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!”
Proud Family
Ghetts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Family of five
Dad left I went jail
Mum kept the family alive
Just her and the twins
Money so low she had to cancel the sky
Late night running out of elec-ky
What you know about candle for light?
All I know is survival
I learnt that from Karen and life
Same old cycle
Nanny was right
I come from where the mothers are worried
Sun comes up and they're sons are haven't come in
Can't keep food in my room
Cah I know if my mum finds that then mum's flush it
Now I owe the big man Ps
And I gotta go country for nothing
I know the road ting well
I been who I see all these youngers becoming
I got one little cousin who's just like I was
He's about fourteen now and it's mad
Cah I ask myself where the time's gone
Gotta lead by example
Show the yute dem what I'm on
Mic on, let bygones be bygones
I told you im blessed my guy
I replaced that X with an I
That's why they call me an icon
Bloods thicker than-
Friends come and go most ain't lifelong
And the ones that are become family
And that's my family aside from he usual suspects
Can't take no more funerals
You see the suit but death ain't a suitable subject
So much to live for outside my musical success
Unconditional love
That get through anything miracle love
That nothing can't top this pinnacle love
That spiritual love, that's that original love
Our family
Proud family, from my granny to my children
Mum you raised a real one
My nephew coming soon
Got a cousin I ain't spoken to in years
And I still got love for you, proud
Proud family
Proud family, from my granny to my children
Mum you raised a real one
My nephew coming soon
Got a cousin I ain't spoken to in years
And I still got love for you, yeah
My son's one and my daughter's eight
In all that time I ain't caught a case
Long time I ain't been active
I just been milking this rap shit
I don't know nothing bout corn and flake
If I let something slide
You ain't worth the twenty-five
That's for my son and my daughter's sake
I come from where our father figures
Are the hardest niggas, shotters, robbers
Heartless killers
This can't be the image but that's only half of the picture
Mum let her boys get away with murder
But she was hard on my sister
Pardon my history
Family affair they all part of my victory
I am no fatherless infant
But I was brought up with my auntie's assistance
And even though I don't live where I grew up I still cant keep my distance
How can I let my kids only ever say father at Christmas?
I got kids relying on me, I can't keep the iron on me
Babe can sleep on Ghetts but please stop lying on me
My babymum is a keeper I just do what she requires of me
The last time me and Jess spoke I said don't go dying on me
Unconditional love
That get through anything miracle love
That nothing cant top this pinnacle love
That spiritual love
That's that original love
Our family
Proud family, from my granny to my children
Mum you raised a real one
My nephew coming soon
Got a cousin I ain't spoken to in years
And I still got love for you, proud
Proud family
Proud family, from my granny to my children
Mum you raised a real one
My nephew coming soon
Got a cousin I ain't spoken to in years
And I still got love for you, yeah
Our family
Proud family, from my granny to my children
Mum you raised a real one
My nephew coming soon
Got a cousin I ain't spoken to in years
And I still got love for you, yeah
Proud family
proud family, from my granny to my children
Mum you raised a real one
My nephew coming soon
Got a cousin I ain't spoken to in years
And I still got love for you
In the song "Proud Family" by Ghetts, the lyrics delve into the importance and strength of family bonds amidst challenging circumstances. The opening lines highlight a father's absence and the singer's incarceration, yet the mother remains a resilient force in keeping the family together, even facing financial hardships. The mention of running out of electricity and resorting to candlelight emphasizes the struggles they have faced and their ability to adapt and survive. The lyrics also touch upon the cyclical nature of their lives, with the singer acknowledging the wisdom of his grandmother and the worries of the mothers in their community.
As the song continues, Ghetts reflects on his own personal growth and the responsibility he feels to set a positive example for his younger cousin, who reminds him of his own past self. He aims to demonstrate what he has become and how he has overcome challenges. The mention of replacing the "X" in "blessed" with an "I" indicates his individual growth and achievements, reinforcing his status as an icon. Ghetts also emphasizes the significance of familial relationships over friendships, recognizing that the bond with family members, whether traditional or not, is stronger and more enduring.
Overall, "Proud Family" is a heartfelt tribute to family, expressing gratitude for the unconditional love, resilience, and support that has propelled the singer forward in life.
Line by Line Meaning
Family ties
The bonds and connections within a family
Family of five
A family consisting of five members
Dad left I went jail
My father left and I ended up in prison
Mum kept the family alive
My mother took care of the family and kept us going
Just her and the twins
My mother and my twin siblings
Money so low she had to cancel the sky
We were so financially strapped that we had to cancel our television subscription
Late night running out of elec-ky
At night, we often ran out of electricity supply
What you know about candle for light?
Do you know what it's like to use candles for light?
All I know is survival
I have learned to survive in difficult circumstances
I learnt that from Karen and life
I learned survival skills from my mother, Karen, and from the experiences of life
Same old cycle
Repeating the same patterns or behaviors
Nanny was right
My grandmother's wisdom and advice were true
I come from where the mothers are worried
I come from a place where mothers are constantly concerned
Sun comes up and they're sons are haven't come in
When the sun rises, their sons still haven't returned home
Can't keep food in my room
I can't keep food hidden in my room
Cah I know if my mum finds that then mum's flush it
Because I know that if my mother finds it, she will throw it away
Now I owe the big man Ps
Now I owe a significant amount of money
And I gotta go country for nothing
And I have to travel to the countryside for no apparent reason
I know the road ting well
I am familiar with the street life and its challenges
I been who I see all these youngers becoming
I have become what I see many young people turning into
I got one little cousin who's just like I was
I have a young cousin who resembles the person I used to be
He's about fourteen now and it's mad
He is around fourteen years old now, and it's unbelievable
Cah I ask myself where the time's gone
Because I wonder where the time has passed
Gotta lead by example
I have to set a good example for others
Show the yute dem what I'm on
Show the young people what I am about
Mic on, let bygones be bygones
When the microphone is on, let go of the past grievances
I told you I'm blessed my guy
I have already mentioned that I am fortunate
I replaced that X with an I
I have replaced the letter 'X' with 'I'
That's why they call me an icon
That's why people refer to me as an icon
Blood's thicker than-
Family bonds are stronger than anything else
Friends come and go most ain't lifelong
Friends often come and go, and most of them are not lifelong
And the ones that are become family
The friends who stay become like family
That's my family aside from the usual suspects
Those are my family members, excluding the expected or usual ones
Can't take no more funerals
I can't bear attending any more funerals
You see the suit but death ain't a suitable subject
You may see me dressed in a suit, but death is not a suitable topic of discussion
So much to live for outside my musical success
I have many reasons to live that go beyond my achievements in music
Unconditional love
Love without any conditions or limitations
That get through anything miracle love
Love that can overcome any obstacle or problem
That nothing can't top this pinnacle love
Love that is the highest point and cannot be surpassed
That spiritual love
Love that is deeply connected to one's spirit or soul
That's that original love
That's the love that is authentic and genuine
Our family
The unity and bond within our family
Proud family, from my granny to my children
I am proud of my family, from my grandmother to my own children
Mum you raised a real one
Mother, you raised me to be authentic and true
My nephew coming soon
I will soon have a nephew in the family
Got a cousin I ain't spoken to in years
I have a cousin whom I haven't communicated with for a long time
And I still got love for you, proud
And yet, I still have love for you, showing my pride
My son's one and my daughter's eight
My son is one year old, and my daughter is eight years old
In all that time I ain't caught a case
During all that time, I haven't gotten into any legal trouble
Long time I ain't been active
It's been a long time since I've been involved in certain activities
I just been milking this rap shit
I have been focusing on my rap career and profiting from it
I don't know nothing bout corn and flake
I have no knowledge or experience with drugs
If I let something slide
If I ignore or disregard something
You ain't worth the twenty-five
You are not worth the trouble or effort
That's for my son and my daughter's sake
I make decisions based on what is best for my children
I come from where our father figures
I come from a place where the male role models
Are the hardest niggas, shotters, robbers
Are the tough individuals involved in drug dealing and robbery
Heartless killers
People with no compassion or remorse who take lives
This can't be the image but that's only half of the picture
This cannot be the only representation, but it is just part of the reality
Mum let her boys get away with murder
Our mother allowed us, her sons, to get away with anything
But she was hard on my sister
However, she was strict and tough on my sister
Pardon my history
Please excuse or forgive my past experiences and actions
Family affair they all part of my victory
My family is involved and plays a role in my success
I am no fatherless infant
I am not a child without a father
But I was brought up with my auntie's assistance
However, I was raised with the help of my aunt
And even though I don't live where I grew up I still can't keep my distance
Although I don't reside in the same area where I grew up, I still feel connected and can't stay away
How can I let my kids only ever say father at Christmas?
I cannot allow my children to only see their father during Christmas
I got kids relying on me, I can't keep the iron on me
I have children who depend on me, so I can't carry weapons
Babe can sleep on Ghetts but please stop lying on me
My partner can rely on me for support, but I ask them to stop deceiving me
My babymum is a keeper, I just do what she requires of me
I consider my child's mother to be valuable, so I fulfill her needs and requests
The last time me and Jess spoke I said don't go dying on me
During our last conversation, I told Jess not to pass away on me
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: Justin Clarke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@rudebwoy8
“I replaced that x with an I, that’s why they call me an icon” < levels 👏🏾
@chrisoakleyfx
It took a couple listens to catch that 🔥
@rudebwoy8
@@chrisoakleyfx he's on another level man
@OJ_Media
what is this verse supposed to mean? dont get it, beg someone explain
@rudebwoy8
@@OJ_Media So he is saying he used to be an ex-con (x-con), now he's replaced that 'x' with an 'i' to make him an icon... Clock the visuals too, the yoot spells it out on the fridge door.
@OJ_Media
@@rudebwoy8 oh shit! cheers for explaining my g
@artchatec
Ghetts is different. Consistent. Varied. Masterful. Chosen. This is a worldwide conversation of top 10 EVER. That's a real conversation. Salute to the legend
@ungayomagoomba1203
He's number 1 for me
@mensclothingclub5029
I agree.
@L-TOXIC
Big facts