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!”
Little Bo Peep
Ghetts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm no sheep, Bo Peep, she must die
The Lord is my Shepard
The Lord is my Shepard
I don't sleep, I just close my eyes
I'm no sheep, Bo Peep, she must die
The Lord is my Shepard
The Lord is my Shepard
Jumped out the car, had a change of heart
Somethin' weren't right, told the bros, "Call it a night"
But they just said I'm pussy, pressure from my peers
I never folded though, blessings from upstairs
When I'm rollin', I'm protected, that's a prayer from my grandma
Concerned about her grandson
I ain't phone her, say a change gon' come, that's what Sam sung
I'm from the land of Rambos, I've seen samurais and handguns
Where it's "Fuck that" and "fat mom", but me, I'm my dad's son
Ain't hard to see my father in me
The apple never fell too far from the tree
My mother hates that but she can't disagree
Bricks on my bedroom floor, you think it's calm to be street
Exaggeration, but you're startin' to see
You get the picture, literally
Copyright infringement, they ain't payin' for these samples
Wanna hear them? Visit me
Jumpin' over cows, I skipped the beef
So I can run around with thousands in my jeans
I was in these streets, where it's dangerous fam
As a kid I found comfort in my favorite shank
Cah I was always outnumbered, never claimin' a gang
I never know moral compass, I became detached
I'm just a outsider, inside, outlinin' thing's I'm surrounded by
This time the outcome is insight to how some live life
The shoe doesn't fit me anymore
And that's for sure, but the trousers still fit fine
We just follow fashion, follow trends, follow enemies
And follow friends bein' followed by the feds
And follow women on the 'Gram and then we follow them again
Everybody's followin', but worry bein' lead
I don't sleep, I just close my eyes
I'm no sheep, Bo Peep, she must die
Cah the Lord is my Shepard
The Lord is my Shepard
What are we here on this earth for? (Why are we on this earth?)
See all this choice, but you still follow (you still follow)
God gave us mind of our own (mind of our own, of our own)
But still the open road we go (it's the open road, it's the open road)
Stuck between a rock and a hard place
Sold rocks in a hard place
Used the same rocks to build my mansion
One big house on a little old street
We fell in love with Little Bo Peep
I'm in a rock and a hard place
But these rocks bring you heartache
Used the same rocks to build my mansion
One big house on a little old street
We fell in love with Little Bo Peep
Look
Would you tell me that I'm crazy if I said you could make writing wrong?
A man would ride along forever, whether right or wrong
Follow your morals to the T and hand retribution
Set judicial precedent, prevent confusion
Takin' a life, that's illegal on the block
'Cause it's evil, but it's legal for some people with a job
Who get's to tell us what a soldier is?
Middle eastern children molested
You run the clip on the news and then we get over it
What happens when you don't follow? Cold niggas so borrow
Moms cried, doves fly, tears in a thug's eye
Push base, pump white, overdose, moms die
Her choice, rough life, harsh truth, tough line
Heard he went guilty for a lyin' and caught a nine today
Wouldn't even matter 'bout a forty minute flight away
Niggas up day and night, tryna sell you night and day
Our sons will follow us until the cold light of day
When you don't follow the program you get Kan' and Wretch
You get Skepta and Wiley, you get Dave and Ghetts
Women on the guestlist, relatives respectin'
Thirty year stretches, bodies in the trenches
What I wouldn't do today, who said I wouldn't do tomorrow?
The problem ain't followin', it's what you choose to follow
What if we chose to follow all the things we used to follow?
Spoke about sex less, normalized death less
Obsessed less over capital and excess
Took drugs less, frowned on love less
Little Bo Peep must sleep forever more
We feel but don't grieve, we grieve, but never mourn
We look but never see, we see, but never more
The role models are sufferin', tell them that there's a war outside
Tell them that there's a war outside
What are we here on this earth for? (Why are we on this earth?)
See all this choice, but you still follow (you still follow)
God gave us mind of our own (mind of our own, of our own)
But still the open road we go (it's the open road, it's the open road)
Stuck between a rock and a hard place
Sold rocks in a hard place
Used the same rocks to build my mansion
One big house on a little old street
We fell in love with Little Bo Peep
I'm in a rock and a hard place
But these rocks bring you heartache
Used the same rocks to build my mansion
One big house on a little old street
We fell in love with Little Bo Peep
The song "Little Bo Peep" by Ghetts is a powerful reflection on the choices we make and the consequences we face in life. The opening line "I don't sleep, I just close my eyes" suggests that Ghetts is constantly thinking and reflecting, instead of being passive and asleep. He then proclaims that "I'm no sheep, Bo Peep, she must die," essentially calling for the death of conformity and the pressure to follow the crowd. Ghetts then turns to religious themes, declaring that "The Lord is my Shepard," suggesting that he finds guidance and strength in his faith.
