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, loc
   As I Grow 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 streetlight
       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
       They got the situation, they got me facin'
   I can't live a normal life, I was raised by the stripes
   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'd 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
     Chorus:
  
   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
   spending most our lives, living in the gangsta's paradise
   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 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 undersstand 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
   spending most our lives, living in the gangsta's paradise
   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
  
   (fade out)