Growing up in a Christian household, the sounds of G’s childhood is that of prayer and gospel music. His aunt Andrea sung in the church choir and the soulful hymns left a huge impact on the young Ghetts. His mother recalls him as a three year old jumping out of her arms and running to the stage at a religious camp meeting in front of 15,000 people. It was then she says that she knew he was destined to be performer. Ghetts had also developed a sense of rhythm from his father who surrounded himself with jazz music. Once the beat got into him G would beating out rhythms on the tables and the floor in his house until his mother was driven to the point where she had to get him a keyboard to satisfy his musical curiosity. It was on this that Ghetts first experimented with writing songs as he’d try putting verses together over the pre-set percussion demos.
And it was music that was set to be Ghett’s saviour as his restless nature caused problems for him during his education. Unable to concentrate in class, the Plaistow citizen continually found himself getting into trouble and as a result never really being able to settle at a school. “I couldn’t really concentrate at school,” Ghetts states about his academic unrest. “The only thing I could concentrate on was music, not even girls. It was the only thing I enjoyed.” This soon transferred to the streets and like many who grow up in areas forgotten by the government, Ghetts found himself turning to crime to pacify his inattentive mind. Naturally it was only a matter of time before Ghetts found himself living at Her Majesties Pleasure. At the age of 16 Ghetts was in and out of jail at a scarily frequent rate which made G realise that if things carried on the way they were then his whole life would be spent behind bars. It was then he sought refuge in the only thing he found peace in; music.
At the age of 14 Ghetts visited a day time rave in Leyton to see the Heartless Crew. The experience cemented his ambition to make it in the music world. “I had this thing in my chest,” G reveals about the defining moment. “I could feel my heart beating and I was drawn to the mic. I knew I wanted to do something like that!” At the same time as Ghett’s legal woes, a new sound was emerging from east London. Born out of Garage; Grime was taking over the pirate airwaves and artists such as Wiley, Dizzee Rascal and Kano were beginning to get heard across the capital. Close friends with the Nasty Crew’s Sharky Major, Ghetts began reciting some of his rhymes for the Newham favourite. Sharks soon let G know that he was ready to be heard and Ghetts began recording tracks and performing on radio and at clubs with the collective. The artist known as Ghetto was born.
With a street buzz steadily growing, Ghetts developed a relationship with fellow Nasty Crew member Kano who had just begun promotion for his major label debut ‘Home Sweet Home’. Featuring on two of the tracks from the disc, including the single ‘Typical Me’, Kane took G on the promotional merry go round for the album that included taking part in tours with Nas and The Streets, as well as opening up for Juelz Santana in New York and performing at the MOBO Awards. Around this same time Ghetts released his first mixtape ‘2000 & Life’; a disc which drew on his experiences of growing up on the streets of Plaistow and of being behind bars. Still heralded as an underground classic the disc was full of angry bravado and vicious rhymes that fuelled favourites such as ‘Simple Minded MC’s’ and the anthem ‘Skinny Sort’. The experience of going on tour with Kano however soon showed Ghetts a side of England that he’d never seen before and this resulted in a change of perspective for the young MC. “Going on tour and seeing the people who would turn up the shows and the reaction they would give us, I realised that my ignorant attitude wasn’t gonna get me anywhere,” Ghetts describes of his revelation. “As soon as I got rid of my attitude things started happening for me.” It was then that Ghetts began recording his second mixtape; ‘Ghetto Gospel’.
One negative by-product of touring with Kano had been that G had been labelled as Kane’s hypeman. Wanting to be recognised as an artist in his own right and whilst also dispelling myths that he could only make angry songs; ‘Ghetto Gospel’ was filled with tracks that discussed the pitfalls of living in a deprived area as well as dedicating tracks to his best friend and his mother. “She cried when I first played it for her,” Ghetts recalls of playing ‘Closest Thing To Heaven’ to his mum on Mother’s Day. The mixtape also included a track for which Ghetts would shoot his first video; ‘Top 3 Selected’. The radio favourite sat alongside songs with fellow members of The Movement; a collective of likeminded MCs that included Scorcher, Wretch 32 and Mercston with whom G had released a CD entitled ‘Tempo Specialists’.
