[Intro]
 
 Can I talk about the ghetto?
 
 That's where I'm from
 
 Listen up, whoa
 
  
  Just ridin' through the neighborhood
 
 What I see don't look too good
 
 All my brothers hustlin'
 
 All my sisters strugglin'
 
 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