Eric B. & Rakim - In the Ghetto (extended mix) lyrics

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 I'm 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 equipped Any stage I'm seen on, or mic I fiend on I stand alone and need nothing 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 Thinking how hard it was to be born Me being cream with no physical form Millions of cells with one destination To reach the best part, it's life creation 9 months later, job well done Make way, 'cause here I come Since I made it this far, I 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 and go back to the essence It's alot to learn so I study my lessons I thought the ghetto was the worst that could happen to me I'm glad I listen when my father was rapping 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 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 Reaching 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 fought 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 you're 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 stopping me because I'm thorough Rhymes I make gimme real estate for me to own Wherever I bless a microphone 007 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 taking it easy Quiet, it's 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 Hopin' 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 I'm bonding and mending, attaching and blending So many solos, there is no ending 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 street, I leave fossils and dents When I had s**, 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 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