As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I take a look at my life and realize there's nuttin left
Cause I've been blastin and laughin so long that
Even my mama thinks that my mind is gone
But I 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 talkin, and where you walkin
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 the little homies wanna be like
On my knees in the night
Sayin prayers in the street light


Been spending most their lives living in a Gangsta's Paradise
Been spending most their lives living in a Gangsta's Paradise
Keep spending most our lives living in a Gangsta's Paradise
Keep spending most our lives living in a Gangsta's Paradise


Look at the situation, they got me facing
I can't live a normal life, I was raised by the street
So I gotta be down with the hood team
Too much television watchin got me chasin 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 loc'ed out gangsta, set-trippin banger
And my homies is down, so don't arouse my anger, foo
Death ain't nuthin but a heart beat away
I'm livin life do-or-die-a, what can I say?
I'm twenty-three now, but will I live to see twenty-fo'?
The way things is goin and I don't know


Tell me why are we, so blind to see
That the ones we hurt, are you and me

Been spending most their lives living in a Gangsta's Paradise
Been spending most their lives living in a Gangsta's Paradise
Keep spending most our lives living in a Gangsta's Paradise
Keep spending most our lives living in a Gangsta's Paradise



Power in the money, money in the power
Minute after minute, hour after hour
Everybody's runnin, but half of them ain't lookin
What's goin on in the kitchen, but I dont know what's cookin


They say I got ta learn, but nobody's here to teach me ,
If they cant 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 outta luck, fool!


Been spending most their lives living in a Gangsta's Paradise
Been spending most their lives living in a Gangsta's Paradise
Keep spending most our lives living in a Gangsta's Paradise
Keep spending most our lives living in a Gangsta's Paradise

Tell me why are we, so blind to see
That the ones we hurt, are you and me