Tragic Characters in Music

It was a hard knock life for these central figures.

Brenda (Tupac Shakur) - Long before MTV’s 16 & Pregnant became pop culture hit, Tupac introduced the world to a teenage mom with a world of issues that few reality shows would be eager to exploit. Pac’s intense 1991 single “Brenda’s Got a Baby” chronicled the life of a 12-year-old girl growing up fast in the ghetto as a single mom. (Photo: Death Row Records)

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Brenda in "Brenda's Got a Baby" by Tupac - Whether based on a true story, a mash-up of many stories, or pulled from the depths of the imagination, musicians have created some of the most tragic characters in modern art to help us sort through the sadness that we face in reality. Brenda, in Tupac's "Brenda's Got a Baby" for example, was the poster girl for such tough topics as molestation, unwanted pregnancies, lack of education, poverty, drugs and prostitution. It was a song he wrote after reading a newspaper article with a similar story. Check out these other tragic characters from music folklore.(Photo: Death Row Records)

George in "Poor Georgie" by MC Lyte - Way ahead of her time, iconic femcee MC Lyte penned this tale about a former love interest who lived the fast life and perished after driving while intoxicated. Fun fact: Lauryn Hill makes a cameo in the music video for this 1991 single. (Photo: Elektra Records)

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George in "Poor Georgie" by MC Lyte - Way ahead of her time, iconic femcee MC Lyte penned this tale about a former love interest who lived the fast life and perished after driving while intoxicated. Fun fact: Lauryn Hill makes a cameo in the music video for this 1991 single. (Photo: Elektra Records)

Stan in "Stan" by Eminem - Eminem gives this anonymous crazed fan an unforgettable identity on his The Marshall Mathers LP. With haunting lyrics from Dido's "Thank You," Em takes on the fictional persona of Stanley Mitchell to give a first-person account of what it might feel like to be ignored by someone you admire.(Photo: Interscope Records)

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Stan in "Stan" by Eminem - Eminem gives this anonymous crazed fan an unforgettable identity on his The Marshall Mathers LP. With haunting lyrics from Dido's "Thank You," Em takes on the fictional persona of Stanley Mitchell to give a first-person account of what it might feel like to be ignored by someone you admire.(Photo: Interscope Records)

TLC, "Waterfalls" - The groundbreaking female trio landed one of their biggest hits with this cautionary cut, which metaphorically warned against chasing fleeting (and potentially deadly) pleasures. In this case, it was selling drugs and unprotected sex.  (Photo: LaFace Records)

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Little Precious in "Waterfalls" by TLC - TLC's 1994 smash "Waterfalls" detailed a series of real life problems that were affecting America's youth. One character in particular, Little Precious, a promiscuous young lady who sleeps with a young man that contracted HIV after having unprotected sex. (Photo: Epic Records)

Dungeon Family Reunion - Speaking of gettin' up, gettin' out and gettin' something, the Dungeon Family set the blueprint as far as hip hop collectives go. These days, with Future holding it downand Goodie Mob reconnecting for a new album, an entire basement crew reunion is in order.(Photo: Peter Kramer/Getty Images)

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Jazzy Belle in "Jazzy Belle" by OutKast - Though written about women — in the plural — who were promiscuous, OutKast gave them all this one moniker: Jazzy Belle, in a song of the same title off their second studio album, 1997's ATLien. (Photo: Peter Kramer/Getty Images)

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Bob Marley - Nesta Robert Marley had a poor but idyllic childhood in Trench Town, Jamaica, before he brought reggae to the world. But the singer, who died at age 36, didn't live to see how influential — and profitable — his music would eventually become. Marley is arguable as relevant today as he was 20 years ago, and his legacy lives on through his talented children.  (Photo: Michael Putland/Getty Images)

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Johnny in "Johnny Was a Good Man" by Bob Marley - Bob Marley did a lot to speak out against violence using riddims. One song in particular opens with the story of Johnny, who was shot and killed by a stray bullet. For much of the remainder of the song, Johnny's mother held her head and cried, "Johnny was a good man!" (Photo: Michael Putland/Getty Images)

Ludacris "Runaway Love" - With Mary J. Blige contributing vocals on the hook, Ludacris gets as close as he'll get to making a love song. On each verse, 'Cris creates a different "runaway" story about young girls aged 9, 10 and 11, all faced with tough upbringings that force them to want to escape their unfortunate outcomes.\r\r(Photo: Courtesy of Def Jam Records)

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Lisa in "Runaway Love" by Ludacris - "Little Lisa" had it bad from jump. With Mary J.'s help, Ludacris introduced "Runaway," a rap about Lisa and her tumultuous home life. A drug addicted mother and rape drove this 9-year-old girl to "run away and never look back." (Photo: Def Jam)

Cutie Tootie in "Why You Hurt Me" by Missy Elliott - Missy Elliott introduced us to a friend named Cutie Tootie (aka Loose Bootie), a girl who liked to turn tricks. On "Why You Hurt Me" off Missy's Supadupafly debut, Tootie's promiscuity was the topic of choice.(Photo: Chris Connor / WENN)

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Cutie Tootie in "Why You Hurt Me" by Missy Elliott - Missy Elliott introduced us to a friend named Cutie Tootie (aka Loose Bootie), a girl who liked to turn tricks. On "Why You Hurt Me" off Missy's Supadupafly debut, Tootie's promiscuity was the topic of choice.(Photo: Chris Connor / WENN)

Eve "Love Is Blind" - Eve took a different approach to the cautionary tales for women, giving an insightful story from the perspective of a female friend. On "Love Is Blind," the rapper/singer warns females about the dangers of being in love, including turning a blind eye to violence in relationships. (Photo: Courtesy of Geffen Records)

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Mimi in "Love Is Blind" by Eve - Philly's "pitbull in a skirt" played the background to share Mimi's story on "Love Is Blind." Mimi was stuck in an abusive relationship that ended her life. The rhyme flips though when E-V-E takes revenge: "And before you had a chance to get up/You heard my gun cock."Game over. (Photo: Interscope)