Mase and D-Block (then known as "The L.O.X.") joined Bad Boy just as a widely publicized rivalry with the West Coast's Death Row Records was beginning. Combs and The Notorious B.I.G. were criticized and parodied by Tupac Shakur and Suge Knight in songs and interviews during the mid-1990s. During 1994–1995, he also helped produce songs for TLC's CrazySexyCool, which was the decade's best-selling R&B album. Songs he helped produced include "If I Was Your Girlfriend" and "Can I Get A Witness"
Child of the ghetto
P. Diddy & The Bad Boy Family Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yo, yeah, yo
Uhh, uhh, yeah, yo
Uhh, uhh, yeah, yo
Uhh, uhh, G. Dep!
[G. Dep]
Livin the scripture the picture they painted for me
Rippin it runnin and gunnin and aimin for me
Yo.. (yeah, uhh, yeah)
I guess you niggaz told me right and exact
Shak, shak, right in his back
I might just crack while I'm writin this rap
From even, a tire that snap, I'm light in the sack
I tell you how I feel and that's part of the deal
I'm like, Seagal with the steel but "Harder to Kill"
It's real, big Beans up for lettin me know
Fifteen bet and you blow, better get dough
Won't be a second we won't; they lettin me go
Since pays wisen your ways, allow me to grow
Aiyyo (yo) swing yeah back to the scene
Seven-four-eight-oh, can't recall in between
Whole state pulsate, we can wrinkle the town
Park jams dark shams niggaz breakin it down
Niggaz rock the heaters, my clique rocked Adidas
Didn't know the blocks were where the spots would lead us
But hey..
[Chorus]
A child of the ghetto, nobody explain it to me
Livin the scripture the picture they painted for me
Knew what it wasn't, it wasn't the game or the greed
Rippin it runnin and gunnin and aimin for me
A child of the ghetto, nobody explain it to me
Livin the scripture the picture they painted for me
Niggaz is gamin they ain't who they claimin to be
Niggaz that know me they told me the game it could be - CRAZY
[G. Dep]
I take you back to the scene of the stunt
Scene of that rhyme and you can think what you want
And if you.. and if you tell me you can get it from here
Got boom got boom, put shit in the air (yeah yeah yeah)
Get us some gear to get us in here
Waited years to get a premier and did it from here
Harlem - citizen where the kid is in gear, guard him
Niggaz in here, who get it in here, we are them
Take you back to the 80's around
Polo Grounds, Uptown, eight-eighty a pound
Niggaz hit the rooftop, y'all was roofin the rocks
Other niggaz shoe tops, only youth on the block
You dig me - movin in tops and movin these rocks
You get it - we movin them blocks to move in them drops
Skiddin - I guess the niggaz told me right and exact
When they said stop fightin and stack it - get the money nigga
[Chorus]
[G. Dep]
Eighty-one I had fun, eight-two I was new
Eight-three I did me, eight-four I had grew
Eighty-five it got live, eight-six in the mix
Eighty-seven in the kicks, eighty-eight in the whips
Eighty-nine I had the grind, now I know it was flow
Ninety-one we got guns, ninety-two it was dough
Nine-three was the key, nine-four was sure
Nine-five took a dive, nine-six I was poor
Nine-seven did eleven now I'm made out the gate
Nine-nine spit rhymes two-thousand and straight..
Shit, I thought I'd give housing a break
Sit back, countin the cake, and lounge in estates, but yo
[Chorus] - 2X {*to fade*}
“Child of the Ghetto” by P. Diddy & The Bad Boy Family featuring G. Dep is a song that narrates the story of growing up in the urban ghetto. G. Dep, who performs the song, reflects on his life growing up in Harlem during the 80s and 90s. He acknowledges that his upbringing was tough and that he was exposed to a lot of violence and drugs, which is reflected in the lyrics, “Livin the scripture the picture they painted for me, rippin it runnin and gunnin and aimin for me.” Despite the circumstances, G. Dep has come to terms with his past, and he credits his upbringing for making him who he is today.
The song also touches on some themes of the hip-hop genre, such as the materialistic mindset, where the artist references making money, gaining fame and success, and being able to afford good things. However, G. Dep knows that things are not always what they seem to be, as he questions the authenticity of people who claim to be who they’re not, which is depicted in the lyrics, “Niggaz is gamin they ain't who they claimin to be.”
Overall, “Child of the Ghetto” is a powerful song that reflects on the realities of growing up in an urban ghetto. It is a testimony to the resilience and the strength that one needs to overcome adversity and make it to the top.
Line by Line Meaning
A child of the ghetto, nobody explain it to me
Born in a disadvantaged community without any guidance or explanation.
Livin the scripture the picture they painted for me
Living the life that was portrayed in their community, as if it were a religious scripture or picture.
Rippin it runnin and gunnin and aimin for me
Engaged in dangerous activities and constantly on the move, with people taking aim at them.
I might just crack while I'm writin this rap
Writing this rap is so intense that it might cause them to break down.
I'm like, Seagal with the steel but "Harder to Kill"
They are as skilled and unstoppable with weapons as Steven Seagal in the movie "Hard to Kill".
Since pays wisen your ways, allow me to grow
Making money and gaining experience has taught them to be smarter, so they should be allowed to grow and develop.
Niggaz rock the heaters, my clique rocked Adidas
People carry guns for protection, while their group wears Adidas sneakers as a status symbol.
Niggaz that know me they told me the game it could be - CRAZY
People who are familiar with the lifestyle warned them that it could be dangerous and unpredictable.
Now I know it was flow...Nine-nine spit rhymes two-thousand and straight
Over the years, they improved their rapping skills and became successful as a rapper by 1999.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Spirit Music Group
Written by: TREVELL COLEMAN, ERIC MATLOCK, DERRICK TROTMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind