Gansta’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 blasting and laughing so long
That even my momma thinks that my mind has 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 loc
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 our lives
Living in a gangsta's paradise
Keep spending most our lives
Living in a gangsta's paradise

Been spending most our lives
Living in a gangsta's paradise
Keep spending most our lives
Living in a gangsta's paradise

They got this 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 ten in my hand and a gleam in my eye
I'm a low down gangsta, set tripping 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 twenty-three now, will I ever 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
Keep spending most our 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 in the money, money in the power
Minute after minute, hour after hour
Everybody's running, but half of them ain't looking
At 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, foo!

Been spending most our lives
Living in a gangsta's paradise
Been spending most our 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

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?