[Couplet 1 - Coolio]
As I walk through the valley of the shadow of d**h
I take a look at my life and realize there's nothing 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'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 croak, I see myself in the pistol smoke
Fool, I'm the kinda G that little homies wanna be like
On my knees in the night sayin' prayers in the street light
[Refrain 1 - LV]
Keep spending most our lives
Livin' in a gangsta's paradise
Been spending most their lives
Livin' in a gangsta's paradise
We keep spending most our lives
Livin' in a gangsta's paradise
We keep spending most our lives
Livin' in a gangsta's paradise
[Couplet 2 - Coolio]
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 watching got me chasing dreams
I'm an 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 tripping banger
And my homies are down so don't arouse my anger
Fool, d**h ain't nothing but a heart beat away
I'm living life, do or die, what can I say?
I'm twenty-three now, will I ever live to see twenty-four?
The way things is going I don't know
[Refrain 2 - LV]
Tell me why are we
So blind to see
That the ones we hurt
Are you and me
[Refrain 1 - LV]
[Couplet 3 - Coolio]
Power and the money, money and the power
Minute after minute, hour after hour
Everybody's running, but half of them ain't looking
It's goin' on in the kitchen, but I don't 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 front
That's why I know my life is out of luck, fool
[Refrain 1]
[Refrain 2](x2)