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 blasting and laughing so long that
Even my momma thinks that my mind is gone
But I aint 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 talking, and where you walking
Or you and your homies might be lined in chalk
I really hate to trip but I gotta lob
As they croak I see myself in the pistol smoke ... fool
I'm the kinda that little homies want to be like
On my knees in the night, saying prayers in the street light

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

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 10 in my hand and a gleam in my eye
I'm a locked out gangsta set trippin banger
And my homies are down so don’t arouse my anger ... fool
Death aint nothing but a heart beat away
I'm living life do or die, what can I say
I'm 23 now will I ever live to see 24
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 the gangsta's paradise
We’ve been spending most our lives living in the gangsta's paradise
We keep spending most our lives living in the gangsta's paradise
We 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
 [bad word]  but half of them aint looking
It’s going on in the kitchen, but I don't know what's cooking
They say I've got to 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 the gangsta's paradise
We’ve been spending most our lives living in the gangsta's paradise
We keep spending most our lives living in the gangsta's paradise
We keep spending most our lives living in the 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.