What is living in the hood mean?

Hood, in this case, is a shortened form of neighborhood. But the particular neighborhood has a deeper meaning. The hood represents a lower class neighborhood where minorities, immigrants and the poor live. Mostly attributed to African Americans and government housing known as the projects. This phrase will be found in rap songs and the speech of these groups. Living in the hood means this person is still living in the neighborhood where they grew up, that they haven't made a better life for themselves or unwilling to move from their roots.