The next verse continues to explore Ghetts' inner struggles, as he recounts a time when he had to make a difficult decision and break away from his friends. He reflects on the pressure he faced and the strength he found through prayer and his grandmother's support. Ghetts also touches on the violence and danger he has seen on the streets growing up, and how it has affected him. He talks about feeling detached and like an outsider, but still feeling the weight of his surroundings. The chorus returns with the repeating line "I'm no sheep, Bo Peep she must die," as Ghetts reinforces his stance on being true to oneself and not following the crowd.
The song then turns to a discussion on the societal norms and expectations that we all face. Ghetts questions the concept of "right and wrong" and who gets to decide what is considered moral. He brings up the contradictions in legal and societal norms, such as the legality of war versus the illegality of murder. He also critiques our culture's obsession with money, drugs, and excess, and suggests that perhaps we should return to more wholesome values. The song ends with a call to action, telling listeners to take control of their own lives and their own choices, and to be aware of the dangers and consequences of following blindly.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't sleep, I just close my eyes
I am always alert and vigilant
I'm no sheep, Bo Peep, she must die
I refuse to blindly follow others like a sheep and reject Little Bo Peep's ways
The Lord is my Shepard
I am guided by my faith and trust in a higher power
Jumped out the car, had a change of heart
I realized something was wrong and decided to act differently
Somethin' weren't right, told the bros, "Call it a night"
I recognized the danger and advised my friends to leave
But they just said I'm pussy, pressure from my peers
My friends didn't understand my decision and mocked me for being afraid to stay
I never folded though, blessings from upstairs
I stayed true to myself and my beliefs, relying on divine intervention for protection
When I'm rollin', I'm protected, that's a prayer from my grandma
I feel safe and guarded when I'm out and about because of my grandmother's prayers
Concerned about her grandson
My grandmother loves and cares for me deeply
I ain't phone her, say a change gon' come, that's what Sam sung
I haven't kept in touch with my grandma, but I believe that change is possible
I'm from the land of Rambos, I've seen samurais and handguns
I grew up in a violent area and have witnessed many weapons being used
Where it's "Fuck that" and "fat mom", but me, I'm my dad's son
In my community, people are disrespectful and vulgar, but I take after my father and am different
Ain't hard to see my father in me
I resemble and exhibit traits similar to those of my father
The apple never fell too far from the tree
I share many similarities and characteristics with my father
My mother hates that but she can't disagree
My mother doesn't like the fact that I'm like my father, but she can't deny it
Bricks on my bedroom floor, you think it's calm to be street
I keep weapons close by because I don't feel safe in my neighborhood
Exaggeration, but you're startin' to see
I may have exaggerated, but you can understand my reasoning
You get the picture, literally
You can visualize what I mean
Copyright infringement, they ain't payin' for these samples
Music producers are using samples without permission or compensation
Wanna hear them? Visit me
If you want to listen to the samples, come to me
Jumpin' over cows, I skipped the beef
I avoided unnecessary conflicts and confrontations
So I can run around with thousands in my jeans
I focused on making money instead
I was in these streets, where it's dangerous fam
I grew up in a dangerous area
As a kid I found comfort in my favorite shank
As a child, I felt secure with my weapon
Cah I was always outnumbered, never claimin' a gang
I was always a lone wolf and never joined a gang
I never know moral compass, I became detached
I lost my sense of right and wrong and became emotionally distant
I'm just a outsider, inside, outlinin' thing's I'm surrounded by
I observe and comment on my surroundings, but don't always feel like I fit in
This time the outcome is insight to how some live life
This song sheds light on how some people experience life
The shoe doesn't fit me anymore
I have outgrown my old ways and beliefs
And that's for sure, but the trousers still fit fine
I have changed, but some things about me still remain the same
We just follow fashion, follow trends, follow enemies
We blindly follow what's popular, even if it's negative or harmful
And follow friends bein' followed by the feds
We associate with people who are under government surveillance
And follow women on the 'Gram and then we follow them again
We obsess over women on social media and try to pursue relationships with them
Everybody's followin', but worry bein' lead
Everyone is following others, but nobody is leading
Cah the Lord is my Shepard
I trust that God is guiding me
What are we here on this earth for? (Why are we on this earth?)
What is our purpose for existing?
