Lyrics
As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Reflecting on facing dangerous situations and potential death.
I take a look at my life and realize there's nothin' left
Realizing emptiness and lack of fulfillment in life.
'Cause I've been blastin' and laughin' so long
Expressing a history of violence and laughter, suggesting desensitization.
That even my momma thinks that my mind is gone
Mom perceives the narrator as mentally disturbed due to the violent lifestyle.
But I ain't never crossed a man that didn't deserve it
Claiming to only confront those who deserve it.
Me be treated like a punk? You know that's unheard of
Pride in not being disrespected or treated poorly.
You better watch how you talkin' and where you walkin'
Warning others to be cautious with their words and actions.
Or you and your homies might be lined in chalk
Potential consequences for disrespect – implying violence.
I really hate to trip, but I gotta loc
Reluctant to engage in violence but feels compelled to do so.
As they croak, I see myself in the pistol smoke
Imagery of death as a consequence of a violent lifestyle.
Fool, I'm the kinda G the little homies wanna be like
Desire of younger individuals to emulate the narrator's lifestyle.
On my knees in the night, sayin' prayers in the streetlight
Depicting a vulnerable moment of prayer in a challenging environment.
They been spending most their lives
Repetition of the chorus emphasizing the pervasive nature of the gangsta lifestyle.
Livin' in a gangsta's paradise
-They 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
-Look at the situation they got me facin'
Feeling trapped in a difficult situation.
I can't live a normal life, I was raised by the state
Raised in a system that doesn't allow for a normal life.
So I gotta be down with the hood team
Aligning with the local community for survival.
Too much television watching, got me chasing dreams
Influence of media on dreams and aspirations.
I'm a educated fool with money on my mind
Despite education, priorities are on financial success.
Got my ten in my hand and a gleam in my eye
Ready for violence with money in hand.
I'm a loc'd out gangsta, set trippin' banger
Identifying as a gang member ready to defend territory.
And my homies is down, so don't arouse my anger
Warning against provoking anger due to loyalty to friends.
Fool, death ain't nothin' but a heart beat away
Minimizing the fear of death in a violent lifestyle.
I'm livin' life do or die, what can I say?
Embracing a do-or-die mentality.
I'm twenty-three now but will I live to see twenty-four?
Uncertainty about a future beyond the current age.
The way things is going, I don't know
Pessimism about the trajectory of life.
Tell me why are we so blind to see
Questioning the blindness to the consequences of a violent lifestyle.
That the ones we hurt are you and me?
-They been spending most their lives
Repetition of the chorus highlighting the pervasive nature of the gangsta lifestyle.
Livin' in a gangsta's paradise
-They 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
-Power and the money, money and the power
Reflecting on the corrupting influence of power, money, and lack of guidance.
Minute after minute, hour after hour
-Everybody's running, but half of them ain't lookin'
-It's going on in the kitchen, but I don't know what's cookin'
-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 out of luck, fool
-They been spending most their lives
Repetition of the chorus reinforcing the inescapability of the gangsta lifestyle.
Livin' in a gangsta's paradise
-They 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
-Tell me why are we so blind to see
Reiteration of the question about the blindness to the consequences of a violent lifestyle.
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?
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