This track and “The Message” by Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five describe the despair of the ghetto like no other.
Where I'm From
Jay-Z Lyrics
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Ye-ye-yeah, ye-ye-yeah (Brooklyn)
How real is this, how real is this (Brooklyn)
Uh-huh huh (Brooklyn)
Respect this here, check
I'm from where the hammer's rung, news cameras never come
You and your mans hung in every verse in your rhyme
Where the blue vans would come, we throw the work in the can and run
Where the plans was to get funds and skate off the set
To achieve this goal quicker, sold all my weight wet
Faced with immeasurable odds still I get straight bets
So I felt I'm owed something and you nothing, check
I'm from the other side where other guys don't walk too much
And girls in the projects wouldn't fuck us, said we talked too much
So they ran up to Tompkins and sought them dudes to trust
I don't know what the fuck they thought, them niggas is foul just like us
I'm from where the beef is inevitable, summertime's unforgettable
Boosters in abundance, buy a half-price sweater new
Your world was everything, so everything you said you'd do
You did it, couldn't talk about it if you ain't live it
I'm from where niggas pull your card, and argue all day about
Who's the best MC's, Biggie, Jay-Z, and Nas?
Where the drugs czars evolve, and thugs are at odds
At each other's throats for the love of foreign cars
Where cats catch cases, hoping the judge R and R's
But most times find themselves locked up behind bars, is that all?
I'm from where they ball and breed rhyme stars
I'm from Marcy son, just thought I'd remind y'all
Cough up a lung, where I'm from, Marcy son, ain't nothing nice
(Mentally been many places but I'm Brooklyn's own)
Cough up a lung, where I'm from, Marcy son, ain't nothing nice
(Mentally been many places but I'm Brooklyn's own)
Cough up a lung, where I'm from, Marcy son, ain't nothing nice
(Mentally been many places but I'm Brooklyn's own)
Cough up a lung, where I'm from, Marcy son, ain't nothing nice
(Brooklyn, so where you from?)
I'm from the place where the church is the flakiest
And niggas been praying to God so long that they Atheist
Where you can't put your vest away and say you'll wear it tomorrow
'Cause the day after we'll be saying, damn I was just with him yesterday
I'm a block away from hell, not enough shots away from straight shells
An ounce away from a triple beam, still using a hand-held weight scale
You're laughing, you know the place well
Where the liquor stores and the base dwell
And government, fuck government, niggas politic theyselves
Where we call the cops the A-Team
'Cause they hop out of vans and spray things
And life expectancy so low we making our wills at eightteen
Where how you get rid of guys who step out of line, your rep solidifies
So tell me when I rap you think I give a fuck who criticize?
If the shit is lies, God strike me
And I got a question, are you forgiving guys who live just like me?
We'll never know
One day I pray to you and said if I ever blow, I'd let 'em know
The stakes, and exactly what takes place in the ghetto
Promise fulfilled, still I feel my job ain't done
Cough up a lung, where I'm from, Marcy son, ain't nothing nice
Cough up a lung, where I'm from, Marcy son, ain't nothing nice
(Mentally been many places but I'm Brooklyn's own)
Cough up a lung, where I'm from, Marcy son, ain't nothing nice
(Mentally been many places but I'm Brooklyn's own)
Cough up a lung, where I'm from, Marcy son, ain't nothing nice
(Mentally been many places but I'm Brooklyn's own)
Cough up a lung, where I'm from, Marcy son, ain't nothing nice
(Brooklyn, so where you from?)
Check, I'm from where they cross-over and clap boards
Lost Jehovah in place of rap lords, listen
I'm up the block, 'round the corner, and down the street
From where the pimps, prostitutes, and the drug lords meet
We make a million off of beats, 'cause our stories is deep
And fuck tomorrow, as long as the night before was sweet
Niggas get lost for weeks in the streets, twisted off leak
And no matter the weather, niggas know how to draw heat
Whether your four-feet or Manute size, it always starts out with
Three dice and shoot the five
Niggas thought they deuce was live, then I hit 'em with trips
And I reached down for their money, pa forget about this
This time around it's platinum, like the shit on my wrist
And this Glock on my waist, y'all can't do shit about this
Niggas will show you love, rhat's how they fool thugs
Before you know it your lying in a pool of blood
Cough up a lung, where I'm from, Marcy son, ain't nothing nice
(Mentally been many places but I'm Brooklyn's own)
Cough up a lung, where I'm from, Marcy son, ain't nothing nice
(Mentally been many places but I'm Brooklyn's own)
Cough up a lung, where I'm from, Marcy son, ain't nothing nice
(Mentally been many places but I'm Brooklyn's own)
Cough up a lung, where I'm from, Marcy son, ain't nothing nice
(Brooklyn)
The song "Where I'm From" by Jay-Z is a vivid portrayal of life in Marcy Projects, Brooklyn, where the rapper grew up. The song opens with the lines "I'm from where the hammer's rung, news cameras never come" - setting the tone for the grittiness and realism that characterizes the track. Jay-Z vividly describes the struggles and tragedies of life in his neighborhood, ranging from drug dealing ("where the grams was slung"), gang violence ("where the beef is inevitable"), poverty ("where you can't put your vest away and say you'll wear it tomorrow") and police brutality ("we call the cops the A-Team 'Cause they hop out of vans and spray things"). Despite the challenges, Jay-Z is proud of his upbringing and resilience, emphasizing that he is "Brooklyn's own."
