(Cover) - EN Showbiz - Alicia Keys has thanked her mom for stopping her "getting into the wrong scenario".

The singer grew up in New York's gritty Hell's Kitchen area. She admits that while a lot of her childhood friends ended up turning to crime, she was spared that path because of her "tough mama".

"Growing up in New York City, everybody wanted to be heard, so you had to do the work," she told British newspaper The Guardian.

"[I had to decide] if I was going to do the right thing or the wrong thing, take drugs or not take drugs, or end up getting into the wrong scenario. So many people I knew ended up in jail."

Alicia, an only child, revealed that her mom "depended on me to be responsible" and believes she was "a more mature child" because of it. She also added that she learnt to be streetwise because of where she was brought up.

"[It's] a New York thing," she added. "Everyone is closed off. Even before I was famous, I wouldn't let boys walk me home. I wasn't gonna let people know where I live."

Hell's Kitchen has now transformed itself into a more prosperous area. (C) Cover Media