In The Ghetto
E.A.S.T.S.I.D.E. U.P. Lyrics

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Yeeeeah
[Hook :x 2]
In the ghetto, I'm living in a ghetto world
In the ghetto (in the ghetto), it's a struggle but I gotta maintain

[Trae]
Welcome to the ghetto, where forever be the same
Hard times, got my people unable to maintain

Everytime I look around, it's somebody doing bad
That'll put you in the grave, for som'ing they never had

Everyday in the hood, it be the same thang
Poverty running my people, so they love pain
And I don't know if it's wrong, but still I know it ain't right
I seen a lot of people die, in the street life

The other day it hit my heart, when I watch the news
A lil' girl got killed, while she was 'sleep in her room
And she ain't deserve to die, cause that's a kid dog
Them niggaz took the life, that she ain't get to live at all

Sometimes I want to help the ghetto, but it ain't gon do a thang
'Cause I know that they ignant, and that's a god damn shame
It's an everyday task, trying to live a good life
Inside of the ghetto, where everybody be shife

[Hook: x 2]

[Yung Redd]
Welcome to the South, niggaz ain't sleep at all
Everybody out on the block, stay ducking them laws
A couple niggaz on parole, hustling by the sto'
I'm telling that ain't the way to go, play your role

But you don't hear me though, this what I'm living fo'
Hustle till I get mine, grind cause I need mo'
Shots release, too late for you to scream peace
This how it is in the street, leaving is obsolete

And still I maintain, seeing the same thang
Sometime I scream, my brain just looking for a change
But day in and day out, I move in and move out
Keep my bidness discrete, I'm on a paper route

I wasn't broke for nothing, still I was learning some'ing
If you ain't been through nothing, then you ain't seen nothing
This how it really is, around my way
Where anybody can get it, anytime of the day

[Lil Boss]
I analyze the block, babies are running round with glocks
Dope in they socks, can't skip hot so fuck the cops
Moving from crumbs to bricks, nigga these slums are thick
I try to tell my lil' niggaz, but they think they slick

These white folks don't play, they gon hot your way
They try to give you twenty years, just for living the wrong way
And who's to say now-a-day, right from wrong
They ain't living how we live, so they can't get in my zone

We get chased home for stones, and laws want to break our bones
In places in and out a high cell, to roam
And that's prolly the reason, we going crazy
Pissed at poverty, cause the system trying to fade me

Lately, I've been trying to stay out of trouble
But it's hard to stop from copping, the sack and flipping the double
Don't catch the wrong route, when you on that Metro
There's a sign in front of the hood, that says Welcome To the Ghetto

[Hook: x 2]

[Spice 1]
I wonder, if heaven got a ghetto
But be -burning down the be -block, I put the petal to the medal
Running with my cousins in Texas, Lil' Cross and Big Money
My nigga Trae and Lil' Joe, nigga all action

In the ghetto, I've been riding through the hood for years
And ain't a damn thang changed, mama still shedding tears
Niggaz fresh out the Penn, some niggaz just going in
Some niggaz gon run and stutter, turning they self in

Never seen a black man, flying dope on a plane
But they lock us up for it, shackle us with chains
Welcome to the ghetto, ghetto starts and mob cars
With bullet holes in it, niggaz shot up and scarred

But still living, driven by the game itself
To stay alive in these cold streets, mashing for wealth
Up in this ghetto, O.G.'s P's and see's
Thugs, pimps, playas hit the 6-4's or 3's

[Hook: x 2]

Yeah, ghetto ghetto life
Of mii-ine, li-li-li-life life (welcome to the ghetto)

Overall Meaning

The song "In The Ghetto" by E.A.S.T.S.I.D.E. U.P. is a gritty portrayal of life in the ghetto, highlighting the daily struggles and tragedies that people face. The lyrics speak of the harsh reality of poverty, unemployment, crime, and violence that are rampant in urban neighborhoods. The song emphasizes the struggles of day to day existence for those living in the ghetto, the way that the ghetto conditions make it hard for people to rise above their circumstances.

Trae, Yung Redd, Lil Boss, and Spice 1 provide individual verses with vivid descriptions of the realities of living in the ghetto, referring to the lack of resources, sense of danger and hopelessness, as well as misjudgment and stereotype from outsiders. The lyrics paint a bleak picture of life in the ghetto, dealing with the issue of violence and death caused by gangs. It's clear that the artists feel a great responsibility to the young crowd still living in the ghetto by addressing topics like the importance of playing it safe and avoiding the many pitfalls that result from living in such a harsh environment.

"In The Ghetto" was released as a single from their album "Represent" on February 17, 2004. Some parts of the song might be not enjoyable due to the strong explicit nature of the lyrics, but it still received praise for its truthful and realistic portrayal of life in the ghetto. Nowadays, it is considered one of E.A.S.T.S.I.D.E. U.P.'s most influential hits that provides an honest reflection of the struggles faced by people living in impoverished inner-city communities.

