Yeah, yeah. Tanner's Hill in your area, ya nah mean? It's gettin' scarier. The real estate.
[Livin' in the area]
Follow the ride...
[Verse 1]
Oi! I'm in the house like a squatter, my gate's in New Cross Home of the original muggers, psychopathic nutters And plain clothes undercovers, crazy trainspotters With grass cutters and choppers, eatin' sens' for supper My premises is like the Nemesis at Alton Towers Where chickens and cowards only get bloodbaths for showers Dreads devour punanny punks by the hour Sweet or sour, it's about respect, money and power I live in SE8 on the run-down estate With the highest unemployment rate and crime rate My mind state reflects my manor, speak ghetto grammar I used to rap at Black Hammer in my black bandana And uh, on my estate I see love and hatred You never know who's your bredren and who ain't your mate, dread This is the reason that I trust no-one White or black, break in my flat and get your neck snapped While you're out graftin' for all your hard-earned pounds sterlin' And dollar bills, man's drummin' your yard for your valuables Your Bally shoes, down to the bottle of Malibu in your cupboard Burglars'll leave you buggered for your chicken nuggets Daylight robbery means exactly that I've seen nuff man gettin' taxed and drapes for their papes No escape, my estate is like Planet of the Apes Where Puffa jackets with hoods replace the black capes
[Chorus]
(It's like that) When you're livin' in the area (It's like this) When you're livin' in the area (It's like that) When you're livin' in the area [Livin' in the area] On the real estate
(It's like that) When you're livin' in the area (It's like this) When you're livin' in the area (It's like that) When you're livin' in the area [Livin' in the area] On the real estate
[Verse 2]
My environment contains scenes of graphic violence Single-parental guidance means more sirens Joyridin' with no provisional licence Leaves cars capsizin' and more moments of silence It's hell where I dwell, it ain't hard to smell Some youths even sell drugs outside my doorbell Welcome to the real estate where everything is lethal People lookin' medieval, peepin' from curtains to see you Illegal transactions makin' money, no taxin' Income Support, can't afford food for thought How could they expect your dole cheques to stretch for two weeks? Tellin' people to Jobseek? I tell 'em kiss my butt cheeks Most brains around my way won't even stay in school They'd rather be in a cafe burnin' and playin' pool Displayin' tools, disobeyin' rules and that Makin' moves, bobbin' and weavin', robbin' and thievin' jewels
[Repeat chorus]
[Verse 3]
Now some rest in peace, so let peace rest in you But it's all about survival when you're livin' in the zoo On the streets of South-East, reside with the beasts Roam with creeps preyin' on defenceless OAP's I walk around with a frown, I've got no time to be bound And if you get tied down it could leave you with tears of a clown Pound-for-pound I hold my own against the odds Average bods shoot drugs but that shit's only for mugs Amphetamines litter my staircase, spliffs litter my lifts Bloody needles and shit in the pool of piss This is the present state of most estates, mate, and it's unpleasant Sounds depressin'? Shhh, listen what I'm stressin' I'll take you on a guided tour, south of the border Home of the poorer drug scorer holdin' the borer Irrational ignorant fools with nothin' to lose Ghetto bastards get plastered, mixin' whisky with brews
[Repeat chorus]
[Outro]
Yeah, yeah... Stockwell Park Estate...Stonebridge...Broadwater Farm... Baskerville residents...Tanner's Hill...