As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I take a look at my life and realize there's nothing left
'Cause I've been blasting and laughing so long that
Even my momma 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 this pistol smoke
Fool, I'm the kinda G you little homies wanna be like
On my knees in the night saying prayers in the streetlight
Been spending most their lives living in the gangsta's paradise
Been spending most their lives living in the gangsta's paradise
Keep spending most our lives living in the gangsta's paradise
Keep spending most our lives living in the 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 watching got me chasing dreams
I'm an educated fool with money on my mind
I got my ten in my hand and a gleam in my eye
I'm a loc'd out gangsta set tripping banger
And my homies is down so don't arouse 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 23 now but will I live to see 24
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
Been spending most their lives living in the gangsta's paradise
Been spending most their lives living in the gangsta's paradise
Keep spending most our lives living in the gangsta's paradise
Keep spending most our lives living in the gangsta's paradise
Power and the money, money and the power
Minute after minute, hour after hour
Everybody's running, but half them ain't looking
It's going on in the kitchen, but I don't know what's cooking
They say I gotta 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 fronting, that's why I know my life is out of luck fool
Been spending most their lives living in the gangsta's paradise
Been spending most their lives living in the gangsta's paradise
Keep spending most our lives living in the gangsta's paradise
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