I take a look at my life and realize there's nothing left

Cuz Ive been blastin and laughin so long

That even my mama thinks that my mind is gone

But I aint never crossed a man that didnt deserve it

Me be treated like a punk, you know that's unheard off

You better watch how you talkin and where you walkin

Or you and your homiez might be lined in chalk

I really hate to trip, but I gotta, Loc

As they cope, I see myself in the pistol smoke, fool

Im the kinda G the little homiez wanna be like

On my knees in the night

Saying prayers in the street light

Chorus:

Been spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise

Been spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise

Keep spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise

Keep spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise

They got the situation

They got me facin

I cant live with no more rights

I was raised by the stripes

So I gotta be down with the hood team

Too much television watchin got me chasin dreams

Im an educated fool with money on my mind

Got my 10 in my hand and the green in my eye

Im a loced-out gangsta set-trippin banger

And my homiez is down, so dont arouse my anger, fool

Death aint nuthin but a heartbeat away

Im livin life doin time, what can I say?

Im 23, now but will I live to see 24

The way things is goin, I dunno

Chorus:

Tell me why are we so blind to see

That the ones we hurt are you and me

Been spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise

Been spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise

Keep spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise

Keep spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise

Power and the money, money and the power

Minute after minute, hour after hour

Everybodys runnin, but half of them aint lookin

At whats goin on in the kitchen

But I dont know whats kickin

They say I gotta learn, but nobodys here to teach me

If they cant understand it, how can they reach me?

I guess they cant

I guess they wont

I guess they front

Thats why I know my life is outta luck, fool

Chorus:

Been spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise

Been spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise

Keep spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise

Keep spending most our lives living in the Gangsta's Paradise

Tell me why are we so blind to see

That the ones we hurt are you and me

Tell me why are we so blind to see

That the ones we hurt are you and me