Chorus:
Living in the ghetto where its hard to survive
living in the ghetto we just trying to stay alive.
Living in the ghetto in the streets is do or die
living in the ghetto and thats all I know
Verse 1
Now what would the ghetto be without car jacks, 50 packs,
dealers of crack, gambling shacks and n***** * thats fixing up their Lacs.
Them ghetto streets filled with them fiends,
How would it look without that scene?
Probably clean, you know what I mean?
Too bad its only a f* ***** dream.
What would the ghetto be without hood rats with weave and nails?
And could you picture the ghetto without liquor stores and keys to sell?
Dice games, hubcaps, running from laws, jumping the gates,
man I cant picture the ghetto without Cutlasses or 98s
or 38s and slant backs with gunshots and jealousy.
What would the ghetto be without n****** catching felonies ?
And they telling me the projects wasnt made for blacks to raise us up,
but could you pictures a ghetto if the government gave a f***?
I know I cant my mom and aunt labeled up in the lower rank.
What would the ghetto be without WIC cards and candy paint?
Coupe Devilles, Mickey Ds, Converse and Herringbones.
Could you picture the ghetto if the laws left our ass alone?
CHORUS
Living in the ghetto where its hard to survive
living in the ghetto we just trying to stay alive.
Living in the ghetto in the streets is do or die
living in the ghetto and thats all I know
Verse 2
No ghetto rights just ghetto fights.
Busting up at them ghetto lights.
Depression be a ghetto sight from daybreak to them ghetto nights.
Welfare, afros, tech nines, and pounds of herb.
What would they ghetto be without gold teeth and Thunderbird?
B****** with braids n***** with fades, wood grain and Swisher Sweets.
Cellular phones jump out boys and Js on them youngsters feet.
Pregnant women, baybay kids, Kool Filter Kings, triple beams;
What would the ghetto be without cornbread and collard greens?
Bald heads, crack pipes, crips and bloods banging with thugs.
What would the ghetto be without hanging at clubs, slangin them drugs?
Sagging our pants, taking a chance, robbing for a mans wealth,
but what would the ghetto be without my n****** killing they damn self?
In drop tops with Miller Lights, sitting in slabs rolling up blunts.
What would the ghetto be without waiting for checks on the first of the month?
American Express, Visa Gold in the ghetto? S*** I doubt it.
Our only card be the Lone Star and we never leave home without it!
CHORUS
living in the ghetto where its hard to stay alive.
Living in the ghetto we just trying to survive.
Living in the ghetto in the streets is do or die
living in the ghetto and thats all I know
Verse 3
Now what would the ghetto be without hustlers trying to make a buck?
Unemployed down on our luck and little kids chasing the ice cream truck?
Kangols, Polos and gossiping where the drama goes.
Now what would the ghetto be without fried chicken and dominoes?
Now Imma go reminisce but I cant leave out those TV dinners.
What would the ghetto be without using a hanger for an antenna?
Gucci bags, vinyl tops, oxtails and nicotine .
What would the ghetto be without the Isley Brothers and Al Green?
Yeah that might sound too wild,
but what would the ghetto be without hearing n**** please and ooh child?
Two childs with two smiles rolling up in that Pontiac,
now what would the ghetto be without packing our clothes to the laundromat?
Baby mamas and baby daddies,
security gates, section 8, 84s and vogues on them caddies.
What would the ghetto be without Jack In The Box,
ziplocks, thrift shops, ham hocks and birth of that hip hop?
CHORUS
living in the ghetto where its hard to stay alive.
Living in the ghetto we just trying to survive.
Living in the ghetto in the streets is do or die
living in the ghetto and thats all I know
Living in the Ghetto