Money in the Ghetto
Too $hort Lyrics

In the ghetto
Living in the lower income neighborhoods can be difficult and challenging.

You think life is hard
Living in the ghetto can be a tough life.

Food stamps and to' up cars
Those in the ghetto may need government help for food and have unreliable transportation.

Wall to wall dirty on carpet
Living conditions in the ghetto can be dirty and unkempt.

Sit in a bucket hopin' you can start it
People in the ghetto may have to drive unreliable cars and hope they start.

And ride around to the liquor store
Driving around to the liquor store may be one of the few options for entertainment in the ghetto.

Can't get a job get drunk some more
Without job opportunities, people in the ghetto may turn to alcohol for solace.

You better stop trippin' on them stereotypes
People who stereotype the ghetto should stop and reconsider their assumptions.

Cause in the ghetto there's a good life
Despite preconceived notions, good things can still happen in the ghetto.

We ain't starvin' like Marvin and won't see no roach
Living conditions and access to food are not as dire as they might be portrayed in the media.

When ya chill wit the rich folks in the hood
Even in the ghetto, there are wealthy residents.

Ya sittin' on leather watchin' big screens
Some people in the ghetto may have impressive possessions such as a leather couch and a large TV.

Bought by the dope fiends
Drug dealers may have the financial resources to purchase flashy items for themselves.

Smokin', and what about the brother wit the good jobs
Some people in the ghetto work hard to hold down good jobs and provide for their families.

Save money and workin' hard
Maintaining a good job and saving money is a priority for some people in the ghetto.

Bought a house for his wife and kids
Some people in the ghetto prioritize homeownership to provide a secure environment for their family.

Ya only got one life to live
The limited time anyone has is a mantra to live life to the fullest.

I know a brother that got some cocaine
Drug use is prevalent in the ghetto.

Ya know his face but don't know his name
People may know of drug dealers by sight, but not by name.

Ya know he got the sack man
The drug dealer has a bag of drugs for sale.

And he's sittin' on a phat bank
Drug dealers can make a lot of money and become quite wealthy.

Sellin' cars at his house in the driveway
Some drug dealers even use their earnings to start a legitimate business, selling cars in this case.

Being so clean don't roll it just fly away
Drug dealers may not want to draw unwanted attention to themselves by driving flashy cars.

Cause folks got money in the ghetto
There are wealthy people in the ghetto area.

Yea you know
This is a well-known fact.

[Chorus]
Reiterating that there is indeed money in the ghetto.

Money in the ghetto ain't nothin' new
Living with money in the ghetto has been a reality for many years.

It's been like that way before you
Living conditions and economic realities in the ghetto existed before people were born.

Was even born get up from the down stroke
Despite the difficult starting position, people can still rise from difficult beginnings.

Chocolate City for the black folks
The ghetto has been referred to as Chocolate City, typically populated by Black Americans.

Say it loud in ya hot pants
Activist James Brown encouraged Black empowerment and equality through his music.

Man child in the promise land
Referencing a 1968 book where James Brown interviews African American leaders to learn what needs to be done to achieve equality in the US.

I take ya back to iceberg's land
Reference to the innovative rapper and rapper Iceberg Slim who represented the hardships of ghetto life in his writing.

And all the players that came before him
Acknowledging other artists who have spoken out and represented the ghetto in their work.

If you a everyday hustler, get cha money
Encouraging those who hustle everyday to continue making money through whatever means they can.

Cause what they do to black man ain't funny
Discrimination, bias, and violence against Black Americans is no laughing matter.

All the time tryin' to put us the pen
Police will often try to arrest and incarcerate Black Americans at a higher rate than other demographics, making prison a likely possibility.

You get parole and then they send ya again
Repeating the cycle of oppression and incarceration is a common problem for Black Americans in the legal system.

All the homies in the hood gettin' paid
Despite difficult circumstances, some people in the ghetto are able to make a decent living.

You might have left but the money stayed
Even if someone leaves the ghetto, their money stays behind.

In the ghetto it ain't all bout drugs
Money can be made in the ghetto through various means other than selling drugs.

Gettin' paid doin' all kinds of stuff
People in the ghetto will often find jobs or start their own businesses to make money.

Only rule on the street is don't get caught
Finding success in the ghetto is often accompanied by risks and the potential of getting caught by law enforcement.

Unless ya hustle ain't breakin' the law
To make a living in the ghetto, one may have to find legal work and make money in safer ways.

And even though rich folks got it good
The wealthy in the ghetto are still wealthy compared to those who are not as fortunate.

We're sittin' on it phat in the hood
Those living in the ghetto may still enjoy material possessions and live comfortably.

I'm ridin' them gold ones
Referring to rims on a car, indicating that some people in the ghetto still have access to luxurious items.

Smokin' dank and it's potent
Marijuana use is common in the ghetto, and some dealers even have access to high-quality strains.

Ask them fools cause they know
Others living in the ghetto can attest to the fact that there is money to be made there.

I got money baby just tell me the price
Short Dawg has enough money to buy what he wants.

Cause Short Dawg ain't nothin' nice
Short Dawg is a troublemaker and doesn't care what others think of him.

I always hit the town wit my boy Ben Franklin
Referring to the American hundred dollar bill.

Spend fo get an ounce a dank then
Buying marijuana in bulk at $400 an ounce.

Rich nigga get high relaxin'
Wealthy people in the ghetto can afford to relax and enjoy life.

And if I bust a Ben Frank get some Andrew Jackson's
If Short Dawg spends a hundred dollar bill, he will get fifty dollar bills in return.

Five twenties for a hundred dollar bill
Referring to exchanging hundred dollar bills for five twenty dollar bills.

You know the math lets make deal
Negotiating and making deals is a way of life in the ghetto.

On a one dollar bill if ya look on the front
Looking on the front of the one dollar bill reveals which president is on the front.

Ya find the face of George Washington
George Washington is the president depicted on the front of the one dollar bill.

Make money baby that's all I do
Short Dawg values making money above all else.

That's how I know Thomas Jefferson is on the two
Thomas Jefferson is the president depicted on the two dollar bill.

Abraham Lincoln got shot and died
Referencing Lincoln's assassination.

Freed the slaves so they put him on the five
Lincoln is the president depicted on the front of the five dollar bill.

And how much in my old time friend
Short Dawg is asking how much money is a friend worth.

They put his face on the front of the ten
Alexander Hamilton is the president depicted on the front of the ten dollar bill.

They are the dead presidents
Referring to how all the presidents depicted on U.S. currency are deceased.

From the hood and they represent
Many people in the ghetto aspire to make money like the deceased presidents.

The american dream for the average minority
Acquiring wealth is often seen as a representation of the American Dream for minorities living in the ghetto.

Make some money get some weed and a forty
A common aspiration in the ghetto is to make enough money to buy marijuana and a forty ounce drink.

I'm on the east side livin' like a king
Short Dawg lives on the east side of the ghetto and enjoys a comfortable lifestyle.

Kick back watch a fifty inch screens
Short Dawg watches TV on a large fifty inch screen.

Bounce to the west and hit studio
Short Dawg travels to the west side of the ghetto to record music.

And spend my money in the ghetto
Short Dawg is invested in the ghetto and wants to help businesses thrive there.

[Chorus]
Reiterating that there is indeed money to be made in the ghetto.