DISSNATION
Verified archive entry

Holla at Me

By 2Pac · Targeting Haitian Jack, Jimmy Henchman, Stretch, The Notorious B.I.G.

Holla at Me is a diss track by 2Pac targeting Stretch, The Notorious B.I.G., Haitian Jack and Jimmy Henchman. The recording also credits Nanci Fletcher. 2Pac addresses people he believed betrayed or undermined him after the 1994 Quad Studios shooting and during the disputes that followed.

Released1996
Annotated4
ExplicitYes
Addressable transcript

Lyrics & breakdown

Demo lines only. Select a line number to copy a stable deep link.

  1. 01

    [Refrain: Nancy Fletcher]

    02

    Niggas out there jealous 'cause we be bellin' with Death Row

    03

    They try to player-hate, but they can't fade us though

    04

    We be mobbin' through the neighborhood, yeah

    05

    With that funky sound (So funky), we be throwin' it down!

  2. 06

    [Intro: 2Pac]

    07

    This goes out to you, player, you know who you are

  3. 08

    [Chorus: 2Pac]

    09

    Got to be careful, can't let the evil of the money trap me

    10

    So when you see me, nigga, you better holla at me

    11

    Got to be careful, can't let the evil of the money trap me

    12

    So when you see me, nigga, you better holla at me

  4. 13

    Got to be careful, can't let the evil of the money trap me

    14

    So when you see me, nigga, you better holla at me

  5. 15

    [Verse 1: 2Pac]

    Multi-line diss block
    16

    Are you confused?

    17

    You wonder how it feels to walk a mile inside the shoes of a nigga who don't have a thing to lose?

    18

    But me and you was homies, no one before me, it was all a scheme

    19

    You infiltrated my team and sold a nigga dreams

    Block noteForces the dispute into a direct contest

    TargetStretch

    MeaningWhat it means: In “You wonder how it feels to walk a mile inside the shoes of a nigga who don't have a thing to lose?,” 2Pac addresses Stretch as an opponent who must prove the claims being made rather than rely on reputation. Why it was said: 2Pac addresses people he believed betrayed or undermined him after the 1994 Quad Studios shooting and during the disputes that followed. The challenge narrows the argument to performance under pressure, where refusing or failing to answer can itself be presented as a loss for Stretch.

    Context2Pac addresses people he believed betrayed or undermined him after the 1994 Quad Studios shooting and during the disputes that followed.

  6. 20

    How could you do me like that? I took your family in

    Multi-line diss block
    21

    I put some cash in your pocket, made you a man again

    22

    And now you let the fear put your ass in a place

    23

    Complicated to escape, it's a fool's fate

    Block noteMakes the feud personal through family

    TargetStretch

    MeaningWhat it means: In “How could you do me like that? I took your family in,” 2Pac brings a relative or family boundary into the exchange with Stretch, moving the dispute beyond music and into private life. Why it was said: 2Pac addresses people he believed betrayed or undermined him after the 1994 Quad Studios shooting and during the disputes that followed. Family references explain why the conflict feels personal: they raise the emotional cost for Stretch and make the line more consequential than a routine comparison of rap skill.

    Context2Pac addresses people he believed betrayed or undermined him after the 1994 Quad Studios shooting and during the disputes that followed.

  7. 24

    Without your word, you a shell of a man

    Multi-line diss block
    25

    I lost respect for you, nigga, we can never be friends

    26

    I know what runnin' through your head now

    27

    What could you do? If it was up to you, I'd be dead now

    Block noteImagines the battle as physical destruction

    TargetStretch

    MeaningWhat it means: In “What could you do? If it was up to you, I'd be dead now,” 2Pac converts lyrical defeat into death, shooting, burial, or bodily harm directed at Stretch. Why it was said: 2Pac addresses people he believed betrayed or undermined him after the 1994 Quad Studios shooting and during the disputes that followed. The violent image makes the response sound final: instead of proposing an endless exchange, the artist depicts Stretch as unable to return for another round.

    Context2Pac addresses people he believed betrayed or undermined him after the 1994 Quad Studios shooting and during the disputes that followed.

  8. 28

    I let the world know, nigga, you a coward, you can never be live until you die

    Multi-line diss block
    29

    I see the motherfuckin' bitch in your eyes

    Block noteCalls the target's toughness an act

    TargetStretch

    MeaningWhat it means: In “I let the world know, nigga, you a coward, you can never be live until you die,” 2Pac portrays Stretch as frightened or unwilling to stand behind the aggression shown in public. Why it was said: 2Pac addresses people he believed betrayed or undermined him after the 1994 Quad Studios shooting and during the disputes that followed. A diss threat depends on the audience believing the speaker will confront the opponent; calling Stretch afraid is designed to empty that threat of force.

