I'm From The Ghetto
DJ Khaled Lyrics

We the best
We are the best group to represent the hood and its people.

I represent the hood
I am a true representative of the hood and all its struggles.

I represent the ghetto
I represent the ghetto, its culture, and its community.

I represent the people
I represent the people of the ghetto, their voices, and their stories.

I represent you
I represent the listener and all those who can relate to my message.

All the money in the world couldn't change me
No amount of money could erase my identity or disconnect me from the hood.

No diamond rings or them fancy cars
Material possessions can't change my roots or my perspective.

Cause my niggas in the hood woulda let me
My community in the hood would never let me forget where I come from.

Holler this because
Listen to this message and understand my perspective.

(I'm from the ghetto) I'm from the ghetto
I grew up in the ghetto, and it's a part of my identity.

(I'm from the projects) I'm from the projects
I come from the projects, where many people in the ghetto reside.

All over the world and every hood they know
My message is universal, and people from all around the world can relate.

Ayo Cali
Addressing California as a symbol of the hood and its struggles.

Walk with me
Follow me on this journey and understand my perspective.

The chucks the khaki suits
Traditional clothing styles in the hood.

All the swap meet years
Growing up with affordable, second-hand clothing options.

The six dollar socks the five dollar rocks
Affordable necessities and vices found in the hood.

Uncle Greg rest in peace he taught me how to chop
My uncle, who's now passed away, taught me how to sell drugs to survive in the hood.

That's why I love the hood and everything we got
Despite its hardships, the ghetto is home to me, and I'm proud of its culture and community.

From the ice cream trucks to the forty ounce tops
Simple, unique joys of growing up in the ghetto.

All white Air Force Ones to fake Jacob watch
Fashion trends and status symbols found in the hood, with fake brand imitations.

A few reasons why I drive the Bentley hard top
Motivated to succeed and enjoy luxuries, despite his roots.

Use it in my songs cause I live it on the block
My music reflects my upbringing and the reality of life in the ghetto.

Tattoo it on my face let the whole world watch
I wear my roots on my face, and I'm not afraid to show the world who I am.

I'm that type of nigga y'all made my city bigger dog
I represent the hood and its people proudly, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to succeed in representing them.

Turn the TV off got tired of watchin' Jigga boss
No longer interested in watching celebrity success stories and instead focusing on my own journey.

So we told our mom's we was lookin' for jobs
Lying to our families about our job search, while we focus on building our music careers.

When we was really in the record store lookin' for Nas
Pursuing our passion for music, even if we had to sacrifice our day jobs or education for it.

Project of the ghetto, Ghetto and the project
The project housing within the ghetto, where many people like me grew up.

From Compton to being Dre's number one prospect so
Despite the struggles and hardships faced in the ghetto, success stories like mine can still emerge.

(I'm from the pojects) I'm from the projects
Reiterating my roots and experiences in the project housing of the ghetto.

I'm from the ghetto and that's fo sho'
Proudly asserting my identity and roots in the hood.

Yeah ugh
Expressing a sense of affirmation and validation.

They know
Acknowledgment of the recognition and relevance of my message.

Ain't no help there just food stamps
Bureaucratic welfare policies are not sufficient in addressing the challenges of poverty in the ghetto.

Weight checks and welfare
The reality of having to rely on government assistance to survive.

Every man gone for self there
The need for self-preservation and individual survival in the ghetto, with little sense of community support.

Still might need to borrow your medicade card for health care
Despite the inadequacy of health care in the ghetto, those in need must still rely on the resources of their peers.

Yeah if you never got knocked then you made it
Implying that success in the ghetto comes from avoiding trouble and criminal activity.

Everybody know each other if not they related
A strong sense of community and familiarity in the ghetto, with many families related to one another or connected through close relationships.

You can get shot or get bladed
The dangers of growing up in the ghetto, with gun violence and knife crime posing grave threats to the community.

There's dudes that got jobs now that had blocks in the eighties
Despite the poverty and limited opportunities in the past, some people from the ghetto were able to build successful careers.

Six months five years for you just to cop out
The harsh sentences often faced by those from the ghetto for minor offenses or mistakes.

Ninth or tenth grade is usually when niggas drop out
The challenges faced by youth in the ghetto to complete their education and pursue further opportunities.

Fights break out when you wired and start joking
The tensions and aggression that can quickly arise in the ghetto from minor misunderstandings or provocations.

A lot of OG's retired and started smokin'
Many older gang members in the ghetto retire from violence and maybe addicted to drugs as a way to cope with trauma and stress.

House party games of spade sweet kool-aid
Simple and communal activities and hobbies common in the ghetto.

Loud music all night till the boys in blue raid
The joys of celebration and partying in the ghetto, often limited by police intervention.

So therefore I could never be too paid
Regardless of my financial or career success, I will always remain true to my roots in the ghetto.

I know where I'm going and where I'm from will get you laid
My identity and roots in the ghetto will always remain a part of me, even as I pursue success and love.

Tell me this how come
Asking a rhetorical question regarding the tendency for successful black individuals to disconnect from their roots.

Black folks get a little doe
The tendency for African Americans to lose sight of the hood and its community once they achieve financial success.

And forget where they come from
The disconnect from one's roots in the hood as a result of financial success and mobility.

Man we used to have good times
Recalling simpler and happier times growing up in the ghetto.

But since you moved on up you ain't cool with us
The tendency for some individuals from the ghetto to feel betrayed or forgotten by those who achieve success and leave.

We still support you tho we don't see you much
Despite the feelings of abandonment, the community still supports those who leave the ghetto and achieve success.

You ain't the first fool its cool with us
Acknowledging the commonality of successful individuals leaving the ghetto and the community accepting it, even if they'd rather they stay.

But why you living out your idols dreams
Questioning the extent to which successful individuals from the ghetto should pursue their ambitions, while betraying their identity or roots.

Remember how for you came and help you keep those thangs
A plea for successful individuals to not forget their roots and the community that helped them succeed.

Now its cool that your address changed
The acceptance and celebration of those who have moved on from the hood and achieved success.

But I'm tryna holla at my dog and the number ain't the same
Reaching out to someone who has achieved success and left the hood, but finding that they're now inaccessible or unreachable due to their new lifestyle.

I guess new homies came with his fame
Assuming that the reason for the individual's disconnect from the hood is the influence of new friends in their new social circle.

But see true homies will stay the same
Despite the physical distance and lifestyle differences, true friends from the ghetto will remain loyal and connected to one another.

Through all the up's and down's in your career
Regardless of the individual's success and failures, true friends from the ghetto will be supportive and by their side.

A couple wives few kids scattered here
The lifestyle differences and new responsibilities accompanying the individual's success and growth.

And when you dead or broke without a deal
The inevitable challenges and struggles that come with time, regardless of financial success or mobility.

All the groupies cleared
The superficial nature of fans and followers, who disappear when the individual's status diminishes.

The ghetto will still be here
The community and culture of the ghetto will always remain, regardless of individual successes or failures.