In The Ghetto
Trae featuring Redd Lil' Boss Russell Lee & Spice 1 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[Hook :x 2]
In the ghetto, I'm living in a ghetto world
In the ghetto (in the ghetto), it's a struggle but I gotta maintain
[Trae]
Welcome to the ghetto, where forever be the same
Hard times, got my people unable to maintain
That'll put you in the grave, for som'ing they never had
Everyday in the hood, it be the same thang
Poverty running my people, so they love pain
And I don't know if it's wrong, but still I know it ain't right
I seen a lot of people die, in the street life
The other day it hit my heart, when I watch the news
A lil' girl got killed, while she was 'sleep in her room
And she ain't deserve to die, cause that's a kid dog
Them niggaz took the life, that she ain't get to live at all
Sometimes I want to help the ghetto, but it ain't gon do a thang
'Cause I know that they ignant, and that's a god damn shame
It's an everyday task, trying to live a good life
Inside of the ghetto, where everybody be shife
[Hook: x 2]
[Yung Redd]
Welcome to the South, niggaz ain't sleep at all
Everybody out on the block, stay ducking them laws
A couple niggaz on parole, hustling by the sto'
I'm telling that ain't the way to go, play your role
But you don't hear me though, this what I'm living fo'
Hustle till I get mine, grind cause I need mo'
Shots release, too late for you to scream peace
This how it is in the street, leaving is obsolete
And still I maintain, seeing the same thang
Sometime I scream, my brain just looking for a change
But day in and day out, I move in and move out
Keep my bidness discrete, I'm on a paper route
I wasn't broke for nothing, still I was learning some'ing
If you ain't been through nothing, then you ain't seen nothing
This how it really is, around my way
Where anybody can get it, anytime of the day
[Lil Boss]
I analyze the block, babies are running round with glocks
Dope in they socks, can't skip hot so fuck the cops
Moving from crumbs to bricks, nigga these slums are thick
I try to tell my lil' niggaz, but they think they slick
These white folks don't play, they gon hot your way
They try to give you twenty years, just for living the wrong way
And who's to say now-a-day, right from wrong
They ain't living how we live, so they can't get in my zone
We get chased home for stones, and laws want to break our bones
In places in and out a high cell, to roam
And that's prolly the reason, we going crazy
Pissed at poverty, cause the system trying to fade me
Lately, I've been trying to stay out of trouble
But it's hard to stop from copping, the sack and flipping the double
Don't catch the wrong route, when you on that Metro
There's a sign in front of the hood, that says Welcome To the Ghetto
[Hook: x 2]
[Spice 1]
I wonder, if heaven got a ghetto
But be -burning down the be -block, I put the petal to the medal
Running with my cousins in Texas, Lil' Cross and Big Money
My nigga Trae and Lil' Joe, nigga all action
In the ghetto, I've been riding through the hood for years
And ain't a damn thang changed, mama still shedding tears
Niggaz fresh out the Penn, some niggaz just going in
Some niggaz gon run and stutter, turning they self in
Never seen a black man, flying dope on a plane
But they lock us up for it, shackle us with chains
Welcome to the ghetto, ghetto starts and mob cars
With bullet holes in it, niggaz shot up and scarred
But still living, driven by the game itself
To stay alive in these cold streets, mashing for wealth
Up in this ghetto, O.G.'s P's and see's
Thugs, pimps, playas hit the 6-4's or 3's
[Hook: x 2]
Yeah, ghetto ghetto life
Of mii-ine, li-li-li-life life (welcome to the ghetto)
The song "In the Ghetto" by Trae featuring Redd Lil' Boss Russell Lee and Spice 1 talks about the harsh realities of living in the ghetto. The song starts with Trae welcoming listeners to the ghetto, where hard times have made it impossible for people to maintain a better lifestyle. Poverty is rampant, and people are doing bad things just to survive. The song talks about how the ghetto is a dangerous place, where innocent people get killed just because they were at the wrong place at the wrong time.
The second verse by Yung Redd highlights the difficult life in the South, where people are constantly on the move trying to evade the cops. They are forced to hustle to get by, and there seems to be no other way out. While they desperately try to move out of the ghetto and make a better life, the system keeps holding them down, making their journey an everyday struggle. Lil Boss talks about the hopelessness of living in the ghetto, where babies run around with guns and drug dealers are more successful than honest hard-working people. The song ends with Spice 1 realizing that the ghetto is a place where nothing changes, and people are driven by the game itself.
Line by Line Meaning
In the ghetto, I'm living in a ghetto world
I live in poverty-stricken areas where it's difficult to survive
In the ghetto (in the ghetto), it's a struggle but I gotta maintain
Though life is hard here, I must keep going and stay positive.
Welcome to the ghetto, where forever be the same
Poor living standards and misery will always be a thing in my town.
Hard times, got my people unable to maintain
The tough financial situations have made it challenging for my people to thrive.
Everytime I look around, it's somebody doing bad
Poverty forces people to engage in desperate measures to support themselves and their families.
That'll put you in the grave, for som'ing they never had
People are willing to engage in dangerous activities to acquire the things they can't afford.
Poverty running my people, so they love pain
My community is so heavily dependent on poverty; they have learned to love pain and accept the suffering it brings.
And I don't know if it's wrong, but still I know it ain't right
I'm unsure if the way we are living is right, but it is apparent to me that it isn't right.
I seen a lot of people die, in the street life
I have witnessed several murders as a result of street life.
Sometimes I want to help the ghetto, but it ain't gon do a thang
I feel helpless to make a change, as people don't care to change their ways.
'Cause I know that they ignant, and that's a god damn shame
Because people are stubborn and uneducated, it is frustratingly sad to observe.
Welcome to the South, niggaz ain't sleep at all
In the American South, people are always on edge and vigilant.
But you don't hear me though, this what I'm living fo'
Though no one is paying attention, this is my way of life.
Sometime I scream, my brain just looking for a change
I feel the need for a change, even if it requires yelling about it.
I wasn't broke for nothing, still I was learning some'ing
I learned something from being poor, even though being broke wasn't without reason.
If you ain't been through nothing, then you ain't seen nothing
If you don't experience hardship, you don't know what life truly is.
We get chased home for stones, and laws want to break our bones
We are constantly harrassed for the smallest of offenses, and authorities seem to hold it against us.
Lately, I've been trying to stay out of trouble
Recently, I have been making an effort to avoid problems.
But it's hard to stop from copping, the sack and flipping the double
However, it's difficult to stray away from selling drugs and making quick money.
Never seen a black man, flying dope on a plane
I have never witnessed a Black individual smuggling drugs through airplanes.
But they lock us up for it, shackle us with chains
Despite this, I have seen instances where Black people have been imprisoned rather than given a fair trial.
Up in this ghetto, O.G.'s P's and see's
In this poverty-stricken community, there are hardened criminals, gang members, and pimps.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: MAC DAVIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind