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

They got this situation, they got me facing 
I can't have 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 tin 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 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? 

Been spending most our lives 
Living in a gangsta's paradise 
Living in a gangsta's paradise 
Keep spending most our lives 
Living in a gangsta's paradise 
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 gonna teach me 
If they can't understand, 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, foo! 

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