trash heap balling

Momma can't help her, but it hurts to hear her calling

Brenda wants to run away

Momma say, "You makin' me lose pay

And social workers here every day"

Now Brenda's gotta make her own way

Can't go to her family, they won't let her stay

No money, no babysitter, she couldn't keep a job

She tried to sell crack, but end up getting robbed

So now what's next, there ain't nothing left to sell

So she sees sex as a way of leaving hell

It's paying the rent, so she really can't complains

Prostitute, found slain, and Brenda's her name, she's got a baby🎶

Attending to motherhood proves most difficult for Brenda. Her family is not supportive of her and she is unable to maintain employment to support her child. At one point she attempts to try her hand at drug dealing, but is unsuccessful. Brenda’s last desperate effort to provide for her baby comes in the form of her becoming a prostitute. Though the hustle is successful it also short lived as Brenda is abruptly murdered one day while hooking.

The late great Tupac Shakur was taking a big career risk by making this song his debut single. The label didn’t want this song to be premiered as they felt the song’s grim and taboo subject matter would be disheartening for listeners, Pac knew that the socially relevant message of the song was something that the people needed to hear. The music video for the song was equally as captivating as the lyrics. Actress Ethel Love portrays Brenda in the Hughes Brothers directed music video as Tupac narrates the story of the lyrics to the viewer.

“Brenda's Got A Baby” turned out to be a hit record that propelled Tupac’s music career. It also became one of the greatest and most revered story’s ever told in the history of Hip Hop for its poignant and socially relevant message. This story became the defining trait of what Tupac is most known for, his emotional captivation of his listeners with his heartfelt storytelling. “Brenda’s Got A Baby” is not only an iconic and classic Hip Hop tale, but a bright of example of why Tupac Shakur is a master in the art of storytelling.

~Today is Tupac’s birthday. This article is a heavenly birthday tribute to the late great poet.