Ghetto
Flaj Lyrics

What we see (what we see) everyday (everyday)
The struggles of living in a poverty-stricken neighborhood are a constant reality

Livin' in the ghetto this is where I stay
Despite the harsh conditions, the singer has no choice but to live in the ghetto

(What we do) what we do (to get by) to get by
The singer and others in the ghetto resort to any means necessary to survive

Live or die, the world is a ghetto
The ghetto is a dangerous place where life is uncertain and survival is a daily struggle

Let's take a journey to the other side
The artist invites the listener to explore the harsh realities of life in the ghetto

Where many people learn to live with their handicaps, while the others die
Some people in the ghetto are able to adapt to their difficult circumstances, while others succumb to them

Where muthafuckas had no money spots
People in the ghetto have limited financial resources and lack access to basic necessities

And if they did then they ass went insane
Even when money is available, it often causes more problems than it solves

When all the money stops
The ghetto is a place where financial stability is not guaranteed and can disappear at any moment

I'm from the ghetto so I'm used to that
The artist has grown accustomed to the harsh realities of life in the ghetto

Look on your muthafuckin map and find Texas, and see where Houston at
The singer is from Houston, Texas, where poverty and crime are prevalent

It's on the borderline of hard times
Houston, Texas is a place where times are tough and people struggle to make ends meet

And it's seldom that you hear niggas prayin' and givin' God time
Desperation and hopelessness are common in the ghetto, leading to a lack of faith and religious devotion

That's why your ask my mom pray for me
The singer's mother prays for him because she knows how dangerous and uncertain life in the ghetto can be

Because I know that even I gots to die, and he got a day for me
The singer acknowledges that death is a possibility in the ghetto, but believes that God has a plan for him

And every morning I wake up I'm kinda glad to be alive
Surviving another day in the ghetto is a cause for celebration and gratitude

'Cause thousands of my homeboys died
Death is a common occurrence in the ghetto, and the artist has lost many friends to violence

And very few died of old age
Many people in the ghetto die young due to the harsh conditions and violence that surround them

In most cases the incident covered up the whole page
Violence and crime are so commonplace in the ghetto that they rarely make the news or attract attention

From Amsterdam to Amarillo
Poverty and crime are not limited to a particular region; they are global issues

It ain't no secret
The harsh realities of life in the ghetto are widely known and cannot be ignored

Five hundred niggas died in guerilla warfare
The artist references a conflict in Africa to draw parallels between the violence there and the violence in the ghetto

In a village in Africa, but didn't nobody care
The deaths of people in poverty-stricken areas, whether in Africa or the ghetto, often go unnoticed and unacknowledged

They just called up the goddamn gravedigger
Death is so common in the ghetto that it is treated as a routine event

And said come get these muthafuckin' niggas
The attitudes and language surrounding death in the ghetto are callous and disrespectful

Just like they do in the 5th Ward
The 5th Ward, a neighborhood in Houston like the one the singer is from, is also plagued by violence and poverty

In the South Park and The Bronx and the Watts
The singer references other well-known poor neighborhoods that are also affected by poverty and violence

You know they got crooked cops
Police corruption is a common occurrence in the ghetto, making it even more difficult for residents to stay safe

Working for the system
The police are supposed to protect and serve, but in the ghetto, they often contribute to the danger and instability

Makin' po' muthafuckas out of victims
Police brutality and corruption victimize the innocent and vulnerable in the ghetto

'Cause don't nobody give a fuck about the po'
The residents of the ghetto are ignored and neglected by those in power, leading to a lack of resources and support

It's double jeopardy if you're black or latino
Being a person of color in the ghetto puts one at an even greater disadvantage and increases the risk of violence and poverty

They got their muthafuckin' drugs in the slums
Drug addiction and trafficking contribute to the poverty and violence that plague the ghetto

Got us killing one another over crumbs
The scarcity of resources in the ghetto leads to violence and competition among the residents

Think I'm lying? Well muthafucka I got proof
The singer has evidence to support his claims about the harsh realities of the ghetto

Name a section in your city where minorities group
The ghetto is often populated by people of color who are marginalized and excluded from mainstream society

And I'mma show you prostitutes, dope and hard times
The ghetto is characterized by poverty, drug addiction, and crime, including the exploitation of women

And a murder rate that never declines
Violence and death are a constant threat in the ghetto that cannot be ignored or denied

And little babies sittin' on the porch smellin' smelly
The children who grow up in the ghetto are forced to confront the harsh realities of life at a young age

Cryin' 'cause they ain't got no food in they bellies
Hunger is a common experience in the ghetto, leading to malnutrition and poor health outcomes

They call my neighborhood a jungle
The ghetto is often portrayed as a violent and dangerous place, leading to racist and dehumanizing stereotypes

And me an animal, like they do the people of Rwanda
The language and attitudes that stigmatize the ghetto are similar to those that dehumanized the people of Rwanda during the genocide

Fools fleeing their countries to come here, black
The United States is often seen as a place of opportunity and freedom, but for people of color fleeing poverty and violence, the ghetto can be just as dangerous and oppressive

But see the same bullshit and head right back
The ghetto is often no better than the conditions that people are trying to escape, leading to a cycle of poverty and violence

They find out what niggas already know
The people who come to the ghetto seeking a better life soon realize that the reality is far from what they expected

The world is a ghetto
The ghetto is a microcosm of the larger world, which is also characterized by poverty, violence, and inequality

What's up outta towner? Southern nigga downer?
The singer addresses someone who is not from the ghetto and challenges them to dismiss the harsh realities of life in the ghetto

I wish you would bring your muthafuckin' ass around here
The artist challenges the listener to confront the reality of the ghetto and the violence and poverty that surround it

With that hip shit shit from your block
The listener is criticized for being ignorant of the suffering that takes place in the ghetto

You fuck around and get shipped home to ya momma in a pine box
The singer warns the listener that the violence in the ghetto is real and can lead to death

'Cause we don't play that shit in 5th Ward
The singer's neighborhood is characterized by a willingness to use violence to protect oneself and one's community

We got killas and hustlas, and playas too, so nigga disregard
The artist is warning the listener that they would not survive in the ghetto without knowing how to protect oneself and navigate the difficult social dynamics

What you seeing on them western movies
The artist criticizes the listener's romanticized view of the West and the roles of cowboys and outlaws

'Cause yo! I ain't never rode a horse before
The singer is highlighting the fact that the realities of life in the ghetto are far different from the fictionalized depictions in movies

Ho, think we slow? Smash the gas
The singer challenges the listener's perception of the residents of the ghetto as uneducated or unintelligent

And watch how fast I'll put these hands on yo' bitch ass
The artist is willing to use violence to defend themselves and their community

Try to load them dice, you'll meet the gravedigger
Cheating or trying to take advantage of someone in the ghetto can have fatal consequences

'Cause game recognize game, shiesty ass nigga
The people in the ghetto are savvy and aware of the tactics that others might use to take advantage of them

See I done seen fools die for less
The singer has witnessed the tragic consequences of seemingly minor actions or conflicts in the ghetto

Than a goddamn cigarette butt, for fuckin' wit my set
Even something as small as littering can be seen as an act of disrespect or aggression in the ghetto

So get that frown off your face busta
The singer is challenging the listener to be more aware of their surroundings and the people they are interacting with

'Cause yo' ghetto ain't no harder than mine, muthafucka
The singer is asserting that the struggles and challenges of the ghetto are universally difficult and should not be dismissed or taken lightly