As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I take a look at my life and realize there's nothin' left 'Cause I've been blastin' and laughin' so long that Even my momma 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 streetlight

Been spendin' most their lives Livin' in a gangsta's paradise Been spendin' most their lives Livin' in a gangsta's paradise Keep spendin' most our lives Livin' in a gangsta's paradise Keep spendin' most our lives Livin' 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 watchin', got me chasing 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'd out gangsta, set trippin' banger And my homies is down, so don't arouse my angerFool, death ain't nothin' but a heart beat away I'm livin' life do or die, what can I say? I'm 23 now but will I live to see 24? 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?