As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
I take a look at my life and realize there's nothin' left
'Cause I've been blasting and laughing so long
That everyone thinks my mind is gone

But I ain't never crossed a man (that didn't deserve it)
To be treated like a punk (you know that's unheard of)
You better watch how you're talking and where you're walking
'Cause this life will leave you lined in chalk

Been spending most of life, living in the gangster's paradise
Been spending most of life, living in the gangster's paradise

Forget the situation, they got me facin'
I can't live a normal life, I was raised by the stripes
So I gotta be down with the hood team
'Cause television watching got me chasing dreams

Death ain't nothin' but a heartbeat away
I'm living life, do or die (what can I say?)
I'm here right now, will I see tomorrow?
The way things are going I don't know

Tell me why are we so blind to see
That the ones we hurt are you and me?
(Tell me)

Been spending most of life, living in the gangster's paradise
Been spending most of life, living in the gangster's paradise
Been spending most of life, living in the gangster's paradise
Been spending most of life, living in the 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 goin' on in the kitchen, but I don't know what's cookin'

Say I gotta learn, nobody's here to teach me
I can't understand but how can they reach me?
I guess they can't, I guess they won't
I guess I'm fucked, that's how I know my life is out of luck

Been spending most of life, living in the gangster's paradise
I've been spending most of life, living in the gangster's paradise
Been spending most of life, living in the gangster's paradise
I've been spending most of life, living in the gangster's paradise

Why are we so blind to see
That the ones we hurt are you and me?