As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death 
 I take a look at my life and realize there's nuttin left 
 Cause I've been blastin and laughin 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 
 Me be treated like a punk, you know that's unheard of 
 You better watch how you talkin, and where you walkin 
 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 the little homies wanna be like 
 On my knees in the night 
 Sayin prayers in the street light 

 We've been spending most our lives 
 Living in the Gangsta's Paradise 
 (repeat) 

 We keep spending most our lives 
 Living in the Gangsta's Paraside 
 (repeat) 

 Look at the situation, they got me facin 
 I can't live a normal life, I was raised by the strict 
 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 loc'ed out gangsta, set-trippin banger 
 And my homies is down, so don't arouse my anger, fool 

 Death ain't nuthin but a heart beat away 
 I'm livin life do-or-die-a, what can I say? 
 I'm twenty-three now, but will I live to see twenty-fo'? 
 The way things is goin I dunno 

 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 
 (repeat) 

 We keep spending most our lives 
 Living in the Gangsta's Paradise 
 (repeat) 

 Power and the money, money and the power 
 Minute after minute, hour after hour 
 Everybody's runnin, but half of them ain't lookin 
 It's goin on in the kitchen, but I dont know what's *****n 

 They say I got ta learn, but nobody's here to teach me 
 If they cant understand it, how can they reach me? 
 I guess they cain't -- I guess they won't 
 I guess they front; that's why I know my life is outta luck, fool 

 We've been spending most our lives 
 Living in the Gangsta's Paradise 
 (repeat) 

 We keep spending most our lives 
 Living in the Gangsta's Paradise 
 (repeat) 

 Tell me why are we -- so blind to see 
 That the ones we hurt -- are you and me 
 (repeat)