Coolio - Gangstas Paradise Lyrics

As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I take a look at my life and realize there's nuttin' left
'Cuz I've been blastin' and laughin' so long, that
Even my mama thinks that my mind is gone
But I ain't neva crossed a man that didn't deserve it
Me be treated like a punk you know that's unheard of
You betta watch how you're talkin', and where you're walkin'
Or you and your homies might be lined in chalk
I really hate to trip but I gotta, loc
As they group 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 streetlight

[Chorus:]

Been spending most their lives, living in the gangsta's paradise
Been spending most their lives, living in the gangsta's paradise
Keep spending most our lives, living in the gangsta's paradise
Keep spending most our lives, living in the gangsta's paradise


THEY GOT the situation, they got me facin'
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 watchin' got me chasin'dreams
I'm a educated fool with money on my mind
Got my 10 in my hand and a gleam in my eye
I'm a loc'd out gangsta set trippin' banga
And my homies is down so don't arouse my anga, fool
Death ain't nothin' but a heartbeat away,
I'm livin' life, do or die, what can I say
I'm 23 now, will I live to see 24
the way things is goin' I don't know

[Chorus:]

Tell me why are we, so blind to see
That the one's we hurt, are you and me
Been spending most their lives, living in the gangsta's paradise
Been spending most their lives, living in the gangsta's paradise
Keep spending most our lives, living in the gangsta's paradise
Keep spending most our lives, living in the gangsta's paradise

Power and the money, money and the power
Minute after minute, hour after hour
Everybody's runnin', 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 front, that's why I know my life is out of luck, fool

Been spending most their lives, living in the gangsta's paradise
Been spending most their lives, living in the gangsta's paradise
Keep spending most our lives, living in the gangsta's paradise
Keep spending most our lives, living in the gangsta's paradise
Tell me why are we, so blind to see
That the one's we hurt, are you and me
Tell me why are we, so blind to see
That the one's we hurt, are you and me