[1][2] According to cultural historian Craig Werner, after many factories in Buffalo closed at the time "there was no hope of making any kind of a living.

[6][7] A medley with "Give It to Me Baby" and "Super Freak" did reach #1 on the Dance Club Songs chart.

"[9] Fellow Allmusic critic Andrew Hamilton described it as "an underrated song with so much going on musically you can't grab it all in one bite" and claimed its lack of chart success was "downright embarrassing.

"[5] uDiscoverMusic critic Charles Waring agreed that "Ghetto Life"'s chart performance "didn’t reflect the song’s quality.

"[1] OPS staff writer Krista Summitt praised the "steady soulful beat and excellent rhythm guitar work.