As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death

I take a look at my life and realise there's none left

Cause I've been brassing and laughing so long that

Even my mamma thinks that my mind is gone

But I aint 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 lope

As they croak I see myself in the pistal 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



(Refrain)

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



They got the situation, they got me facing

I can't live a normal life, I was raised by the strip

So I gotta be down with the hood team

Too much television watching got me chasing dreams

I'm a educated fool with my knee on my mind

Got my 10 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 aint nothing but a heart beat away

I'm living life do or die, what can I say

I'm 23 never 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.

(Refrain)

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



Power and the money, money and the power

Minute after minute, hour after hour

Everybody's running, but half of them aint 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



(Refrain)

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.