African American Vernacular English: History, Structure and Use through Tupac’s Lyrics

African American Vernacular English, equally known as “AAVE”, “African American English” and “Black English” corresponds to the linguistic variety of English that African Americans have made use of and have developed since their approach with the first original English settlers in the United States. It derives from the union of Standard English with the local languages and dialects of Africans. This dissertation firstly aims at providing a historical, linguistic and sociological background of African American Vernacular English; it secondly aims at examining how it is considered an active language in all respects and how this is clearly expressed through its linguistic features, which will be explored as well. The aspects and the concreteness of AAVE will be furthermore analysed through the figure of Tupac Shakur and his lyrics, who has been as one of the most influent and socially aware African American artists and activists in the Hip-Hop music during the Nineties. The purpose of this disseration is secondly to consider the linguistic background of AAVE, how it intersected with Tupac’s musical career and how the usage of this variety of English helped him increase his success, not only among African Americans, but also internationally. This analysis will point out Tupac's abilities to represent the voiceless America, which has not been able to speak up and, thus, try to really take the truth out about African American real living conditions. It additionally will focus on how Tupac became a symbol and a mouthpiece for the African American community through his lyrics, with the principal purpose of raising awareness of social injustice and inequality which African Americans were victims of. This dissertation will moreover concentrate on how his musical and artistic contribution has been interpreted as an expression of encouragement to his listeners, aiming at social change.