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!”
Mozambique
Ghetts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Senior, Baby, Junior
You take the fire of the young, the power of now, the wisdom of the old
Combine all three and that's a recipe for winning
No point looking back
Saying I could’ve done this
Should've done that
That's valuable time being wasted in the present
The reoccurring question is:
What would I have told myself ten years ago?
Focus
You know the O was replaced by an S
There ain't a broken home I don't represent
Still misunderstood
Still conflicted
How many times have I looked at the man in the mirror and had to convince him
Be brave, be different
Just be you, and be consistent
Umnqundu wamapolisa sana
Ndithe umnqundu wamapolisa
Yo, what's wrong with these neeks?
Man can't tell me about these streets
Man never grew up near no damn beach
Mans got shooters from Mozambique
Shoot off nose and beak
So you lot roll in peace
But if you got suttin to say
Do not hold in, please
They say death comes in trois
So I do not roll in threes
Are you lot dying to piss?
'Cause you look like you're holding Ps
Pull up pull up, stolen jeep
Hood up hood up, phone the police
Push up your boat and bleed
I heard they cook up the coke and leave
Man's going in there now
I’m just up the road indeed
I swear I search everywhere
Like I’m looking for phone and keys
Knife in the wind
Poke and breeze
Wish your girl never saw that
Poor Candice
Four man deep
One felt froggy, they saw man leap
Run, tell donnie and crawl back, weep
All that week
Oh, that's weak
Hole in your brain
You ain’t gotta thought that deep
Man think I'm missing the drop
What? I caught that clean
I don't know bro, I don't know
Speak the streets, bro
Only way, dawg
Cops don’t know, pay the streets dough
Sell some real green dope
Sell some real green dope
Make some real mean dough
Make some real mean dough
I don't know bro, I don't know
Speak the streets, bro
Only way dawg
Cops don't know, pay the streets dough
Sell some real green dope
Sell some real green dope
Make some real mean dough
Make some real mean dough
What's wrong with these man?
Can't tell me about 28 gram
Grew up on curry and rice, not ham
Man have got shooters from Pakistan
Shoot off after your fam
Rooftop like Taliban
So let me give you lot some advice
And stop stunting like Jackie Chan
Yeah, they say you are what you eat
And I still ain't been Hakkasan
And ask them: who started the beef?
I ain't slid round yet, that's the plan
Roll up, stolen Megane
Whole lot of smoke for your gang
Folding notes in my hand
Yeah I told him "phone me up when it lands"
Yeah this beef's Kobe, cut from japan
Hold uppercuts from my hand
You can put me in the World Cup final
And I'll throw headbutts like Zidane
No if's, buts, I'm the man
Toolbox, loading the van
Fam, all of this bullshit
Just 'cause he owed him a grand
Come through twenty man deep
Silence, can't hear any man speak
Nightmares, can't get any more sleep
Forget those who got buried last week
I keep things sweet
On my table, I let every man eat
And I wish I had a girl who would let a man cheat
I don't know bro, I don't know
Speak the streets, bro
Only way, dawg
Cops don't know, pay the streets dough
Sell some real green dope
Sell some real green dope
Make some real mean dough
Make some real mean dough
I don't know bro, I don't know
Speak the streets, bro
Only way dawg
Cops don't know, pay the streets dough
Sell some real green dope
Sell some real green dope
Make some real mean dough
Make some real mean dough
Yo, I'm in Birmingham
Mina I'm from South Africa, hheey Mandela
Lomfana fun'ivisa ungqhelikaka
And'na xesha lama simba wodwa
Ndizomshiya
Ndizomshiy' ephansi
Kakade naleya ncanca iyasindwa yodwa
IBalls, zinzima
Stared in the face of death
Mandem told me I'm stupid
So many years of breath
Only been shot by Cupid
Can't tell man about kuff kaff kweff
You only hear them tings in music
Round 'ere, take a wrong left
Victim of a shooting
What could they tell me about chef
Like I ain't made food out of human?
Like man ain't looked in my grill
And I ain't had to barbeque them
What can they tell me about crack?
Ask Danny and Susan
What can they tell me about trap
Like I weren't trapped in this foolish illusion
Feds never had no evi
My man still got twenty
They never found no body
They don't know where it's buried
Bad boys from the UK
We don't drive no Chevys
Can't call a foreign a foreign
Unless it's a 'Rari like Ballotelli's
The song "Mozambique" by Ghetts features lyrics that delve deep into the world of the streets and the hustlers who survive in it. The first set of lines in the song are in Xhosa, a Bantu language commonly spoken in South Africa, and can be translated to "My skin is black like a police officer. I said my skin is black like a police officer." This line sets the tone for the song, as Ghetts proclaims his unapologetic blackness and the struggles it brings him, even though he is capable of fully utilizing the streets.
The focus of the song then shifts to Ghetts' experiences within the street world. He boasts about making "some real mean dough," and how the street life has made him who he is today. He criticizes those who are not "about these streets," and declares that he has "got shooters from Mozambique," a country notorious for its deadly gun violence. Despite his tough exterior, Ghetts presents himself as someone who is also looking for love, mentioning that he wishes he had a girl who would let a man cheat.
Overall, Mosambique is not just a song about making money, it is about surviving in the streets and thriving at the same time. It showcases Ghetts' mastery of storytelling and his ability to provide social commentary through his lyrics.