The song also touches on Jay-Z's personal journey to success. He talks about his early struggles as a drug dealer and his desire to escape his circumstances. He raps about the sacrifices he had to make, such as selling drugs in order to fund his music career, and the constant pressure to succeed in the highly competitive world of hip hop. Jay-Z emphasizes that his success has not dulled his connection to his roots - even as a wealthy and highly respected artist, he still identifies strongly with his community and feels a responsibility to give back.
Overall, "Where I'm From" is a powerful and introspective track that showcases Jay-Z's lyrical prowess and ability to capture the complexity of life in his neighborhood. Through his storytelling, the listener gains a greater understanding of the hardships and triumphs of growing up in Marcy Projects.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm from where the hammer's rung, news cameras never come
I'm from a dangerous place where gun violence is common and media doesn't cover it.
You and your mans hung in every verse in your rhyme
You rap about a lifestyle you don't truly understand or live.
Where the grams was slung, niggas vanish every summer
Drugs were sold and people disappeared during the summer months.
Where the blue vans would come, we throw the work in the can and run
Police would come, so we threw drugs in the trash and ran.
Where the plans was to get funds and skate off the set
We wanted to make money and leave the area quickly.
To achieve this goal quicker, sold all my weight wet
To make more profit, I sold drugs while they were still wet.
I'm from the other side where other guys don't walk too much
I'm from the dangerous side of town where people don't walk around much for their own safety.
And girls in the projects wouldn't fuck us, said we talked too much
Girls in the low-income housing wouldn't have sex with us because they knew we spread rumors.
Where the beef is inevitable, summertime's unforgettable
Violence is inevitable and particularly rampant during summer months.
Where cats catch cases, hoping the judge R and R's
Criminals commit crimes and hope to receive lenient treatment from the judge.
But most times find themselves locked up behind bars, is that all?
However, they end up in prison most of the time anyway.
I'm from where they ball and breed rhyme stars
I'm from a place that produces successful basketball players and rappers.
I'm from Marcy son, just thought I'd remind y'all
I am from a neighborhood called Marcy and want to remind you of the harsh realities of living there.
Cough up a lung, where I'm from, Marcy son, ain't nothing nice
Living in Marcy is difficult and harmful to one's health.
I'm from the place where the church is the flakiest
Even the church cannot escape corruption and hypocrisy in my neighborhood.
Where you can't put your vest away and say you'll wear it tomorrow
It's dangerous to assume you will be safe tomorrow and not need bulletproof protection.
'Cause the day after we'll be saying, damn I was just with him yesterday
People die suddenly and unexpectedly.
I'm a block away from hell, not enough shots away from straight shells
I live close to danger and gun violence could easily affect me.
Where we call the cops the A-Team
Police are seen as dangerous and violent, similar to the television show The A-Team.
Where how you get rid of guys who step out of line, your rep solidifies
If you successfully handle people who disrespect you, your status in the neighborhood increases.
So tell me when I rap you think I give a fuck who criticize?
I don't care about criticism because I come from a place where survival is the top priority.
Where the liquor stores and the base dwell
Liquor stores and drug dealers are prevalent in my area.
We make a million off of beats, 'cause our stories is deep
Despite the struggles we face, music allows us to make money and share our experiences.
And fuck tomorrow, as long as the night before was sweet
We prioritize living in the moment and enjoying our daily victories.
Niggas get lost for weeks in the streets, twisted off leak
People often disappear for extended periods of time due to drug addiction.
And no matter the weather, niggas know how to draw heat
Regardless of the conditions, people in my neighborhood always know how to use guns.
Niggas thought they deuce was live, then I hit 'em with trips
People thought their card hand was winning until I showed them my better cards.
And this Glock on my waist, y'all can't do shit about this
I carry a gun for protection and no one can stop me from doing so.
Niggas will show you love, that's how they fool thugs
People show fake love in order to manipulate others.
Before you know it your lying in a pool of blood
This manipulation can quickly turn violent and deadly.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Norman Whitfield, Ronald Anthony Lawrence, Deric Angelettie, Shawn Carter
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind