As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I take a look at my life
and realize there's not much left
Coz I've been blastin and laughin so long, that
Even my mama 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're talking,
and where you're walking
Or you and your homies might be lined in chalk
I really hate to trip but I gotta lop
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, saying prayers in the street lights

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 facin'
I can't live a normal life, I was raised by the state
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
Got my 10 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, fool
Death ain't nothing but a heartbeat 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 are going I don't know

Tell me why are we, so blind to see
That the one's 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 in the money, money in 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 kickin'
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 front
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 one's we hurt, are you and me
Tell me why are we, so blind to see
That the one's we hurt, are you and me