Ghetts quickly followed this up with ‘Freedom Of Speech’; another disc of entirely original material which channelled the reckless attitude of ‘2000 & Life’ and combined it with the refined wordplay of ‘Ghetto Gospel’ to make for a truly epic listen. Combining cold, nihilistic moments with bursts of untamed energy, the disc addressed and resolved issues that had arisen between Ghetts and other artists in the scene who had attacked G whilst he moved away from confrontational music during ‘Ghetto Gospel’. Tracks such as ‘Mountain’ and ‘Who’s Got?’ soon reasserted Ghetts as an underground favourite as well as satisfying the new fans he’d acquired from ‘Ghetto Gospel’.
Composing himself as a complete artist, G signalled his growth by changing his performance name to Ghetts and begun work on his debut album which is due for release in 2009. “I’m ready to make the best album I can make,” G affirms of his mind state. “It’s a bit like the TV programme ‘Heroes’. I’m just finally learning how to use my powers.” The first single from the album – ‘Sing For Me’ is already a favourite and has been snapped up by record label All Around The World to come out in early in the new year. As a division of Universal and home to artists such as N-Dubs, the track is set to be Ghetts’ first chart hit and finally propel him into the mainstream – an accolade well deserved and long overdue. “I made this tune for the clubs,” he speaks on the single. “When I’m in there I feel like I wish that it was my tune that everyone was dancing to so that’s why I made that.” And now that he’s had his first taste of success is Ghetts likely to turn his back on the Grime scene that has bred him? “I do Grime!” he proudly boasts. “I love Grime and it’s in my roots. It has been from when I saw Heartless all them years ago. A lot of people ain’t comfortable with that but I’m telling you from now that I’m gonna be a Grime star!”
Black Rose
Ghetts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My daughter, she a princess
The world ain't slaughtering her skin yet
These Kayne's have not become important to the Kim's yet
But when she gets older there'll be brothers
Same colour as her Papa who will not be showing any sort of interest
Have mercy on my brothers yea
Disrespecting women who remind them of their sisters
Disrespecting women who remind them of their cousins
Have mercy on my brothers
Everyone's entitled to their own taste
But every time you pricks make a statement I can find a rival in my own race
I love all types a women
Variety is ok
But society will throw shade
So tell me who's fighting for the sisters then
When their own brothers keep on dissing them
Try and picture Justin as a little one
Daddy was around but I was raised by the women them
Nan, aunts, mummy, black woman significance
So fuck you and your ignorance
When I was young I had Ashanti on my wall
And there was pictures of my family in the front room with certificates
University graduates and good citizens
Baby keep doing you, don't let the world ruin
No matter what they say you are beautiful
Beauty's in the eye of the beholder
And we don't know who is who
Who are they to slew when they slewing you?
Keep you golden
So golden
I need you golden
So golden
I can't cry those tears for you
Again
But just know I'll be there for you
To keep you golden
And they say sticks don't break no bones
But their words might still hit home
Broke up bags on concrete stones
Look at all this is our soul
To keep your golden (so golden)
So golden (so golden)
I need you golden (so golden)
So golden (so golden)
Black rose
When you was doing light skin vs dark skin
Some was doing white skin vs our skin
Divided and conquered
Living but slightly unconscious
Killing each over minor (problems)
Do I define a monster
'Cah my knife is longer
My left is weak but my right is stronger
What I really mean is my writing's stronger
Should I wife a Kate or should I wife a Rhonda
I don't mind either genre
Brothers back home using cake soap
I'm only caked up 'cause I make doe
We're all try stay afloat in the same boat
But I'm trying to be the goat not scape goat
Are you aware of who I am?
