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!”
Karma
Ghetts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pretty little lightie on his arm with some extraordinary titties
I've been tryna catch this nigger for nine months
Now I actually gwan kill him I'm fired up
Could you imagine the feeling in my gut?
Eyes shut, now imagine the feeling in my gut
I ain't even angry again, its just the principle
Surrounded by a bunch of your friends, you feel invincible
If your wife had any sense, she'd leave you miserable
You'll have all the facts by the end, the visual
This prick held a strap to my head, its a miracle
That man isn't dead or in a condition that's critical
Shoulda banged it instead and kept the talking to a minimal
Now I'm low in the back of a Benz, keeping it digital
Both hands on this game, like its difficult
That's in the back of my head, am I the killing sort?
Na but its about the revenge, I wanna kill em all
Plus man are like 'What happened to Ghetts?', its the ridicule
Can't let this happen again, its pitiful
Even man in the pen wouldn't know if its real or if its trivial
Well this is it, straight forward, no subliminal's
I told the driver to follow him
Balaclava because I'm a guy with a following
marijuana before I body him
Then I caught a glimpse in the rear view
Its looking like some undercover's have appeared to
But I could be paranoid, and scared too
The same combination had me back on probation for a crime less serious
A murders 25 and up dead serious
And I ain't trying to be?, I'm experienced
That's why I know the Fed's when I see em
Undercover or not, that's Fed's in the BM
Take the next left I got weapons like I'm Korean
Look, this is a situation I don't wanna be in
The next door I see I hope its me putting the key in
Okay, left right left and they're still behind
They ain't dressed like Fed's but I can feel the vibe
Now I'm analysing my options
Cos often there ain't a problem they be following just to kill some
Fuck that! Man are still looking for an escape route
My actions are based on whatever they do
Calm until they be sounding the alarms
Na cos by then they'll be surrounding the car
Wha' gwarn its time for my decision
Time to disappear like I is a magician
My driver in position, wheels spinning away and causing a cyclist collision
Sirens in my ears blue lights in my vision
Pedal to the metal now we're losing them
Can just about see em in my view again
Sliding and skidding, try to move it like a hooligan
Go in a long time in prison
Looking around I can't see the coppers now
up before they send the chopper out
I'm hopping out cautious
Got a link nearby so I'm hiding my Glock around Georgia's
2 minute walk, or a 30 second run
Me and my driver go our separate ways, lesson one
Check it done, it don't make sense if he comes
This way there's less chance of getting sprung
So I'm running to her house, asthmatic n all
I'm running out of breathe, but ain't panicking I'm cool
Na I'm lying 1 strap, 4 shells, so I'm ringing off her doorbell
Anybody would be naturally appalled
But its urgent B, its a rassclart emergency
And I'm a man that needs support
So open up the door and be?
No I'm inside and I can't believe my eyes
Oh my eyes have never lied
I seeing the guy that coulda been the reason I had died
And he's shocked to see me, still he's reaching for his 9
But you know I got my heater its on
So I draw for it and I ain't hitting doors with it
Wall to the floor with it
I'm 100 percent sure with it
I've already won this war with it
I let one go it hit his chest
I let another go now I moving a bit possessed
He moved out the way and that one hit his bitch instead
Damn it! But when I'm handling a matic you'd be a fool to expect no collateral damage
Now I'm running out the back door
The only thing going through my mind is a sentence
Murderer, I'm in a worse position than I was in earlier
The song “KARMA” by Ghetts is a dramatic retelling of a planned revenge on someone. The lyrics are packed with vivid details that bring to life the situation and the emotions that Ghetts is going through. He catches his target slipping and walking without whipping. He sees his target with a pretty lightie on his arm with extraordinary titties. He's been trying to catch this guy for nine months, and now that he finally has the chance, he's ready to kill him.
The song is full of tension and suspense as Ghetts describes his emotions and the actions he takes. He's angry but still tries to remain calm, calculating his options, and trying to escape from the police who are chasing him. Ghetts uses powerful metaphors and punchy lyrics to express his feelings, such as, “I'm running out of breath, but I ain't panicking, I'm cool. Na, I'm lying, one strap, four shells, so I'm ringing off her doorbell”. Through his lyrics, Ghetts creates a gripping and intense story of revenge, crime, and survival.
