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 mama 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 talking and where you're walking Or you and your homies might be lying to chalk I really hate to trip, but I gotta lope As they croak I see myself in the pistol smoke Fool, I'm the kind of G that little homies wanna be Like on my knees in the night saying prayers in the streetlight We've been spending most our lives living in a gangster'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 damn 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 loped out gangster set tripping banker And my homies is down so don't arouse my anger Fool, death ain't nothing but a heartbeat away I'm living life through a dial, what can I say? I'm 23 now but will I live to see 24's away? Things that's going I don't know Tell me why are we so blind to see That the ones we hurt are you and me? Gangster's paradise We've been spending most our lives Living in a gangster's paradise Power and the money Money and the power Minute after minute Hour after hour Everybody's running But half of them ain't looking What's going on in the kitchen? But I don't know what's cooking They say I got to 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 outta luck Fool, we've been spending most our lives Living in a gangster's paradise She'll be part of me, so blind to see That the ones we hurt are you and me I'm out, I'm out, I'm out I'm out, I'm out, I'm out