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 brassing and laughing so long

That even my momma thinks that my mind has 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 betta watch how ya talking

And where ya walking

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 homie's wanna be like

On my knees in the night

Saying prayers in the street light



1-Been spending most our lives

Living in a gangsta's paradise (2)



Keep spending most our lives

Living in a gangsta's paradise (2)



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 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 locked out gangsta, set tripping banger

And my homies are down so don't arouse my anger

Fool, death 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.



2-Tell me why are we so blind to see

That the ones we hurt are you and me?

(rpt 1)



Power in the money, money in the power

Minute after minute, hour after hour

Everybody's running, but half of them ain't looking

It's going on in the kitchen

But I don't know what's cooking.

They say I gotta learn-a