Ghetto Life (song)

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"Ghetto Life"
Street Songs
B-side"Below the Funk (Pass the J)"
Released1981 (1981)
GenreFunk
Length
  • 3:52 (7-inch single version)
  • 4:20 (album & 12-inch version)
LabelGordy
Songwriter(s)Rick James
Producer(s)Rick James
Rick James singles chronology
"Super Freak"
(1981) 		"Ghetto Life"
(1981) 		"Standing on the Top (Part 1)"
(1982)

"Ghetto Life" is a song written by

Street Songs
and was later released as the third single from the album.

Lyrics and music

The lyrics of "Ghetto Life" reflect James' youth in Buffalo, New York.[1][2] According to cultural historian Craig Werner, after many factories in Buffalo closed at the time "there was no hope of making any kind of a living. So you could see the hustling culture developing at the time. And Rick catches that beautifully."[1] A poignant line in the song describes how the ghetto persists: "One thing 'bout the ghetto, you don't have to hurry/it'll be there tomorrow, so brother don't you worry."[1][3]

The music represents the "punk funk" dance music sound that James popularized.[4][5] The music incorporates fuzz tone guitars, horns, handclaps, and backing vocals by the Temptations, who also provided backing vocals on James' single "Super Freak."[3][4][5]

Reception

"Ghetto Life" received praise from critics but not as much success on the charts. It only reached #102 on

Hot Soul Singles chart, peaking at #38.[6][7] A medley with "Give It to Me Baby" and "Super Freak" did reach #1 on the Dance Club Songs chart.[8]

New York Times writer Jonathan Lethem wrote that "here's where the promise of punk-funk is kept" and that with its "ragged, furious guitars, blended with Rick's ragged, furious voice and ragged, furious lyrics...genuine pride and defiance are impossible to mistake."[1] OPS staff writer Krista Summitt praised the "steady soulful beat and excellent rhythm guitar work."[2]

"Ghetto Life" was included on several Rick James

compilation albums, including Bustin' Out: The Very Best of Rick James and Ultimate Collection.[5]

"In the Ghetto"

In 2006 Busta Rhymes sampled "Ghetto Life" for his song "In the Ghetto" utilizing vocals James recorded.[10][11] "In the Ghetto" reached #50 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart.[6]

References

  1. ^
    ISBN 9781613749609
    .
  2. ^ a b Summitt, Krista (October 16, 1981). "Critic's Corner". Vincennes Sun-Commercial. p. 14. Retrieved 2019-11-05 – via newspapers.com.
  3. ^ a b Conte, Frank (July 9, 1981). "Records". Boston Globe. p. 74. Retrieved 2019-11-05 – via newspapers.com.
  4. ^ a b c Waring, Charles (April 7, 2019). "'Street Songs': How Rick James Took Things To A Whole Other Level". uDiscoverMusic. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
  5. ^ a b c d e Hamilton, Andrew. "Ghetto Life". Allmusic. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
  6. ^ a b "Rick James Chart History: Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
  7. ^ "Hot Soul Singles" (PDF). Billboard. January 9, 1982. p. 41. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
  8. ^ "Rick James Chart History: Dance Club Songs". Billboard. Retrieved 2019-11-05.
  9. ^ Henderson, Alex. "Street Songs". Allmusic. Retrieved 2019-11-06.
  10. ^ Johnson, Kevin C. (June 13, 2006). "Rhymes Is Back with 'Bang'; Ice Cube Stays Cold". St. Louis Post-Dispatch. p. E1. Retrieved 2019-11-05 – via newspapers.com.
  11. ISBN 9780804777537
    .
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