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 blastin and laughing 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 He 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 loc As they croak I see myself in the pistol smoke, fool I'm the kinda G that little homies wanna be like On my knees in the night Sayin' prayers in the street light been spending most their lives Living in the Gangster's Paradise been spending most their lives Living in the Gangster's Paradise keep spending most our lives Living in the Gangster's Paradise keep spending most our lives Living in the Gangster's Paradise look at the situation, they got me facin I can't live a normal life, I was raised by the street So I gotta be down with the hood team Too much television watchin' got me chasin dreams I'm a educated fool, with money on my mind Got my ten in my hand and a gleam in my eye I'm a loced-out gangsta, set-trippin banger And my homies is down, so don't arouse my anger, fool Death ain't nothing but a heart beat away o I'm livin life do-or-die ah, what can I say? I'm twenty-three now will I live to see twenty The way things are goin 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 their lives Living in the Gangster's Paradise been spending most their lives Living in the Gangster's Paradise keep spending most our lives Living in the Gangster's Paradise keep spending most our lives Living in the Gangster'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 lookin What's goin on in the kitchen, but I don't know what's cookin They say I got ta 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 frontin that's why I know my life is out of luck, fool been spending most their lives Living in the Gangster's Paradise been spending most their lives Living in the Gangster's Paradise keep spending most our lives Living in the Gangster's Paradise keep spending most our lives Living in the Gangster'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