See all this choice, but you still follow (you still follow)
Despite having many options, you still choose to follow others
God gave us mind of our own (mind of our own, of our own)
We have the ability to think and make choices for ourselves
But still the open road we go (it's the open road, it's the open road)
But even with free will, we often make bad decisions or follow others
Sold rocks in a hard place
I used to sell drugs to survive
Used the same rocks to build my mansion
I used the money from drug dealing to become successful
One big house on a little old street
I came from humble beginnings and now live in a grand home
We fell in love with Little Bo Peep
As a society, we admire and emulate those who are corrupt or immoral
Would you tell me that I'm crazy if I said you could make writing wrong?
Is it possible to use writing to mislead or deceive?
A man would ride along forever, whether right or wrong
Some people will stick to their beliefs no matter what, even if they are questionable or unethical
Follow your morals to the T and hand retribution
Stick to your moral code and take action against those who wrong you
Set judicial precedent, prevent confusion
Create a legal precedent that serves as a guide for future decisions
Takin' a life, that's illegal on the block
Killing someone is against the law in the streets
'Cause it's evil, but it's legal for some people with a job
However, some people are permitted to kill legally, such as those in the military or police force
Who gets to tell us what a soldier is?
Who has the authority to define what a soldier is supposed to do?
Middle eastern children molested
Children in the Middle East have been sexually abused
You run the clip on the news and then we get over it
The media tries to shock and outrage us with stories of violence, but after a while, we become desensitized and indifferent
What happens when you don't follow? Cold niggas so borrow
If you don't follow others, you risk being ostracized or worse
Moms cried, doves fly, tears in a thug's eye
When violence occurs, innocent people suffer and are affected emotionally
Push base, pump white, overdose, moms die
Drug addiction causes people to die, leaving loved ones to grieve
Her choice, rough life, harsh truth, tough line
People sometimes face difficult choices and realities that lead to challenging and painful outcomes
Heard he went guilty for a lyin' and caught a nine today
Someone got shot for lying or snitching
Wouldn't even matter 'bout a forty minute flight away
Even if you flee or move away from a dangerous situation, it may still affect you
Niggas up day and night, tryna sell you night and day
Drug dealers are always trying to make money by selling drugs around the clock
Our sons will follow us until the cold light of day
Our children will learn from and emulate our behaviors, even if it's negative
When you don't follow the program you get Kan' and Wretch
If you deviate from societal norms or expectations, you risk being criticized or punished
You get Skepta and Wiley, you get Dave and Ghetts
People who challenge the norm can inspire others to do the same
Women on the guestlist, relatives respectin'
People with social status tend to receive more respect and admiration
Thirty year stretches, bodies in the trenches
Long prison sentences and war casualties are tragic and devastating
The problem ain't followin', it's what you choose to follow
The issue isn't blindly following others, but rather who or what you choose to follow
What if we chose to follow all the things we used to follow?
What if we returned to traditions or beliefs from the past instead of blindly following modern trends?
Spoke about sex less, normalized death less
In the past, people were more reserved and less open about certain topics
Obsessed less over capital and excess
People used to be less focused on wealth and material possessions
Took drugs less, frowned on love less
Drug use was less prevalent and love was less stigmatized
Little Bo Peep must sleep forever more
Our society must move past immoral or corrupt figures like Little Bo Peep
We feel but don't grieve, we grieve, but never mourn
We may feel sad about something, but don't fully process the emotions or allow ourselves to truly mourn
We look but never see, we see, but never more
We observe, but don't truly understand or appreciate what we're looking at
The role models are sufferin', tell them that there's a war outside
People who we aspire to be like are struggling or suffering, and we need to be aware of the larger issues affecting our society
Tell them that there's a war outside
Make people aware of the struggles and challenges facing our world
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Justin Clarke, Jermaine Scott, David Orobosa Omoregie, Malika Hamzaa
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@aleem5197
Dave has never dissapointed
@michaelhoneyman9698
He never could, truly a different breed🤌
@niallgraham9487
I totally agree right - but somehow I was still surprised by just how fucking good his verse was? Beautiful
@maxngm8590
Nor has ghetts
@SsaiyanDorge
Dave is nice as hell but I feel like ghetts isn’t getting enough praise in this comment section for his verse that was fireee the whole song is incredible
@ExTAzY101
He is designed to go over your head :)
@crispouk3070
Jumping over cows, you should skip the beef ;)
@cantfind365
people came for dave but are sleeping on the other artists on this track immensely. with hamza and wretch‘s amazing vocals and ghetts‘ heartfelt lyrics makes this track wholesome
@htranttrant5376
@@crispouk3070 fam com on
@Closeyclose
Real I agree