As i walk through the valley of the shadow of death    I take a look at my life and realize theres nothing left   'cuz i been blastin and laughing so long that   even my mama thinks that my mind is gone   but i never crossed a man that didn't deserve it   me be treated like a punk   you know thats unheard of    you better watch out, you talking, or where you walking   or you and your homies might be lying to talk   I realy hate to trip, but i gotta lope   as they croke i see myself in the pistal smoke, fool   im the kind of G that little homies wanna be like   on my knees in the nite, saying prayers in the street light      Been spending most our lives livin in the gangsta's paradise (2x)   keep spending most our lives livin in the gangsta's paradise (2x)      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 watch has got me chasin dreams   i'm a educated fool with money on my mind   got my ten in my hand in the gleem of my eye   i'm a lope doubt gansta set tripping bangger   and my homies is down so don't arouse my anger, fool   death ain't nothin but a heart beat away   i'm livin' life do or die or what can i say   i'm twenty-three never will i live to see twenty-four   the way things is 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 our lives livin in the gangsta's paradise (2x)   keep spending most our lives livin in the gangsta's paradise (2x)      Power in the money, money in the power   minute after minute, hour after hour   everybody's running or have they take a look    what is going on in the kitchen   but i donno know what's cookin'   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 run,    that's how i know my life is outa luck, fool      Been spending most our lives livin in the gangsta's paradise (2x)   keep spending most our lives livin in the gangsta's paradise (2x)      tell me why are we so blind to see   that the ones we hurt are you and me (2x)