Line by Line Meaning
I caught him slipping, walking not whipping
I saw him off guard, walking casually instead of moving quickly
Pretty little lightie on his arm with some extraordinary titties
He had an attractive girl with him, who had remarkable breasts
I've been tryna catch this nigger for nine months
I've been attempting to catch this person for a long time
Now I actually gwan kill him I'm fired up
Now I'm really going to kill him, I'm very angry and motivated
Could you imagine the feeling in my gut?
Can you envision the intense feeling in my stomach?
Eyes shut, now imagine the feeling in my gut
Closing my eyes, now imagine how intense this feeling is
I ain't even angry again, its just the principle
I'm not even angry anymore, it's just a matter of principle
Surrounded by a bunch of your friends, you feel invincible
Being surrounded by your friends, you feel unbeatable
Tell me why you have to pretend, its despicable
Explain why you have to pretend, it's disgraceful
If your wife had any sense, she'd leave you miserable
If your wife was sensible, she would leave you unhappy
You'll have all the facts by the end, the visual
By the end, you will have all the evidence you need
This prick held a strap to my head, its a miracle
This person pointed a gun at my head, it's a miracle I survived
That man isn't dead or in a condition that's critical
That person is not dead or in a critical condition
Shoulda banged it instead and kept the talking to a minimal
I should have shot instead, avoiding unnecessary conversation
Now I'm low in the back of a Benz, keeping it digital
Now, I'm hiding in the back of a luxury car, being discreet
Both hands on this game, like its difficult
Fully focused on this situation, as if it's challenging
That's in the back of my head, am I the killing sort?
That thought lingers in my mind, am I capable of killing?
Na but its about the revenge, I wanna kill em all
No, it's about seeking revenge, I want to kill them all
Plus man are like 'What happened to Ghetts?', its the ridicule
Plus people are saying 'What happened to Ghetts?', mocking him
Can't let this happen again, its pitiful
I can't let this happen again, it's shameful
Even man in the pen wouldn't know if its real or if its trivial
Even people in prison wouldn't know if it's significant or insignificant
Well this is it, straight forward, no subliminal's
Well, this is it, straightforward, with no hidden messages
I told the driver to follow him
I instructed the driver to tail him
Balaclava because I'm a guy with a following
Wearing a balaclava to conceal my identity since people follow me
Marijuana before I body him
Smoking marijuana before I kill him
Then I caught a glimpse in the rear view
Then I saw something briefly through the rearview mirror
Its looking like some undercover's have appeared to
It seems like there are undercover police officers there
But I could be paranoid, and scared too
But I might be overly suspicious and fearful as well
The same combination had me back on probation for a crime less serious
The same circumstances put me back on probation for a less serious offense
A murders 25 and up dead serious
Murder carries a minimum sentence of 25 years, it's very serious
And I ain't trying to be?, I'm experienced
And I'm not trying to be a murderer, I have knowledge and experience
That's why I know the Fed's when I see em
That's why I recognize the police when I see them
Undercover or not, that's Fed's in the BM
Whether undercover or not, those are police officers in an expensive car
Take the next left I got weapons like I'm Korean
Take the next left, I have weapons like a skilled fighter from Korea
Look, this is a situation I don't wanna be in
This is a situation I want to avoid
The next door I see I hope its me putting the key in
I hope the next door I see is the one where I can safely enter
Okay, left right left and they're still behind
Alright, I go left, then right, and they're still following me
They ain't dressed like Fed's but I can feel the vibe
They don't look like police officers, but I can sense it
Now I'm analysing my options
Now I'm carefully considering my choices
Cos often there ain't a problem they be following just to kill some
Because sometimes there's no real issue, they're just following to cause harm
Fuck that! Man are still looking for an escape route
Forget that! I'm still searching for a way to escape
My actions are based on whatever they do
My actions are determined by what they do
Calm until they be sounding the alarms
I remain calm until they activate the alarms
Na cos by then they'll be surrounding the car
No, because by that time, they will have surrounded the car
Wha' gwarn its time for my decision
What's happening, it's time for me to make a decision
