Ghetto
The Notorious Big feat. 2 Pac & Akon Lyrics

Ghetto, ghetto, ghetto, ghetto we livin'
We are living in very difficult and impoverished conditions

These streets remind me of quicksand (quicksand)
The environment we are living in is dangerous and unpredictable

When your on it you'll keep goin' down (goin' down)
If you are not careful, it is easy to get sucked into the negativity of the environment

And there's no one to hold on too
There are no supportive or trustworthy figures to help us through these tough times

And there's no one to pull you out
There is no one to help us escape the cycle of poverty and violence

You keep on falling (falling)
The struggle to survive in this environment is ongoing and relentless

And no one can here you calling
No one is listening to our struggles or responding to our cries for help

So you end up self destructing
Without support or assistance, many turn to destructive behaviors to cope with their circumstances

On the corner with the tuli on the waist tight just got outta the bing doin' stay time
The only way to survive in this environment is to resort to violent and criminal activity

Teeth marks on my back from the canine
The police are brutal and violent towards those living in the ghetto

Dark memories of when there was no sunshine
The past is filled with hardship and struggle, with no hope for a better future

Cause they said that I wouldn't make it
Society has low expectations for those living in the ghetto

(I remember like yesterday)
These memories still haunt me today

Holding on to what god gave me
Despite the challenges, I am holding onto hope and faith

No need to cherish luxuries ('cause everythin' come and go)
There is no point in valuing material possessions since they are temporary

Even the life that you have is borrowed
Our time on earth is limited and uncertain

(cause your not promised tomorrow)
We cannot take our lives for granted as our future is uncertain

So live your life as if everyday's gon be your last
We should cherish and make the most of each day, as if it were our last

Once you move forward can't go back
Once you break free from the cycle of poverty and violence, there is no turning back

Best prepare to remove your past
To move forward, we must let go of our past and the negative influences that come with it

Cause ya gotta be willing to pray
Faith and hope are necessary to overcome the struggles of the ghetto

Yea there gotta be (there gotta be) a better way oh
We must believe that a better life is possible and work towards it

Whoever said that this suffering would stop today
The struggles of the ghetto are ongoing and have yet to be resolved

A lot of niggas dead or locked away
Many have been lost to the violence and crime of the ghetto

Teenage women growing up with aids
Even the most vulnerable members of the community are not immune to the struggles of the ghetto

Gun shots every night in the (ghetto)
Violence is a constant and terrifying threat in the ghetto

Crooked cops on sight in the (ghetto)
The police are not a source of safety or protection in the ghetto, but rather a threat

Every day is a fight in the (ghetto)
Surviving in the ghetto is an ongoing battle that requires constant perseverance

(oh oh oh oh oh) (ghetto)
This is the harsh reality of our lives in the ghetto

Got kids to feed in the (ghetto)
Many struggle to provide for their families in the harsh conditions of the ghetto

Selling coke and weed in the (ghetto)
Some resort to selling drugs as a means of survival in the ghetto

Every day somebody bleed in the (ghetto)
The struggles of the ghetto are bloody and painful, leaving many wounded