Fans of hip hop icon Tupac Shakur will remember the track “Pain,” a B-Side from the equally classic film Above The Rim that acted as an anthem of struggle and turmoil for our communities. This week, Dave East decided to put a twist on the emotionally charged cut for his latest “East Mix,” which sees him addressing many of the same issues as the late rapper:
“They’ll never take me alive, I’m getting high wit’ my fo’ nine, the ones that live real, them n***as don’t die, millions I’ve won a multi, put it in yo’ face, the s*** like botox, that’s what you get for playin’ both sides/
The ‘Rari has a mag, wait until the Bentley come, just me and Bink, asked him who ‘bout to get hit, he told me ‘anyone,’ Clicquot bottles when the Henny done, if I pay for you to die, n***as gonna get it done, get a dog or get a gun/”
The visual comes courtesy of Brittany “YB” Brand and, as with many of East’s previous releases, shows him in his element, hanging in the hood with his crew. Remaining authentic to his Harlem roots, the Def Jam/Mass Appeal artist is unwavering in regards to his raw style and non-fictional subject matter.
“Pain” also following Dave East’s latest body of work Karma 3, which was released in August and sees 15 cuts and assists from Popcaan, Trey Songz, Trouble, A Boogie Wit Da Hoodie, Doe Boy, Young Dolph, Benny The Butcher, Mary J. Blige, and more. This past weekend, he added on deluxe tracks to the project with new collabs alongside the likes of Dej Loaf, Junior Reid, Chris Brown, G Herbo, and Jeezy. His debut LP, Survival, made landfall back in November of last year.
Press play on Dave East’s “Pain (East Mix)” below.