Despite his successful dance floor single ‘Let’s Get It’ (where all three where credited as "Three the Hard Way") which introduced the Harlem Shake, he failed to make huge sales on the label and his album remains one of the most bootlegged albums to date. His contribution the family is shown on ‘The Saga Continues...’ rapping on some of the best tracks on the album including ‘Child of the Ghetto’ which shows his raw street ability and also his successful collaborations with the family. After a brief hiatus in which his future was uncertain G. Dep came back released a mixtape called 'The Deputy: The sheriff is back in town’. He didn't lose his touch and it led to Black Rob bringing him back to Bad Boy Entertainment and he is expected to take part in his group Alumuni.
G. Dep's life before Bad Boy, although not garnering as much notice outside of the NYC hip-hop community, is considered by many to be far superior from a quality of work perspective. His early mixtapes and bootlegs made him an underground hip-hop legend in the mid-to-late 90's. On Gang Starr's fourth album, Hard to Earn, an in-booklet shout-out is given to leading underground MC's, namely the Wu-Tang Clan and G. Dep. Again, Guru and DJ Premier showed their respect for Dep by featuring him on their next two major releases. In 1997 G. Dep appeared under the name G-Depp on DJ Premier's New York Reality Check 101, on track 5, Head Over Wheels. The next year, Dep found himself rapping alongside Guru and Shiggy-Sha on Gang Starr's unsurpased hip-hop masterpiece Moment of Truth; track 17, The Mall.
I AM
G. Dep Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
G Rap with my nigga G-Dep
We about to do it Gorilla style, you heard
It's a Igloo-Badboy collabo thing you know
why'all niggaz ain't ready for it
Coming rambo style nigga
2 guns up
why'all niggaz better duck down
that's how we doing it for the new millennium you heard
[G Dep]
Regardless of the wait i'm gonna stay straight ghetto
Everybody high, don't nobody say hello
Even when the sunshining it ain't yellow
Get out of the borough
If you know it ain't thorough
Niggas play ball, AWOL, on the furlow
Still came down on the furl and pumped hero
Red and grey Macs
Keep it clean as Ajax
Ghettos sling cracks
While you niggas pay tax
Now how ghetto is this
you can catch me in your hallway taking a piss
One hand on my dick one hand on a spliff
Burnt lips from the roach clip, yellow tips
If we ain't closed it I get ferocious
Know this whole shit will leave me in them roaches
In your car motion I cause commotion
And i probably need some lotion
But i don't get fucked
[CHORUS]
[G Dep (sung)]
I am
(a ghetto nigga)
A ghetto nigga you can tell in a talk
On the corner selling the snort
It's hell in New York
Won't stop for a minute cops telling you hawk
Fake guards telling you pork
Settle for shorts
Running from court
New ports, criminal thoughts
On the blocks bodies acourt
Nobody supports
[Rakim]
It's a ghetto nigga thorough niggas that get cake
Five boroughs of niggaz do his ? a ? flip weight
Change garments to trick Jake, you dis jake
I want it yo I got warrants in six states
They come in a stolen whip with switched plates
Stickers hate I never leave a bread to trace
Only evidence I leave is hickies on chicks' face
In the corner with the crooked niggas
But yo shit's straight
We start war to leave with these seven revolvers
Sell case never test the floor
Sticky yank slicking enough why'all
I'm a man enough to put on a dress
To creep up like grand-moma and bust why'all
Get close enough to part your vest and tux off
Who would have thought the lady with the car would crush why'all
Too smart to get caught
But I got fam up north
So if they put me in coughs
I'll call fuck why'all
[CHORUS]
[Kool G Rap]
Knock back the hammer smell the
Pop that cantelope
For the venom in my python spit
It ain't no antidote
Jackpot from crack blocks
I was a man of dope
Snapshots to get your camera broke
You hoes used to plan a gross
With the hands toast
Close and stand opposed
Rubber bands she knows
Grams of the coke
Razor blade tuck the side the line
The banter of the coke
Watching niggas die with my hand on their doe
Singing with the bass
And wash up the ?land? when they float
Choking on your own words
Should have watched the ground when you spoke
One last final approach
Make your whole family ghost
Bust bottles of cham and and we toast
Till your photo stamped in the post
Sex gland cut off jammed in you're throat
Man are you gross
Bitch hanging from the lampost
We shoot from up close
Blow canners the most
Catch an overdose
Nigga we own the coast
[G Dep (sung)]
I am
(a ghetto nigga) [X2]
[Fade Out]
The song "I Am" by G. Dep featuring Kool G Rap and Rakim discusses the harsh realities of living in the ghetto. The lyrics are all about surviving in a neighborhood where there is no love, no mercy, and no kindness. G. Dep speaks about the struggles of ghetto residents who face criminal activities like drug dealing, robbers, and police brutality. He talks about how the ghetto is a tough place to be regardless of the weather, and how it feels like everyone has turned against him.
