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Akon Gives Viewers A Slice Of Street Life In 'Ghetto' Video

Singer shot the clip in various ghettos around the U.S.

Many hip-hop artists claim to keep it street, but Akon truly does. The "Locked Up" singer follows up his hit single by taking fans to the streets with "Ghetto," the second single off his debut, Trouble.

The song, co-produced by Akon, chronicles the ups and downs of ghetto life. When it came time to make the video, the singer enlisted the help of director X (formerly known as Little X).

"We're going through the most ghettoest parts of America," Akon said of the clip. "I'm on a journey, visiting all of the ghettos around the United States that [America is] pretty much blind to. I'm just walking by and seeing certain things, exposing a lot of stuff that people don't normally see in everyday ghetto life."

To make the point that ghettos exist beyond the borders of the inner city, the Senegalese-born Akon shot the video in various types of neighborhoods, including Irvington, New Jersey; a Navajo reservation in Albuquerque, New Mexico; and a trailer park in Arizona.

Like "Locked Up," the message of "Ghetto" is one that Akon hopes everyone gets.

"Let's say God gives you a chance to speak to 5 million people," said the singer. "What are you going to say to them? 'Girl, shake that ass, I got a whole pocket of bling'? You got an opportunity to speak to a million people who will actually listen to you -- basically everything you say affects their lives. It's up to you at the end of the day. I just choose to say something that's meaningful or share my experiences with them so they can learn from it."

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