Lil' Ghetto Boy
Dr Dre feat. Snoop Doggy Dogg & Nate Dogg Lyrics


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So, all of you Africans, all of you Africans
That know how to do things that's workin' for other people
Y'all need to open your own business
Save your money, quit payin' motherfuckers for jheri curls
Quit payin' motherfuckers for perms
Save your money, start your own business
So these little Africans will have way-, places to work
This is our future right here
This our future right here (right there)
This (the new generation is goin', the new generation)
Hey, I'ma tell you right now, if, if, if I have to die today
For this little African right here to have a future
I'm a dead motherfucker (you right)

Wake up, jumped out my bed
I'm in a two-man cell with my homie Lil' 1/2 Dead
Murder was the case that they gave me
Dear God, I wonder, can you save me?
I'm only eighteen, so I'm a young buck
It's a riot, if I don't scrap, I'm gettin' stuck
But that's the life of a G, I guess
Eses way deep, shanked two in the chest
Best run 'cause brothers is droppin' quicker
Uh, too late, damn, down goes another nigga
Bouncin' off the walls, throwin' them dogs
Gettin' that rep as a young hog
It ain't nothin' like the street life
You better be strapped with your shank, 'cause ain't no fist fight
So I guess I gots to handle mine
Since I did the crime, I gots to do my time

Dem say me grow up to be nothin'
Look at me now and tell me what you see (tell me what you see)
I am what I am, it's only me
Little ghetto boy
Playin' in the ghetto street
Whatcha gonna do when you grow up
And have to face responsibility?

Now I'm holdin' a dub, sittin' on swoll
Twenty-seven years old, up for parole, stroll
I'm back up on my feet with my mind on the money
That I'll be makin' soon as I touch the streets
Things done changed on this side
Remember they used to thump, but now they blast, right
But it ain't no thang to me
'Cause now I'm what they call a loc'd-ass OG
The lil' homies from the hood with grip
Are the ones I get with 'cause I'm down to set trip
Nigga, I'm bigger than you, so what you wanna do?
Didn't know he had a .22
Straight sittin' behind his back
I grabbed his pockets and then I heard six caps
I fell to the ground with blood on my hands
I didn't understand
How a nigga so young could bust a cap
I used to be the same way back
I guess that's what I get (for what?)
For tryna jack the lil' homies for they grip

Mi learn many things from what mi see from the street
The outcome of what I've come to be
Little ghetto boy
Playin' in the ghetto street
Whatcha gonna do when you grow up
And have to face responsibility?

Somethin' for the real OGs to get with
Some facts, made our made, now you runnin' but don't play
Like every single day, really, though
You know me, I'm the smooth macadamien, gamin' them for my homie
No need in bein' calm if you pack right
And learnin' just enough to keep your sack right
Late nights, I wonder what they gettin' for?
Early mornin' on the corners, what they hittin' for?
Seven young G's put they serve down
In the G ride, East side's where they swerve now
Not thinkin' about what's really goin' on
Got crept on, stepped on, now they gone
I spent four years in the county with nothin' but convicts around me
But now I'm back at Tha Pound
And we expose ways for the youth to survive
Some think it's wrong but we tend to think it's right
So make all them ends you can make
'Cause when you're broke, you break, check it out
So ain't no need for your mama to trip
'Cause you's a hustlin'-ass youngsta, clockin' your grip

And now mi finally grown as you can see (as you can see)
Still an OG, for life and always remain to be
A little ghetto boy
Playin' in the ghetto street




Whatcha gonna do when you grow up
And have to face responsibility?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to "Lil' Ghetto Boy" by Dr. Dre feat. Snoop Doggy Dogg & Nate Dogg revolve around the themes of struggle, survival, and the harsh realities of growing up in the ghetto. The lyrics start with a call for Africans to open their own businesses and save their money, empowering the community to create opportunities for themselves and future generations. The song then delves into the personal experiences of individuals in the ghetto, highlighting the challenges they face and the choices they make in order to survive.


The first verse introduces the singer, who wakes up in a prison cell with his friend. He reflects on the crime he committed and wonders if God can save him. He describes the violent nature of the streets, where fights and killings are commonplace. The chorus reinforces the message that being a little ghetto boy comes with its own set of challenges, and the future may bring even greater responsibilities.


The second verse takes place after the singer has served time in prison. He is now in his late twenties, determined to turn his life around and make money legally. He mentions how the streets have become more dangerous, but he is now an experienced gangster. The story takes a darker turn when the singer recounts a violent encounter in which he witnesses a younger person shooting someone. The singer is reminded of his own past mistakes and the consequences of trying to take advantage of others in the hood.


The final verse is a commentary on the cycle of violence and survival strategies in the ghetto. The singer acknowledges that he has learned many things from the streets and accepts the responsibility that comes with growing up. He reflects on the sacrifices and hardships he has experienced, but remains proud of his identity as a little ghetto boy. The song ends with the question of what one will do when faced with the responsibilities of adulthood and the challenges of leaving the ghetto behind.


Overall, the lyrics of "Lil' Ghetto Boy" are a portrayal of the struggles, choices, and survival tactics of individuals growing up in the ghetto, and the importance of taking control of one's destiny.




Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Andre Young, Calvin Broadus, Delmar Drew Arnaud, Ricardo Emmanuel Brown, Tracy Lynn Curry

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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