In The Ghetto - Eric B., Rakim

Planet, Earth, was my place of birth

Born to be the soul controller of the universe

Besides the part of the map I hit first

Any environment I can adapt when it gets worst

The rough gets goin, the goin gets rough

When I start flowin, the mic might bust

The next state I shake from the power I generate

People in Cali used to think it was earthquakes

Cause times was hard on the Boulevard

So I vote God and never get scarred and gauled

But it seems like I’m locked in hell

Lookin over the edge but the R never fell

A trip to slip cause my Nikes got grip

Stand on my own two feet and come equipped

Any stage I’m seen on, or mic I fiend on I stand alone and need nothin to lean on Going for self with a long way to go So much to say but I still flow slow

I come correct and I won’t look back

Cause it ain’t where you’re from, it’s where you’re at Even the (ghetto)

I learn to relax in my room and escape from New York

And return through the womb of the world as a thought

Thinkin how hard it was to be born

Nubian queen with no physical form

Millions have settled with one destination

To reach the best part, it’s life creation

Nine months later, a job well done

Make way, cause here I come

Since I made it this far, can’t stop now

There’s a will and a way and I got the know-how

To be, all I can be and more

And see, all there is to see before

I’m called to go back to the essence

It’s a lot to learn so I study my lessons

I thought the ghetto was the worst that could happen to me

I’m glad I listened when my father was rappin to me Cause back in the days, they lived in caves

Exiled from the original man, they strayed away

Now that’s what I call hard times

I’d rather be here to exercise the mind

Then I take a thought around the world twice

From knowledge to born back to knowledge precise

Across the desert, that’s hot as the Arabian

But they couldn’t cave me in, cause I’m the Asian

Reachin for the city of Mecca, visit Medina

Visions of Neffertiti then I seen a Mind keeps traveling, I’ll be back after I stop and think about the brothers and sisters in Africa

Return the thought through the eye of a needle

For miles I thought and I just brought the people

Under the dark skies, on a dark side

Not only there, but right here’s an apartheid

So now is the time for us to react

Take a trip through the mind and when you get back

Understand your third eye seen all of that

It ain’t where you’re from, it’s where you’re at Even the (ghetto)

Even the (ghetto)

No more props, I want property, in every borough

Nobody’s stoppin me, because I’m thorough

Rhymes I make gimme real estate for me to own

Wherever I bless a microphone

Double-oh-seven is back and relaxing

On point and reactin, and ready for action

I’m so low key that you might not see me Incognito, and takin it easy

Quiet as kept on a hush hush

In front of a crowd, I get loud, there’s a bumrush

Be calm, keep a low pro, and play the background

Over the wack rapper, put the mic back down

So rip it, break it in half, go head and slam it Cause when it’s time to build, I’m a mechanic

of bondin and mendin, attachin and blendin

So many solos, there is no endin

People in my neighborhood, they know I’m good

From London to Hollywood, wherever I stood

Footprints remain on stage ever since

As I walk the streets, I leave fossils and dents

When I had sex, I left my name on necks

My trademark was left throughout the projects

I used to get rich when I played c-lo

When I rolled 4, 5, 6, they go, We know

So I collect my cash then slide

I got my back, my gun’s on my side

It shouldn’t have to be like that

I guess it ain’t where you’re from, it’s where you’re at Even the (ghetto)

I’m from the (ghetto)

Word up, peace