There's something called opinions and I really can't escape those
Eww he's black and he's ugly
Nah I'm black and i'm lovely
Only god can judge me
This ones ones for my brothers that are lonely in this fuckree
Coming home from school and your shadows your only company
Really I'm from Africa but I don't know the country
I'm a lost man
Where the hell are my locks at?
Got me looking at a dashiki like, "What's that?"
And still I'm Django to you house niggas
I get even with the Stevens in combat
Keep you golden
So golden (so golden)
So golden
I need you golden (so golden)
So golden (so golden)
I can't cry those tears for you
Again
But just know that I'll be there for you
To keep you golden
The lyrics of the song Black Rose by GHETTS ft. Kojey Radical convey a message about the experience of being a Black woman in a society that doesn't appreciate them. It begins with a conversation between a father and daughter, where the daughter asks a simple question about why she cannot find dolls that look like her in the store. This question highlights the lack of representation for Black girls in society. The father then speaks about his concern for his daughter's future, where men who share the same skin color as him will not show interest in her. He then talks about the disrespect that Black women face from their own community and society in general. The rapper speaks to his experiences growing up and the importance of the Black women in his life. He ends the verse by expressing his love for all types of women, but society's biases against Black women.
The chorus then starts, where the singer asks the subject to keep their golden, indicating the beauty inside and out. The song speaks to the Black experience, where words hurt as much as sticks, and society still divides and conquers. The rapper compares his worth to his writing, indicating that he values his talent over everything else. The second verse talks about his identity as a Black man but also his disconnection from Africa's country. He speaks on the discrimination and how he is a lost man. The verse ends with a call for action to combat the bias against Black people in society.
Overall, the song represents the Black experience and the biases that continue to hold them back. It is a call for treating all people equally and not judging them based on their skin color. It is a powerful message delivered with a beautiful melody that emphasizes the importance of diversity and acceptance in society.
Line by Line Meaning
Daddy, how comes there's no dolls that look like me in the shop?
My daughter wonders why there are no dolls of her skin color in stores.
My daughter, she a princess
My daughter is a precious and valuable human being.
The world ain't slaughtering her skin yet
The world hasn't started discriminating against her for her skin color.
These Kayne's have not become important to the Kim's yet
Celebrity culture hasn't started to influence her perception of beauty yet.
But when she gets older there'll be brothers Same colour as her Papa who will not be showing any sort of interest
But when she grows up, there will be men who share her skin color and won't be interested in her.
Have mercy on my brothers yea Disrespecting women who remind them of their mothers Disrespecting women who remind them of their sisters Disrespecting women who remind them of their cousins Have mercy on my brothers
Please have empathy for my fellow men who disrespect women that remind them of their family members.
Everyone's entitled to their own taste But every time you pricks make a statement I can find a rival in my own race
People have the right to their own preferences, but when they try to make a statement, they tend to create division within their own race.
I love all types a women Variety is ok But society will throw shade So tell me who's fighting for the sisters then When their own brothers keep on dissing them
I appreciate diversity in women, but society tends to judge women for their looks. Who is protecting and fighting for black women when their own brothers disrespect them?
Try and picture Justin as a little one Daddy was around but I was raised by the women them Nan, aunts, mummy, black woman significance So fuck you and your ignorance
Imagine Justin Bieber as a child. Even though his father was present, he was raised by the women in his life, including his grandmother, aunts, and mother. Black women are significant and deserve respect.
When I was young I had Ashanti on my wall And there was pictures of my family in the front room with certificates University graduates and good citizens Baby keep doing you, don't let the world ruin No matter what they say you are beautiful Beauty's in the eye of the beholder And we don't know who is who Who are they to slew when they slewing you?
As a child, I admired Ashanti and my family's achievements. Don't let the world bring you down. Everyone's definition of beauty is different, and we don't know who is judging us. Who are they to criticize you?
Keep you golden So golden I need you golden So golden I can't cry those tears for you Again But just know I'll be there for you To keep you golden
I want to protect you and keep you shining brightly. I can't bear to see you cry, but I will always be there to support you and keep you strong.
