Eric B. & Rakim

Planet Earth was my place of birth
Born to be the SOLE controller of the universe
Besides the part of the map I hit first
Any a rhyme that I can adapt when it gets worst
The rough gets going, the going gets rough
When I start flowing, 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 Im locked in hell
Looking 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 equip
Any stage Im seen on, IM LIKE A PHENOM
I stand alone and need nothing to lean on
Going for self wit a long way to go
So much to say but I still flow slow
I come correct and I wont look back
Cause it aint where youre from, its where
youre 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
Thinking how hard it was to be born
BEING EQUIPPED wit no physical form
Millions OF CELLS wit one destination
To reach the best part, its life creation
9 months later, a job well done
Make way, cause here I come
Since I made it this far, I cant stop now
Theres 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
IM Called and go back to the essence
Its alot to learn so I study my lessons
I thought the ghetto was the worst that could
happen to me
Im glad I listen when my father was rapping to me
Cause back in the days, they lived in caves
ExileD from the original man, a straight way
Now thats what I call hard times
I rather be here to exercise the mind
Then I take a thought around the world twice
From knowledge NEWBORN back to knowledge precise
Across the desert, thats HOT AS THE ARABIAN
But they couldnt cave me in cause Im the Asian
REaching for the city OF Mecca, visit Medina
Visions of Neffertiti then I seen a
Mind keeps traveling, Ill 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 fought the people
Under the dark skies on a dark side
Not only there but right heres an apartheid
So now is the time for us to react
Take a trip through the mind and when you get back
Understand youre third eye seen all of that
It aint where youre from, its where youre at
Even the (ghetto)
Even the (ghetto)
No more props, I want property
In every borough, nobodys stopping me
Because Im thorough, rhymes are making real estate
for me to own
Wherever I bless a microphone
007 is back and relaxing
On POINT N reactin and ready for action
Im so low key that you might not see me
Incognito and taking it easy
Quiet, its kept on a hush hush
In front of a crowd, I get loud, theres a bumrush
Be calm, keep a low pro, and play the background
HOPIN the wack rapperLL put the mic back down
So rip it, break it in half, go head and slam it
Cause when its time to build, Im a mechanic
Im bonding and mending, attaching and blending
So many solos, there is no ending
People in my neighborhood, they know Im good
From London to Hollywood, wherever I stood
Footprints remain on stage ever since
As I walk the street, 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 celo
When I rolled 4, 5, 6, they go we know
So I collect my cash then slide
I got my back, my guns on my side
It shouldnt have to be like that
I guess it aint where youre from, its where
youre at
Even the (ghetto)
Im from the (ghetto)
Word up, peace
[ In The Ghetto Lyrics ]