Welcome to the Hood

## Single by Bugzy Malone featuring Emeli Sandé

"**Welcome to the Hood**" is a song by British rapper Bugzy Malone featuring Scottish singer-songwriter Emeli Sandé. It was released as the fourth single from the former's fourth studio album, *The Resurrection*, on 18 March 2021.

He stated in a Genius annotation, "This is one of the songs that I wrote before the crash. It's a commentary on what it's like to be at the bottom. People in the middle or at the top, it's easy for them to say, 'Oh, they're all lazy, they should get jobs, they need to do this and do that.' The truth is I've just got an investment in people at the bottom, because it's where I come from, even if I have climbed. This whole album is preaching my philosophy—that you can go from nothing to something".

## Critical reception

*The Guardian* described it as "stark, empathetic, angry", while *NME*'s Caitlin O'Reilly similarly noted that the "emotion is palpable". Matt Jost of *RapReviews* stated the record "aspires to be more universal with support from Emeli Sandé and a soundtrack to match".

## Personnel

* Aaron "Bugzy Malone" Davies – lead artist, vocals, writer
* Adele "Emile" Sandé – featured artist, vocals, writer
* Alex Elliott – mixing engineer
* Jake Gosling – writer, producer
* Omari "Swifta" Wooley – producer
* Stadelta – mastering engineer

## Gallery

Bugzy Malone - Welcome To The Hood (ft. Emeli Sandé) -Teaser--2Bugzy Malone - Welcome To The Hood (ft. Emeli Sandé)Bugzy Malone - Welcome To The Hood (feat Emeli Sandé) (Lyric Video)Bugzy Malone, Emeli Sandé - Welcome To The Hood (Amazon Original) - Recorded at Abbey Road
## Lyrics

**"Welcome to the Hood"**
[Verse 1: Bugzy Malone]

And I say welcome to the hood

Welcome to the hood

Welcome to the place where nothing ever ends up good

And they say that you're a disgrace, if you can't find yourself a job

Well round here, there's either been a drought and then there's been a flood

No one ever built an ark for anybody from the block

Man are tryna ring the heavens but God never gets in touch

For certain people, it's a must to come across as tough

'Cause you don't wanna be a victim when Berettas start to bust

And I say welcome to the hood

Welcome to the hood

Where no one teaches you to love because we're all products of lust

We learn to tell a lie before we even learn to trust

And then we see our people die as if the sorrow ain't enough

So-and-so killed so-and-so, I struggle to keep up

A victim of knife crime, they hit him in the lung

The press are making articles expressing their disgust

But where there's no opportunities, survival is a must

And I say welcome to the hood

Welcome to the hood

Where boredom leads to depression, depression leads to drugs

And drugs numb the pain of all the fucked up stuff

That you have to see when you're forced into growing up

Nobody's responsible, everybody's corrupt

And school's a waste of time 'cause we're learning outta books

And when you're academic you get taken for a mug

'Cause mathematics won't help when you're in a puddle of blood

And I say welcome to the hood

Welcome to the hood

Feels like the only thing that ever settles is the dust

We try and keep it clean but the stress builds up

And it was all a dream until Biggie got shot

[Chorus: Emeli Sandé]

Welcome to the place that I call home

Be careful it don't turn your heart to stone

Welcome to the war I'm battling

You live or you die, you lose or you win

[Verse 2: Bugzy Malone]

And I say welcome to the hood

Welcome to the hood

The person they call mental health is the person that we call Mum

We either don't have a dad or we have more than one

And we're told to fly the nest before we even learn to run

You don't have to be a soldier here to hold a gun

And watching other people suffer is what we consider fun

"'Cause suffering is standard, you'll have to toughen up"

At least that's what your mother tells you when she's fully drunk

People steal for a living, and end up in the can

It's Miles easier in jail, but you wouldn't understand

Being a criminal is not part of the plan

But how are you supposed to work when nobody will take you on?

So I say welcome to the hood

Welcome to the hood

Depression and anxiety gets swept under the rug

There's gangsters in your family

Welcome to the club because there's plenty of gangsters in a city full of thugs

Being born into the politics of poverty is rough

You can look down your nose at us but only God can judge

Most of us are afraid to pray to the above

'Cause 'Pac said there ain't no heaven for a Thug

Welcome to the hood

Welcome to the hood

Welcome to the place when nothing ever ends up good

And they say that you're a disgrace if you can't find yourself a job

Around here there's either been a drought and then there's been a flood

[Chorus: Emeli Sandé]

Welcome to the place that I call home

Be careful it don't turn your heart to stone

Welcome to the war I'm battling

You live or you die you lose or you win

[Bridge: Emeli Sandé]

You see there ain't no heaven for a thug

Seems like my good ain't ever good enough

Feels like I'm running running out of love

You live or you die you lose or you win

They say there ain't no heaven for a thug

Seems like my good ain't ever good enough

Feels like I'm running running out of love

You live or you die, you lose or you win

[Chorus: Emeli Sandé]

Welcome to the place that I call home

Be careful it don't turn your heart to stone

Welcome to the war I'm battling

You live or you die you lose or you win

## References

1. ↑ Empire, Kitty (22 May 2021). "The Resurrection: Bugzy Malone Review – Highs and Lows That Catch You Off Guard". *The Guardian*.
2. ↑ O'Reilly, Caitlin (26 May 2021). "Bugzy Malone – 'The Resurrection' Review: Cinematic Sounds and Confessional Rhymes". *NME*.
3. ↑ Jost, Matt (16 November 2021). "Bugzy Malone :: The Resurrection". *RapReviews*.