Donny Hathaway - "Little Ghetto Boy " (1972)

The legendary Donny Hathaway (1945-1979) created a masterpiece here. Note the pleading towards the end of the song. The well-known sample (on Dr. Dre's 1992 "The Chronic" album) is a pernicious usurpation, but alas His ways are not our ways, and its existence has kept the sounds of hope in Donny's voice alive to new generations.

Too Short - The Ghetto (1990)

This is also from my youth, 5-6 grade, and it has a respectable sample from the great Donny Hathaway. And he's from Oakland.

Elvis Presley - In The Ghetto (1970)

Serious Song from Elvis

Donny Hathaway - The Ghetto (live)