"Dear Mama" is a song by American rapper 2Pac from his third studio album, Me Against the World (1995). It was released on February 9, 1995, as the lead single from the album. Dedicated to his mother, Afeni Shakur, Shakur details his childhood poverty and his mother's addiction to crack cocaine, but argues that his love and deep respect for his mother supersede bad memories. The song became his first top ten on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number nine. It also topped the Hot Rap Singles and Hot Dance Music Maxi-Singles, and made success in three other US charts. As of March 2021, "Dear Mama" is certified 3x Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).