    Context2Pac addresses people he believed betrayed or undermined him after the 1994 Quad Studios shooting and during the disputes that followed.

  9. 30

    [Chorus: 2Pac & Nancy Fletcher]

    31

    Type of nigga to let the evil of the money trap me

    32

    When you see me, nigga, you better holla at me (Holla at me)

    33

    Gotta be ready, don't let the evil of the money trap me

    34

    So when you see me, nigga, you better holla at me

  10. 35

    You better beware where you lay

    36

    We better not find where you stay

    37

    Gotta be careful, can't let the evil of the money trap me

    38

    So when you see me, nigga, you better holla at me

  11. 39

    You better beware where you lay

    40

    We better not find where you stay

  12. 41

    [Verse 2: 2Pac]

    42

    Curious, spittin' lyrics on the verge of furious

    43

    I'm addicted to currency, nigga, that's why we doin' this

    44

    Got set up, I surprised the niggas the way I got up

    45

    And then I hit the studio, it's time to blow the block up

  13. 46

    No hesitation, this information got you contemplatin'

    47

    Heartbreakin', eliminatin' with this conversation

    48

    Break him and let him see the face of a mental patient

    49

    In celebration of my criminal elevation

  14. 50

    Want participation, I want members across the fifty states

    51

    We keep the nation anticipatin' until we break

    52

    Will I be great, is it my fate

    53

    To live a life of luxury so niggas buy my tape?

  15. 54

    So much jealousy it scares me, so be prepared

    55

    'Cause only the strong survive, life isn't fair (Who cares?)

    56

    Probably never knew the way it feels to die

    57

    So you figure, fuck with me, I'll give that ass a try

  16. 58

    Nigga, holla at me!

  17. 59

    [Chorus: 2Pac & Nancy Fletcher]

    60

    Got to be careful, can’t let the evil of the money trap me

    61

    So when you see me, nigga, you better holla at me

    62

    You better beware where you lay

    63

    We better not find where you stay

  18. 64

    And now I got to be careful, can't let the evil of the money trap me

    65

    So when you see me, nigga, you better holla at me

  19. 66

    [Verse 3: 2Pac]

    67

    I should have saw the signs I was blinded

    68

    Criminal mind of a young black brother doin' time

    69

    So many brothers framed in this dirty game

    70

    It's a shame, so much pressure on my brain, why she blame me?

  20. 71

    Secrets in the dark only her and I know

    72

    Now I'm sittin' in the state pen', doin' time slow

    73

    'Cause she made a bad decision that got me livin'

    74

    Just like an animal, I'm caged up in state prison

  21. 75

    My niggas dissing 'cause Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned

    76

    A cemetery full of motherfuckers not knowin'

    77

    Picture my prophecy, I got some attackin' me, on top of me

    78

    I'm runnin' from the coppers, but never let 'em stop me

  22. 79

    'Cause I'm a soldier, ever since I was a little nigga

    80

    Havin' fantasies of one day bein' older

    81

    Niggas is paranoid, trust - a no-no

    82

    Love is a mystery, fuck the po-po, holla at me!

  23. 83

    So when you see me, nigga, you better holla at me!

  24. 84

    [Chorus: 2Pac & Nancy Fletcher]

    85

    You better beware where you lay

    86

    We better not find where you stay

    87

    Got to be careful, can't let the evil of the money trap me

    88

    So when ya see me, nigga, you better holla at me

  25. 89

    You better beware where you lay

    90

    We better not find where you stay

    91

    Nigga, got to be careful, can't let the evil of the money trap me

    92

    So when ya see me, nigga, you better holla at me

  26. 93

    You better beware where you lay -

    94

    We better not find where you stay

  27. 95

    [Refrain: Nanci Fletcher]

    96

    Niggas out there jealous cause we be bellin' with Death Row

    97

    They try to playa-hate, but they can't fade us tho'

    98

    We be mobbin' through the neighborhood, yeah

    99

    With that funky sound (So funky), we be throwin' it down

  28. 100

    [Chorus: 2Pac & Nancy Fletcher]

    101

    You got to be careful, can't let the evil of the money trap me

    102

    So when ya see me, nigga, you better holla at me

    103

    You better beware where you lay

    104

    We better not find where you stay

  29. 105

    Got to be careful, can't let the evil of the money trap me

    106

    So when ya see me, nigga, you better holla at me

    107

    You better beware where you lay

    108

    We better not find where you stay

  30. 109

    (Oh no, no, no)