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!”
Redemption
Ghetts Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But ya boy missed, never had a good game
And if I wasn't metaphorically speaking
Chances are I could all blame a foot sprain
Fuck an excuse though, I'm still the numero uno
You know, Mayweather for these Chris Eubanks and Brunos
New spitters ain't better, but nowadays just being new is a loophole
When it comes to words, I've got a masters in Scrabble
Plus the new flow, nouveaux
Crystal clear, and I'm a boss like you know
What's the name again? Hugo
Had a little mainstream light this year
Still I'm underground, I'm getting tube home
People looking at me like say man a terrorist
Cuh this kind of beard could snap a fine toothcomb
My, I be [?] Rudolph
I just might reindeer on a few folks
Tell a nigga lay there, don't move, no
Freestyling on the pavement
Trade pound for the Pagans
Bitch slaps, gift wrap
Kidnapped, tryna break out of the basement
They're saying that you got a chain round without a blade in
I find all of you fake clowns entertaining
Your mothers ain't proud of you wastemen
Big man bruddas ain't loud when I face em
I contact
I like combat
Who's been sipping the badman juice?
I know a few niggas who've died from that
Haters, man are doing well
And I'm hearing everything besides congrats
They don't wanna see a nigga like me
Getting this money and sign contracts
Fuck it, I've already got a metaphor like this
But I'm killing this mic, I'm like Conrad
Tell that girl "bill a spliff for me"
And tell my man "pass the Cognac"
Celebration
Hard work pays off
I define dedication
Look at my CV
Check my reputation
I'm probably overreacting
But today was devastating
Now I've gotta come back harder
It's all about elevation
How you mean, ease up?
(Blud, are you mad?)
How you think Wiley survived for generations?
Perseverance
Preparation
There's only a few that are bust
Who are still penetrating
The rappers rap but the MCs MC
The one everybody rates but they never say it in public
Fuck it, my nigga, it ain't nothing
Everybody in the industry pushing the same button
Overlooking Ghetto, looking for something that ain't coming
Hammering the only MC that they ain't touching
Niggas doubted and doubted and now they wanna eat with me but
I ain't even putting my food in the same oven
Everybody knows J's stubborn
Sam Cooke said that a change soon come
Sorry Sam, I can't see a change coming
Game in the game, gunning anybody in my way
You see the way I got anybody in my way running?
Moment of silence for that flow, you know
That's enough, no delay, burning
Every time I squeeze, I hit the target like I'm meant to
All I heard was "holy shit, he's bleeding from his temple"
I don't wanna roll with this but nigga, it's essential
He came out the pen, I filled his head full of pencil
Mental
Not every day 110%, you know
Sometimes 80, 75
Realise you're human
Come back and give it to them
In Ghetts's song 'Redemption', he begins by acknowledging that his day did not go as planned because he did not perform well in a game, but he refuses to make excuses because he is still the best. Ghetts then boasts about his skills in wordplay, comparing himself to a master at Scrabble and stating that new rappers may have loopholes, but he is still superior. He also speaks about his personal appearance, with his unique beard causing people to associate him with terrorism, and he likens himself to Rudolph the reindeer, ready to attack those who underestimate him. Despite his success, Ghetts acknowledges that not everyone is happy for him and that he faces constant doubt and criticism. He urges perseverance and dedication, recognizing that not every day will be perfect, but it's essential to keep pushing.
Line by Line Meaning
Today should've been a good day
The day was expected to be good
But ya boy missed, never had a good game
Personal failure and disappointment occurred
And if I wasn't metaphorically speaking
Acknowledgment that the previous lines were metaphorical
Chances are I could all blame a foot sprain
Looking for excuses to blame for the failure
Fuck an excuse though, I'm still the numero uno
Rejecting the idea of using excuses and reaffirming personal greatness
You know, Mayweather for these Chris Eubanks and Brunos
Comparing oneself to successful fighters in the boxing world
New spitters ain't better, but nowadays just being new is a loophole
Observation that being new to the industry can often be more valued than actual skill
When it comes to words, I've got a masters in Scrabble
Claiming superiority in the use of language and wordplay
It's like Columbo playing Cluedo
Using a reference to a detective show to describe one's cleverness
Plus the new flow, nouveaux
Praising one's new style and freshness
Crystal clear, and I'm a boss like you know
Confidently proclaiming one's leadership and clarity
What's the name again? Hugo
Referencing the designer brand Hugo Boss, and making a pun on one's own name
Had a little mainstream light this year
Achieving some success in the mainstream music scene
Still I'm underground, I'm getting tube home
Acknowledging a continued lack of mainstream success and reliance on public transportation
People looking at me like say man a terrorist
Commenting on societal stereotypes regarding appearance and race
Cuh this kind of beard could snap a fine toothcomb
Using a metaphor to describe the thickness and coarseness of one's beard
My, I be [?] Rudolph
Making a possibly obscure reference to the character Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer
I just might reindeer on a few folks
Playing with the previous reference, and hinting at potential violence
Tell a nigga lay there, don't move, no
Describing a scenario of controlling someone
Freestyling on the pavement
Rapping spontaneously in public
Trade pound for the Pagans
Possibly referring to drug trade with rival gang members
Bitch slaps, gift wrap
Describing violent actions
Kidnapped, tryna break out of the basement
Describing a scenario of being held captive and fighting to escape
They're saying that you got a chain round without a blade in
Mocking the danger presented by one's supposed weapon
I find all of you fake clowns entertaining
Seeing humor in the immaturity and inauthenticity of others
Your mothers ain't proud of you wastemen
Insulting one's upbringing and character
Big man bruddas ain't loud when I face em
Asserting dominance over intimidating individuals
I contact
Showing direct eye contact and confidence
I like combat
Expressing enjoyment in fighting
Who's been sipping the badman juice?
