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 is gone.
But I can't condemn a man
That don't deserve it.
Me be treated like a punk?
You know that's unheard of.
You betta watch how ya talkin'
And where ya walkin'
or you and ya homies might be lined in chalk.
I really hate to trip
but I gotta loe,
As they croak,
I see myself in the pistol smoke.
Fool I'm the kinda G the little homies want to be like
On my knees in the night,
Saying prayers in the street light.

Chorus:
Been spending most their live's living in a gangsta's
paradise.
Been spending most their live's living in a gangsta's
paradise.
Keep spending most their live's living in a gangsta's
paradise.
Keep spending most their live's 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 state so I gotta be down with the hood
team,
Too much television watchin'
Got me chasing dreams.
I'm an educated fool with money on my mind,
Mac 11 in my hand and a gleam in my eye.
I'm a loc'd out gangsta set prippin banga
And my homies are down,
So don't arouse my anger,
Fool, death ain't nothin' but a heartbeat away,
I'm living life do or die.
What can I say?
I'm 23 now,
But will I see to live 24.
The way things are going I don't know.

Tell me why, why are we so blind to see
That the ones we hurt are you and me.

Chorus

Power and the money,
Money and the power.
Minute after minute, hour after hour.
Everybody's runnin' but half ain't looking.
They smelling gun in they kitchen but I don't know it's
cookin'.
They say I gotta learn but nobody's here to teach me,
If they don'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 outta luck.

Chorus

Tell me why, why are we so blind to see
That the ones we hurt are you and me.