Time to disappear like I is a magician
Time to vanish like I'm a magician
My driver in position, wheels spinning away and causing a cyclist collision
My driver is ready, spinning the wheels and causing a collision with a cyclist
Sirens in my ears blue lights in my vision
Sirens are blaring in my ears and I see blue lights
Pedal to the metal now we're losing them
Accelerating as fast as possible, now we're getting away from them
Can just about see em in my view again
I can barely see them in my rearview mirror again
Sliding and skidding, try to move it like a hooligan
Sliding and skidding, trying to drive recklessly like a troublemaker
Go in a long time in prison
End up serving a lengthy prison sentence
Looking around I can't see the coppers now
Looking around, I can't see the police officers now
Up before they send the chopper out
Exiting before they deploy the helicopter
I'm hopping out cautious
I'm carefully getting out of the car
Got a link nearby so I'm hiding my Glock around Georgia's
I have a contact nearby, so I'm concealing my handgun near Georgia's place
2 minute walk, or a 30 second run
It's either a short 2-minute walk or a quick 30-second run
Me and my driver go our separate ways, lesson one
My driver and I part ways, learning our first lesson
Check it done, it don't make sense if he comes
Make sure it's done, it won't make sense if he arrives
This way there's less chance of getting sprung
This way, there's a lower chance of getting caught
So I'm running to her house, asthmatic n all
So I'm running to her house, even though I have asthma
I'm running out of breathe, but ain't panicking I'm cool
I'm getting out of breath, but I'm not panicking, I'm calm
Na I'm lying 1 strap, 4 shells, so I'm ringing off her doorbell
No, I'm exaggerating, I have a gun and four bullets, so I'm pressing her doorbell
Anybody would be naturally appalled
Anyone would naturally be horrified
But its urgent B, its a rassclart emergency
But it's urgent, bro, it's an important emergency
And I'm a man that needs support
And I'm someone who needs assistance
So open up the door and be?
So open up the door and be helpful
No I'm inside and I can't believe my eyes
No, I'm inside and I can't believe what I'm seeing
Oh my eyes have never lied
Oh, my eyes have always been truthful
I seeing the guy that coulda been the reason I had died
I see the person who could have been the cause of my death
And he's shocked to see me, still he's reaching for his 9
He's surprised to see me, yet he's trying to grab his gun
But you know I got my heater its on
But you know I have my gun, and it's ready
So I draw for it and I ain't hitting doors with it
So I reach for it, and I won't use it to break down doors
Wall to the floor with it
I'm aiming it towards the ground
I'm 100 percent sure with it
I'm completely certain about using it
I've already won this war with it
I've already emerged victorious using this weapon
I let one go it hit his chest
I fired a shot that struck his chest
I let another go now I moving a bit possessed
I fired another shot, now I'm acting somewhat possessed
He moved out the way and that one hit his bitch instead
He dodged it, and instead, the shot struck his female companion
Damn it! But when I'm handling a matic you'd be a fool to expect no collateral damage
Damn it! But when I'm using a firearm, you'd be foolish to expect no unintended harm
Now I'm running out the back door
Now I'm fleeing through the back door
The only thing going through my mind is a sentence
The only thing on my mind is the possibility of imprisonment
Murderer, I'm in a worse position than I was in earlier
I'm considered a murderer, and my situation is worse than earlier
Writer(s): Thomas Broderick, Justin Samuel Clarke
Contributed by Owen W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@Al-yh3xr
2022 now and this is still one of the best lyrical underrated songs still here until today
@darrenvlogs1
I remember when this was released over 10 years ago. This really paints a picture in your head when listening. I wish Ghetts made visuals for it 😅
@BFDMurg
So sick how he's kept the same (if not even better if possible) quality of lyrics while sorting out the flow to sound sick aswell. KILLER.
@charlieuk1983
This is still bangs in 2019 an will forever bad man ghetts 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
@Jordzkee
Charlie Uk mad how it aint got more views on a real
@charlieuk1983
It’s mad bro he should make a short film to this tune like rapman has with his ,mad story
@tokenwebster
@Charlie Uk I've been saying this for the longest time!
@lukelucas1465
Straight facts mate
@coreygrubb9595
2021 g
@dannygarcia3863
This goes so hard fam got this on loop atm is a story cuz!