As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I take a look at my life And realize there's nothin' left 'Cause 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 betta watch how ya talking And where ya 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 pistol smoke, fool I'm the kinda g that little homie's wanna be like On my knees in the night Saying prayers in the street light Been spending most their lives Living in a gangsta's paradise (x2) Keep spending most our lives Living in a gangsta's paradise (x2) Look at the situation, they got me facing 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 tin in my hand and a gleam in my eye I'm a loced out gangsta, set trippin 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 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? Been spending most our lives Living in a gangsta's paradise(x2) Keep spending most our lives Living in a gangsta's paradise(x2) 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 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 our lives Living in a gangsta's paradise(x2) Keep spending most our lives Living in a gangsta's paradise(x2) Tell me why are we, so blind to see That the ones we hurt, are you and me?(x2)