Ghetto Story
Lupe Fiasco Lyrics

Seein' with my ghetto eyes
I see the world around me through the lens of living in the ghetto.

I walkeded with my ghetto feet
I travel through life with the experiences of living in a ghetto environment.

I talkeded with my ghetto speech
I communicate using the language and slang of the ghetto culture.

I'm copasetic, I won't let it bring me down
I am calm and composed despite the challenges that come from living in the ghetto.

As I peep from beneath the titled brim of my pinwheel
I look around my surroundings with the brim of my hat tilted, trying to avoid drawing attention to myself.

Steady mobbin', heavy problems
I'm always on the move, dealing with a lot of serious issues.

Genocide resynthesize to violence, makes it hard to sympathize
The violence in our community has become so prevalent that it's difficult to feel compassion for the people and their situations.

Harden, individuals whose feelings is miniscule
People in the ghetto have to toughen up and suppress their emotions to survive.

Soon become criminals if you dark-skinned
The system criminalizes people in the ghetto, particularly those with darker skin.

And you was raised in a project apartment
Growing up in a low-income housing project is a common experience for many people in the ghetto.

Public Aid made it that your father couldn't stay
Welfare policies often require a single-parent household, causing fathers to leave their families in order to receive government assistance.

He will soon cling to hustlers, as his guardians
In the absence of traditional family structures, young people in the ghetto often turn to drug dealers and other unsavory characters for guidance.

He still a boy, needs to fill a void, marchin' up the block up to no good, sellin' in the wrong hood
Young boys in the ghetto turn to illegal activities to fill the void of a father figure and make money to help their families, but this often puts them in dangerous situations in the wrong parts of town.

He was taken down by a marksmen
Young people in the ghetto face the constant threat of violence from gangs, police, and other shooters.

Don't let the habitation get ya
The singer's final words before death express a hope that others won't be trapped or defeated by their environment.

Got the harbinger for the coming of the carpenter
The artist feels like he's been marked for death, and is referencing a religious metaphor that suggests that the end is near.

Til then, I got some big fish to fry like Marlins
The artist has important things to do in the time he has left, like taking care of unfinished business or seeking revenge.

I've got some questions to ask, and I'm waitin' on some answers Like, Why do the good die young? Why ain't there no cure for cancer?
The singer is questioning the injustice and suffering he sees in his community and society at large.

Won't let the streets dictate my glory Cuz it's something out there for me
The singer refuses to let his environment or circumstances limit his potential for success and happiness.

And I try to see past it Through the down-roll window on the driver side of my Caprice Classic Steady mobbin', corner store traffic i.e. dope fiends, hookers and teens with alcohol IVs
Despite the problems around him, the artist is trying to remain positive and focused while driving through the neighborhood.

My big brother's Pelle Pel' lingers of a fargone weed smoke Lookin' for greener pastures, pasturized 2% for $2.19 You can get 2 quarts, there's also a sale on Newports
The artist is reflecting on his older brother who used to smoke weed and dream of a better life; he's also observing the price of milk and cigarettes, which are unaffordable for many in his community.

Shorties consider a meal, been my feel for it Sweatin' for a pair of Air Jordans they would steal for And a gold chain 4 fiends would knife, wild and kill yours
Kids in the ghetto often go hungry, which makes getting new sneakers or gold chains an even bigger priority and status symbol. This can lead to violence and theft.

There's nothing too promising on our billboards Drink Tanqueray, eat KFC, come abort your child Buy Nikes, which makes it highly unlikely that we gon' fight, G
Advertising and media in the ghetto reinforces unhealthy habits and consumerism, creating a cycle of poverty and oppression.

And I'm still on As I stroll down the same street so many like me once before, were killed on Steady mobbin', thinkin' bout the Black Panthers
Despite the risks, the artist continues to walk the same streets where he's seen so much violence and death. He's also reflecting on the history of Black empowerment and activism, like the Black Panther Party.

And the babies that were born in the late '80s That now have babies that lack Pampers No Kwaanzas and they lack Santas And the father who thinks shoe-shopping is the answer Skipped out on parenthood classes so she don't know how to handle her And never learned from her grandmother
The singer is observing the cycle of poverty and disempowerment in families, where parents have children too young and struggle to provide basic needs like diapers and holiday traditions, meanwhile fathers are uninvolved and mothers lack support and education from older family members.

Album of Life, now condensed into a sampler See the shapes these little girls is gettin'? Somethin' say the steroids in the chicken is the cause of the thickening in the young women
The singer is reflecting on how life in the ghetto is like an album with a variety of tracks or stories. He's also noticing how young girls in the community are growing up too fast and developing too soon; he attributes this to the chemicals in fast food like chicken.

Bittersweet thoughts is what I had for them I can picture colder feelin' Police chasin' after them Catchin' up to, friskin' and askin' them Where the packs at? Who yo' cheif is? Where the straps at?
The singer has mixed emotions about the young people he sees playing outside; he can't help but feel worried about their future. He also knows that the police are watching these kids and are suspicious of their activities.

Am I thinking too hard? Or perhaps that's reality In a project mentality, but through it all I hope we learn more than how to be whores and how to move a ball Just a ghetto story, just a ghetto story
The artist is questioning whether his observations are overly negative or simply an accurate reflection of life in the ghetto. He hopes that despite everything, people in his community will learn more than simply how to survive by sexual exploitation or sports.