Questioning others' ability to be tough
I know a few niggas who've died from that
Warning of the danger and consequences of violent behavior
Haters, man are doing well
Noticing the success of others despite negativity and criticism
And I'm hearing everything besides congrats
Hearing mostly negative opinions and not receiving congratulations
They don't wanna see a nigga like me
Perceiving others' dislike or jealousy due to race and personal success
Getting this money and sign contracts
Describing the achievement of financial success for oneself
Fuck it, I've already got a metaphor like this
Expressing frustration at having used a similar idea in the past
But I'm killing this mic, I'm like Conrad
Finding success in performing and showcasing one's skills
Tell that girl "bill a spliff for me"
Asking someone to roll a marijuana cigarette
And tell my man "pass the Cognac"
Asking someone to pour a brandy drink
Celebration
Acknowledgement and enjoyment of success
Hard work pays off
Recognizing the value and impact of effort and dedication
I define dedication
Asserting one's personal commitment and hard work
Look at my CV
Referencing one's accomplishments and experiences
Check my reputation
Referencing others' perceived opinions and beliefs about oneself
I'm probably overreacting
Acknowledging one's exaggeration and possible overreaction to recent events
But today was devastating
Describing one's strong emotional reaction to disappointment
Now I've gotta come back harder
Determined to work even harder to achieve success
It's all about elevation
Focusing on achieving greater personal success and growth
How you mean, ease up?
Expressing surprise and defiance when told to relax
(Blud, are you mad?)
Colloquial response to the previous question
How you think Wiley survived for generations?
Referencing influential grime artist Wiley, and implying that personal tenacity and perseverance are necessary for success
Perseverance
Continuing to work hard despite challenges and obstacles
Preparation
Putting in effort and training to improve oneself
There's only a few that are bust
Acknowledging a limited number of successful individuals
Who are still penetrating
Implying continued relevance despite evolving industry trends
The rappers rap but the MCs MC
Differentiating between rappers and true MCs, who possess greater lyrical skill and authenticity
The one everybody rates but they never say it in public
Being well-respected by many, but not receiving open recognition or praise
Fuck it, my nigga, it ain't nothing
Disregarding the lack of public praise and continuing to work hard
Everybody in the industry pushing the same button
Noting the lack of originality and creativity in the music industry
Overlooking Ghetto, looking for something that ain't coming
Feeling ignored or undervalued in the industry despite possessing unique talent
Hammering the only MC that they ain't touching
Being targeted by critics despite being different and exceptional
Niggas doubted and doubted and now they wanna eat with me but
Being rejected and unappreciated by others who now want to associate with one's success
I ain't even putting my food in the same oven
Refusing to share in others' success, instead focusing on personal growth
Everybody knows J's stubborn
Acknowledging one's reputation for being stubborn
Sam Cooke said that a change soon come
Referencing a song by Sam Cooke that describes a hope for societal change
Sorry Sam, I can't see a change coming
Feeling pessimistic about any real, lasting change occurring
Game in the game, gunning anybody in my way
Being fiercely competitive and focused on personal success
You see the way I got anybody in my way running?
Describing others' fear and avoidance when coming up against one's talent and drive
Moment of silence for that flow, you know
Paying respect to one's own impressive lyrical ability
That's enough, no delay, burning
Confidently and swiftly moving onto the next verse
Every time I squeeze, I hit the target like I'm meant to
Describing one's accuracy and success in one's craft
All I heard was "holy shit, he's bleeding from his temple"
Implying immense skill and control over one's ability to harm others
I don't wanna roll with this but nigga, it's essential
Acknowledging the undesirable yet necessary nature of violence in one's situation
He came out the pen, I filled his head full of pencil
Possibly describing mentoring someone who has just been released from prison
Mental
A final declaration of one's state of mind and attitude
Not every day 110%, you know
Recognizing that personal success and motivation isn't always at its maximum
Sometimes 80, 75
Accepting a lower level of effort and achievement at times
Realise you're human
Understanding one's own limitations and imperfections
Come back and give it to them
Returning with stronger effort and dedication to one's craft
Writer(s): Ghetts
Contributed by Tyler K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.