As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I take a look at my life and realize there's none left
'Cause I've been brassin' 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 ya little homie's wanna be like
On my knees in the night saying prayers in the street light

We've been spending most our lives living in a gangsta's paradise
We've been spending most our lives living in a gangsta's paradise
We keep spending most our lives living in a gangsta's paradise
We keep spending most our lives living in a 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 money on my mind
Got my tin in my hand and a gleam in my eye
I'm a loped out gangsta, set trippin banger
And my homies is down so I'm gonna rouse 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?

We've been spending most our lives living in a gangsta's paradise
We've been spending most our lives living in a gangsta's paradise
We keep spending most our lives living in a gangsta's paradise
We 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 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

We've been spending most our lives living in a gangsta's paradise
We've been spending most our lives living in a gangsta's paradise
We keep spending most our lives living in a gangsta's paradise
We keep spending most our lives living in a 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