Line by Line Meaning
Umnqundu wamapolisa sana
I have a police officer's baton
Ndithe umnqundu wamapolisa
I said I have a police officer's baton
Make some, make some mean dough
Earn a lot of money
Make some real mean dough
Earn a lot of money by any means necessary
What's wrong with these man?
What is the problem with these people?
Man can't tell me about these streets
No one can tell me more about these streets than I already know
Man never grew up near no damn beach
I did not grow up in a wealthy area
Mans got shooters from Mozambique
I have hired gunmen from Mozambique
Shoot off nose and beak
The gunmen are violent and will shoot off body parts
So you lot roll in peace
I suggest you leave and not cause any trouble
But if you gotta somethin' to say
If you have something to say, go ahead and say it
Do not hold in please
Don't keep it to yourself
They' say death comes in twa
There is a saying that people die in pairs
So I do not roll in threes
I will avoid traveling in groups of three
Are you lot dying to piss?
Are you anxious and want to leave?
'Cause you look like your holding piece
You look like you are carrying a weapon
Pull up, pull up stolen Jeep
Arrive in a stolen Jeep
Hood up, hood up phone the police
Cover your head and call the police
Push up your bolt and bleed
Load your gun and prepare to shoot
I heard they cook up the coke and leave
They mix cocaine with other substances and leave out important ingredients
Mans going in there now
I am heading there now
I, I swear I search everywhere
I have looked everywhere
Like I'm looking for phone and keys
As if I'm searching for misplaced items
Knife in the wind, poke and breeze
I am ready for any physical altercation
Wish your girl never saw that
I hope your girlfriend didn't see what happened
Poor Candice
I feel bad for Candice (a person mentioned earlier in the song)
Four man deep
I am accompanied by four others
One felt froggy they saw man leap
One of my companions became aggressive and attacked someone
Run tell Donnie and crawl back week
Go tell Donnie (someone mentioned earlier in the song) what happened and apologize
All that week, ooh that's weak
That is a weak move
Hole in your brain
Your thought process is flawed
You ain't gotta thought that deep
You don't have to think too hard about it
Man think I'm missing the drop
People think I am unaware of what's happening
What? I caught the clean
No, I understood everything
Can't tell me about twenty-eight gram
Don't talk to me about small amounts of drugs
Grew up on curry and rice not ham
I did not grow up eating expensive foods
Man I got shooters from Pakistan
I have hired gunmen from Pakistan
Shoot shoot off after your fam
The gunmen will shoot at your family
Rooftop like Taliban
They will attack like the Taliban, from a high point
So let me give you lot some advice
Let me tell you something
And stop stunting like Jackie Chan
Stop showing off and behaving recklessly
Yeah, they say you are what you eat
There's a saying that your character is defined by the kind of food you eat
And I still ain't been Hakkasan
I have never been to a fancy restaurant like Hakkasan
And ask them who started the beef?
Find out who initiated the conflict
I ain't slid 'round yet, that's a plan
I have not yet entered the conflict, but I have a plan to do so
Roll up, stolen Mangane
Arrive in a stolen car
Whole lotta smoke for your gang
There will be a lot of violence against your group
Folding notes in my hand
Counting my money
Yeah, I told him phone me up when it lands
I told someone to call me when a shipment arrives
Yeah, this beef's kobe cut from Japan
This conflict is serious and expensive
Whole leap of cuts on my hand
I have a lot of wounds and scars on my hand
You can put me in the World Cup final
You can put me in any challenging situation and I'll come out victorious
And I throw headbutts like Zidane
I fight aggressively and fearlessly
No if's, but's I'm the man
I am confident in my abilities
Toolbox loading the van
Preparing for a job or task that requires tools
Fam, all of this bullshit just 'cause he owed him a grand
This whole conflict started because someone owed someone else money
Silence, can't hear any man speak
Everything is quiet, no one is saying anything
Nightmares, can't get any more sleep
I am having trouble sleeping due to my worries
Forget those who got buried last week?
Have we already forgotten about the people who died last week?
I keep things sweet
I try to remain calm and peaceful
On my table I let every man eat
I am generous and welcoming to everyone
And I wish I has a girl who would let a man cheat
I won't bother settling down with someone who wouldn't let me cheat on her
Sell some real green dope
Sell some high-quality drugs
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Janum Khan, Justin Clark Samuel, Prince Owusu, Sanelisiwe Twisha, Shehzad Anil Zar
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Grmdaily
Speechless
@charlieje3199
ridiculous tune
@headlesshorseman2165
Wreckless!
@DirtyFuckingBassline
Norf of the border(Scotland) still feeling this jam, Approved
@Kyzeyzworld
Muad
@trapsonic2976
Rubbish this is some wack shit yohhh
Um really disappointed ✋💔😔
@esij
Moonchild is so versatile can actually jump on so many tracks. Ghetts is the greatest EVER, AND the instumentals and visuals.... yh he deserves his flowers now!!
@kulturemix4194
Yeah i agree! But ghetts been deserving his flowers from timeeeee
@MattMussett
10 /10 leaps and bounds
@nkuliboetie4951
This track tho... The depth in cultures and lyrics is maddddddd. Aiii big up to all three of u. Whoever thought of putting moonchild on this tune is a genius