Line by Line Meaning

In the ghetto, I'm living in a ghetto world
Living in the ghetto is like being enclosed within a world with limited resources, opportunities and quality of life.

In the ghetto (in the ghetto), it's a struggle but I gotta maintain
Life in the ghetto is a daily struggle to survive, but despite the hardships and challenges, one must find ways to keep going.

Welcome to the ghetto, where forever be the same
The ghetto is a place where things barely change, poverty and hardship remain constant for generations.

Hard times, got my people unable to maintain
Difficult conditions in the ghetto make it hard for people to sustain themselves and their families.

Everytime I look around, it's somebody doing bad
It's common to see people struggling and suffering in the ghetto due to poverty and other factors.

That'll put you in the grave, for som'ing they never had
Some people in the ghetto are willing to resort to violence and crime to have a chance at a better life, even if it's temporary.

Everyday in the hood, it be the same thang
The ghetto is characterized by a monotonous life, struggling to get by with the same conditions every day.

Poverty running my people, so they love pain
Poverty and hardship become so normal to people in the ghetto that they start accepting it as a way of life and even derive pleasure from it.

And I don't know if it's wrong, but still I know it ain't right
Living in the ghetto might cause people to question some of their moral values due to their situation.

I seen a lot of people die, in the street life
Life in the ghetto can be dangerous, with violence and criminal activities leading to the loss of many lives.

A lil' girl got killed, while she was 'sleep in her room
Innocent people, even children, are not safe from the violence and crimes that occur in the ghetto.

Sometimes I want to help the ghetto, but it ain't gon do a thang
Despite the urge to support and help people living in the ghetto, their situation is so challenging that little can be done to improve their lives.

'Cause I know that they ignant, and that's a god damn shame
Many people living in the ghetto are unable to break the cycle of poverty due to lack of knowledge, resources, and opportunities.

It's an everyday task, trying to live a good life
Living a decent life in the ghetto is a daily challenge that involves hard work, perseverance, and resilience.

Welcome to the South, niggaz ain't sleep at all
People in the ghetto often have to stay awake, alert and vigilant to avoid danger, survive, and succeed.

Everybody out on the block, stay ducking them laws
Police surveillance and criminal activities force people in the ghetto to hide from law enforcement to evade arrest and punishment.

I'm telling that ain't the way to go, play your role
Some people in the ghetto might discourage others from engaging in crime and violence for fear of retribution or out of respect for the community.

But you don't hear me though, this what I'm living fo'
Some people in the ghetto believe that crime and violence are the only way out of poverty and therefore won't listen to those who discourage them.

Hustle till I get mine, grind cause I need mo'
Some people in the ghetto believe that working hard to earn money through illegal activities is the only way to improve their lives.

Shots release, too late for you to scream peace
The sound of gunshots in the ghetto is commonplace and often happens unexpectedly, leaving no time to seek safety or peace.

And still I maintain, seeing the same thang
Despite the hardships of life in the ghetto, some people find ways to stay resilient and determined to survive and improve their lives.

Sometime I scream, my brain just looking for a change
Living in the ghetto can be so stifling and monotonous that people crave change and betterment of their situation.

But day in and day out, I move in and move out
People in the ghetto often have to keep moving to avoid detection, danger or the law.

Keep my bidness discrete, I'm on a paper route
Engaging in illegal activities in the ghetto requires being discreet and cautious to avoid detection and arrest while making a living.

These white folks don't play, they gon hot your way
White people or law enforcement in the ghetto might hold racist attitudes or be unfair in their treatment of people, making it hard to succeed or be safe.

They try to give you twenty years, just for living the wrong way
The justice system in the ghetto might be harsh and unfair, with people often facing long jail terms for minor or victimless crimes.

Where anybody can get it, anytime of the day
Life in the ghetto is dangerous, with anyone being susceptible to violence or crime occurring at any time.

These slums are thick
The poverty and hardship of the ghetto are deeply ingrained and widespread, affecting many people and generations.

I try to tell my lil' niggaz, but they think they slick
Some people in the ghetto are resistant to advice and guidance from others or authority figures, thinking they know best or can succeed on their own.

They ain't living how we live, so they can't get in my zone
People in the ghetto believe that outsiders, especially non-black people, can't understand their situation, culture or perspectives.

Where anybody can get it, anytime of the day
Life in the ghetto is dangerous, with anyone being susceptible to violence or crime occurring at any time.

Pissed at poverty, cause the system trying to fade me
People in the ghetto are angry and resentful toward poverty and the system that created and perpetuated their situation.

Don't catch the wrong route, when you on that Metro
People in the ghetto need to be careful and watchful about their surroundings, including public transportation.

There's a sign in front of the hood, that says Welcome To the Ghetto
The poverty and hardship of the ghetto are so evident and widespread that the area is almost known by that name, making it hard to escape or transcend.

Of mii-ine, li-li-li-life life (welcome to the ghetto)
The life described in the song is a personal and vivid account that carries the pain, struggle, and experience of people living in the ghetto.

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, RALEIGH MUSIC PUBLISHING
Written by: Mac Davis

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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