The Ghetto

(album: Told You So - 2000)

Can I talk about the ghetto?
That's where I'm from
Listen up, whoa

Just riding through the neighborhood
What I see don't look too good
All my brothers hustling
All my sisters struggling
Just to make it through another day
Just another day
That's just the way it is
(Just the way it is)
When you're living

(Living in the ghetto)
Trying to make it seems so hard
(Living in the ghetto)
Unemployment, don't even have no jobs
(Living in the ghetto) Whoa
(I grew up in the ghetto)
In the ghetto, ghetto whoa

Still got so many memories (Memories)
Growing up with my family (Oh family)
Still westside 'till I die (Throw it up)
And even though I'm living in a highrise
It's not where you are but it's where you're from
Daddy told me long ago
That's why I'll never forget my days
(Never forget my days, no)

(Living in the ghetto)
People don't got no where to go
(Living in the ghetto)
Pimps and hustlers everybody knows
(Living in the ghetto) Whoa
(I grew up in the ghetto)
In the ghetto, in the ghetto

Play on, play on
My, my, my, my, my, my, my
Somebody tell me why
It has to be this way
Oh why?
Don't give up, no, no
Listen

This is for my queens
Keep your hopes high
Stay down on your knees
Praying every night
There'll be days like these
Mama used to say
Ain't no need to worry
He's gonna make a way

And this is for my kings
Don't forget respect
Gotta keep moving on
Cause it ain't over yet
Keep your head about it
Keep your head about it
'Bout it, 'bout it, 'bout it

While you're living
(Living in the ghetto)
See I'll never forget where I'm from, no, no
(Living in the ghetto)
And how far I've come, see I've come too far
(Living in the ghetto)
In the ghetto, who
(I grew up in the ghetto)
In the ghetto, the ghetto

(Living in the ghetto)
So many kids out in the streets
(Living in the ghetto)
2 O'clock in the morning when they need to be at home asleep
(Living in the ghetto)
In the ghetto, in the ghetto