Gangsta'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 brassing 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 better 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 streetlight

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

Look at the situation they got me facing
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 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 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 twenty-three now, 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 their lives
Living in a gangsta's paradise
Been spending most their 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 and the money, money and the power
Minute after minute, hour after hour
Everybody's running, but half of them ain't looking
It'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, fool

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