Rakim talks about how he’s willing to put on a dress to infiltrate and catch his enemies off-guard. The verse has an assertive tone, showing that Rakim will do everything he needs to do to survive, even if it means wearing women's clothes. Kool G Rap’s verse is graphic and violent, about the brutality of the drug world. He speaks of almost killing someone, and the harsh and unforgiving world of drug dealing.
The chorus expresses the feeling of being a “ghetto nigga,” and how it feels like a badge of honor that can’t be taken away. The song gives insight into the struggles of surviving in the ghetto and the extreme measures one must take to do so. It’s a powerful message that rings true to many people who still live in the ghetto.
Line by Line Meaning
G Rap with my nigga G-Dep
Kool G Rap is collaborating with G-Dep in this song
We about to do it Gorilla style, you heard
They are going to do it in a primitive or crude way
It's a Igloo-Badboy collabo thing you know
The collaboration is between Igloo Records and Bad Boy Records
why'all n***az ain't ready for it
The listeners are not prepared for the style of the song
Coming rambo style nigga
They are approaching the song with aggression
2 guns up
They are carrying two guns each
why'all n***az better duck down
The listeners should take cover
I'll get your cap lifted off
He will shoot the listener's head/hat off
that's how we doing it for the new millennium you heard
This is how they are going to do it for the new millennium
Regardless of the wait i'm gonna stay straight ghetto
He will stay true to his background no matter how long he has to wait
Everybody high, don't nobody say hello
Everyone is under the influence of drugs and not acknowledging each other
Even when the sunshining it ain't yellow
Even in good times, things are not as they seem
Get out of the borough
Leave the area
If you know it ain't thorough
If it's not genuine or authentic
Niggas play ball, AWOL, on the furlow
People play games, leave without permission, and go on vacation
Still came down on the furl and pumped hero
He still came down (from the drug high) and sold drugs
Red and grey Macs
Red and grey Mac-10 machine guns
Keep it clean as Ajax
Keep the guns clean like the cleaning product Ajax
Ghettos sling cracks
Poor communities sell drugs
While you niggas pay tax
While the listener's pays taxes
Now how ghetto is this
How low-class and unrefined is this
you can catch me in your hallway taking a piss
He will urinate in the listener's hallway
One hand on my d**k one hand on a spliff
He will smoke a joint and hold his private parts
Burnt lips from the roach clip, yellow tips
The joint is almost finished burning, and he has burned his lips on the clip. Yellow tips may refer to the type of cigarettes or drugs he has been smoking.