And they say sticks don't break no bones But their words might still hit home Broke up bags on concrete stones Look at all this is our soul To keep your golden (so golden) So golden (so golden) I need you golden (so golden) So golden (so golden) Black rose
Although words don't physically harm us, they can still hurt us emotionally. Our experiences and struggles shape who we are. I want to protect you and keep you pure, like a black rose.
When you was doing light skin vs dark skin Some was doing white skin vs our skin Divided and conquered Living but slightly unconscious Killing each over minor (problems) Do I define a monster 'Cah my knife is longer My left is weak but my right is stronger What I really mean is my writing's stronger Should I wife a Kate or should I wife a Rhonda I don't mind either genre
We shouldn't be fighting about skin color because there are bigger issues at hand. We're being manipulated and controlled by forces that want us to fight amongst ourselves. I have a talent for writing, not violence. I don't care about a woman's race or social status.
Brothers back home using cake soap I'm only caked up 'cause I make doe We're all try stay afloat in the same boat But I'm trying to be the goat not scape goat
Men in my community are using skin lightening soap, but I'm successful because of my hard work. We're all trying to make a living, but instead of just surviving, I want to be the best at what I do.
Are you aware of who I am? There's something called opinions and I really can't escape those Eww he's black and he's ugly Nah I'm black and i'm lovely Only god can judge me This ones ones for my brothers that are lonely in this fuckree Coming home from school and your shadows your only company Really I'm from Africa but I don't know the country I'm a lost man Where the hell are my locks at? Got me looking at a dashiki like, "What's that?" And still I'm Django to you house niggas I get even with the Stevens in combat
Do you even know me and my experiences? People have opinions, but I won't let them define me. I may be lonely in this confusing world, but I still love myself. I may be from Africa, but I'm disconnected from my roots. I'm a man trying to find myself in a world that doesn't value people like me. Even though I don't know everything about my culture, I still acknowledge and respect it. And despite the obstacles I face, I'm still fighting for equality and justice for my people.
Keep you golden So golden (so golden) So golden I need you golden So golden (so golden) I can't cry those tears for you Again But just know that I'll be there for you To keep you golden
I want to protect and preserve your innocence and beauty. I won't let you cry alone, and I'll always be there to support you.
Black rose
A black rose is a symbol of mystery, elegance, and strength, representing the beauty and resilience of black women.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Alanna Clarke, Daniel Buhlebuyeza Miles, Jaime Naldo Sa Menezes, Joel Baker, Joj Jocely Mukeza, Justic Clarke, Kwadwo Amponsah
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@pitchsolo
Growth
ɡrəʊθ/
noun
1.
the process of increasing and developing.
Ghettz... We appreciate your growth & evolution especially where others have decayed and stagnated! This message needed to heard and you delivered it beautifully.
@moorlivingholistic
This is so rare a black british Caribbean man acknowledging his african roots and paying respect to black women. Wow I've always been a fan but now he's idol material ❤
@georgeorwell3532
Never heard of REGGAE music then?
@AK_1444
It's not that rare, all us black carribbean people know we are African, like Ghetts said we just dont the country.
@strivingtoonedaybeuseful6049
@A K all? Idk about that. I'm Jamaican and I'd say about 9 years ago most Jamaicans hated African and believed they had nothing to do with Afircans. It only in the past 5 years that majority are finally realising who we truly are and appreciating it. It's taken us time but I'm glad we are finally here.
@AK_1444
@REM Shinigami I'm happy for you, I was fortune enough to not have ignorant grandparents that's all it really was. I'm not Jamaican and about 16 yrs ago I met my first real Rasta trust me they know the truth. We been knowing it's just the narrative got lost but now its finding its way back.
@sharleneanthony3218
Thank you for loving and protecting us. This song made me smile and cry. THANK YOU Asè
@MikeThurston
SUBSTANCE
@stevenmerrick617
Mike Thurston slap this in the gym playlist big man
@ryanp5052
Mike Thurston in abundance
@amassofatoms
@R Probably was gonna put that myself xD