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PREFIXAUDIOFILEDave GhettoThe voice of Camden, NJ, refuses to be silenced.words: Max Herman Photo: LEROY ROSARIOWhile talkative MC Dave Ghetto claims to also bean able beatmaker, he bluntly states that he has areason to rap. “I have to be heard verbally,” saysGhetto, “’cause I got a lot of shit to say.”That he does, especially when he speaks abouthis hometown of Camden, NJ. This town (seatedacross from Philly) is now, according to Morgan-Quitno Press’ annual rankings, considered themost dangerous city in America. And Davecan’t stay silent about this declaration. “Theysay Camden is the most dangerous city in thecountry–this shit is not City of God, though,” hesays. “Let’s be honest. It’s hard, but it ain’t thathard. We got running water and lights. Althoughthe cops is corrupt, we learn to maneuver.”Camden may not be as wild as the slums of Riode Janeiro, but it shaped Dave Ghetto as a manand an MC. “It has taught me to make the bestout of the worst,” Dave says of his city.Coming up with his Nuthouse crew in the late’90s, Dave worked hard at getting his name outand was able to release material on the premierindependent labels of the time, like Fondle Emand Goodvibe. Yet Dave admits that he quicklygot caught up in an elitist mentality. “You knowhow we get,” he says. “If it ain’t underground, it’sgarbage.”But when this perceptive MC looked around athis immediate environment and saw the people’sdesire to hear thug-styled rap, it actually helpedhim expand his horizons…and his subject matter.“All these years I was busy tryin’ to find that safemedium between me being a dickhead fromtime to time and being somebody who’s aboutthe culture of hip-hop,” he says, illuminating thebalance he’s achieved between conscious rhymingand real life.On his solo debut on Miami’s Counterflowrecords, LoveLife?, Dave does talk shit aboutpseudo thugs and the like. But on songs like“Hey Young World Pt. 2” (featuring Phonte andMystic) and “Spread The Light,” he balancesvivid ghetto narratives with an optimistic outlook.“That just all comes from being a father, mebeing older, me being able to see what I’ve seenover the years and knowing that the way that wedo things in life are not necessarily the right way,”Dave explains.While LoveLife? is often a smooth, eventemperedalbum, don’t expect Dave to come backwith a similar sound next time around–the dudewon’t be pigeonholed. “I’m angry right now,”says Dave. “I might do a Public Enemy album onetime. You never know.”LoveLife? is out now on Counterflow. www.daveghetto.com26