If we ain't closed it I get ferocious
If the deal is not completed, he will become aggressive
Know this whole s**t will leave me in them roaches
This way of life will lead him to a bad place
In your car motion I cause commotion
He will create chaos when he is in your car
And i probably need some lotion
He probably needs moisturizer
But i don't get f****d
He is not concerned
I am a ghetto n***a
He is a person from a poor area
A ghetto n***a you can tell in a talk
He can be recognized as a ghetto person by the way he speaks
On the corner selling the snort
He is selling drugs on the street
It's hell in New York
Life in New York is difficult
Won't stop for a minute cops telling you hawk
The police are constantly pressuring him
Fake guards telling you pork
People are lying to him
Settle for shorts
Settle for less
Running from court
Evading the authorities
New ports, criminal thoughts
Newport cigarettes and criminal intentions
On the blocks bodies acourt
There are dead bodies lying in the street
Nobody supports
No one is helping him
It's a ghetto n***a thorough n***as that get cake
People from poor areas are the most resourceful when it comes to making money
Five boroughs of n***as do his? a? flip weight
People from all five boroughs of New York City flip drugs
Change garments to trick Jake, you dis jake
Switching clothes to trick the police is known as 'tricking Jake'
I want it yo I got warrants in six states
He has arrest warrants in six different states
They come in a stolen whip with switched plates
They drive a stolen car with changed license plates
Stickers hate I never leave a bread to trace
He never leaves any evidence behind
Only evidence I leave is hickies on chicks' face
He only leaves marks from kissing women
In the corner with the crooked n***as
He is with the shady people in the corner
But yo s**t's straight
But, he is fine
We start war to leave with these seven revolvers
They go to war with seven guns and expect to leave unharmed
Sell case never test the floor
They never leave behind anything that could incriminate them
Sticky yank slicking enough why'all
They have enough money and resources to avoid being caught
I'm a man enough to put on a dress
He is brave enough to do anything
To creep up like grand-moma and bust why'all
To sneak up and attack the listener like a grandmother
Get close enough to part your vest and tux off
He can get close enough to shoot the listener's formal wear off
Who would have thought the lady with the car would crush why'all
No one would expect a woman to be dangerous
Too smart to get caught
They are too intelligent to be arrested
But I got fam up north
But, he has family members in prison in the North
So if they put me in cuffs
If he gets arrested
I'll call f**k why'all
He will not cooperate with the authorities
Knock back the hammer smell the
Prepare the gun to shoot
Pop that cantelope
Shoot at the target
For the venom in my python spit
For the deadly poison that he leaks like a snake
It ain't no antidote
There is no cure
Jackpot from crack blocks
Making a lot of money from selling crack
I was a man of dope
He was someone who sold drugs
Snapshots to get your camera broke
Shooting at someone with a camera to break it
You hoes used to plan a gross
People used to rob prostitutes
With the hands toast
With guns in hand
Close and stand opposed
Get close and oppose each other
Rubber bands she knows
Holding large amounts of money together with rubber bands
Grams of the coke
Grams of cocaine
Razor blade tuck the side the line
Concealing a razor blade for protection
The banter of the coke
The selling of cocaine
Watching n***as die with my hand on their doe
Watching people die while holding their money
Singing with the bass
Singing along with the music
And wash up the ?land? when they float
Washing up the drugs when they are found floating in water
Choking on your own words
Being speechless or dying from drug use
Should have watched the ground when you spoke
Should have been more careful about what you said
One last final approach
One last offense
Make your whole family ghost
Terrorize the listener's entire family
Bust bottles of cham and and we toast
Celebrate with bottles of champagne
Till your photo stamped in the post
Until your picture is posted on a wanted poster
Sex gland cut off jammed in you're throat
A horrific threat involving castration
Man are you gross
You are disgusting
Bitch hanging from the lampost
A woman hanging from a lamp post, possibly murdered
We shoot from up close
They shoot at their targets from a close range
Blow canners the most
Smoke marijuana the most
Catch an overdose
Die from a drug overdose
N***a we own the coast
We control the coast, we are powerful
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: LEVAR COPPIN, SEAN J. COMBS, BRENDA DAVIS, BERRY GORDY, PATRICE HOLLOWAY, FRANK WILSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
New Possibilities
Kool G killed this track 🔥🔥🔥🔥
chelsea6671
G Rap went ballistic. I was sold on this track once i heard his voice.
UltraDragonGod
Damn Kool G Rap & Rakim on one track shits amazing
whiteboynigg
nah G-Dep's verse was pretty flawless, it's just that when you're on a track with two of the best rappers of all time they tend to make you look bad
CrackaJakRAP
grap and rakim on one track? my lifes complete
Juan Sánchez-Villalobos Ramírez
you get a chance to do a song with two legends and this is the shit you come up with
Paul Consiglio
Beat is softer than cottonelle but the trio of lyricists are razor sharp like a machete!!!
FG
G Rap was from my hood back in a day, he was always nice from a young age. He smoked everyone on this track. Back then he put Corona Queens on his back.
DjTIMEJD
Kool G killed it while Ra murdered it especially with the Grandma ma line.
McLovinMcNugget
KOOL G RAP AND RAKIM ON ONE SONG! LEGENDS!!!!!!!! G Dep is pretty dope too, don't sleep on em