As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I take a look at my life and realize there's none left
'Cause I've been blasting and laughing so long that
Even my mamma thinks that my mind is gone
But I ain't never crossed a man that didn't deserve it
Me be treated like a punk
You know that's unheard of
You better watch how you talking, and where you walking
Or you and your homies might be lined in chalk
I really hate to trip but I gotta loc
As they croak I see myself in the pistol smoke fool
I'm the kinda G that little homies want to be like
On my knees in the night
Saying prayers in the street light

Been spending most their lives living in the gangsta's paradise
Been spending most their lives living in the gangsta's paradise

They got the situation, they got me facing
I can't live a normal life
I was raised by the streets
So I gotta be down with the hood team
Too much television watching got me chasing dreams
I'm a educated fool with money on my mind
Got my ten in my hand and a gleam in my eye
I'm a loped out gangsta set trippin' banger
And my homies is down so gonna rouse my anger fool
Death ain't nothing but a heart beat away
I'm living life do or die, what can I say
I'm twenty-three now but will I live to see twenty-four
The way things is going I don't know
Tell me why are we so blind to see
That the ones we hurt are you and me

They been spending most their lives living in the gangsta's paradise
They been spending most their lives living in the gangsta's paradise

Gangsta's paradise
Gangsta's paradise

Power and the money, money and the power
Minute after minute, hour after hour
Everybody's running, but half of them ain't looking
What's going on in the kitchen
But I don't know what's cooking
They say I've got to learn but nobody's here to teach me
If they can't understand it
How can they reach me
I guess they can't
I guess they won't
I guess they front
That's why I know my life is out of luck fool

They been spending most their lives living in the gangsta's paradise
They been spending most their lives living in the gangsta's paradise
We keep spending most our lives living in the gangsta's paradise
We keep spending most our lives living in the gangsta's paradise
Tell me why are we so blind to see
That the ones we hurt are you and me
Tell me why are we so blind to see
That the ones we hurt are you and me