Gangsta's Paradise

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 laughing

And blasting 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 being treated like a punk

Yeah 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 load

As they croak I see myself in the pistol smoke

I'm the kinda G that little homies wanna be like

On knees in the night

Say your 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 facin'

I can't live a normal life

I was raised by the streets

So I gotta be down with the hood team

Too many television watching got me chasing dreams

I'm an educated fool

With money on my mind

I got a ten in my hand

And a gleam in my eye

I'm a loc'ed out gangsta

Set trippin' banger

And my homies are down

Don't arouse my anger

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

So tell me why

Are we so fucking blind

To see 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 and the money

Money and the power

Minute after minute

Hour after hour

Everybody's runnin'

But half of them ain't lookin'

What's going on in the kitchen

But I don't know what's cooking

Say we've 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 why my life is out of luck

Yeah

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