Gangsta's Paradise
Scott Bradlee & Postmodern Jukebox feat. Robyn Adele Anderson Lyrics

As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
As I face a difficult situation in my life

I take a look at my life
I reflect on my past and present situation

And realize there's nothing left
I come to terms with the fact that I have nothing left

'Cause I've been brassing and laughing so long
I've been enjoying myself and acting without care for a long time

That even my momma thinks that my mind has gone
Even my mother is worried about my sanity

But I ain't never crossed a man that didn't deserve it
I've only hurt those who deserved it

Me be treated like a punk, you know that's unheard of
It's unheard of for me to be treated disrespectfully

You better watch how ya talking
Be careful what you say

And where ya walking
Be mindful of where you go

Or you and your homies might be lined in chalk
Or you might end up dead

I really hate to trip but I gotta lop
I don't want to be paranoid, but I have to be cautious

As they croak, I see myself in the pistol smoke
I see my own potential death in the violence around me

Fool, I'm the kinda G that little homie's wanna be like
I am the type of gangster that young people aspire to be

On my knees in the night
I am praying in desperation

Saying prayers in the street light
I have to pray in dangerous places

Been spending most their lives
They have been dedicating their lives

Living in a gangsta's paradise
In the dangerous environment of a gang

Keep spending most our lives
We continue to dedicate our lives

Forgetting the situation they got me facing
I'm trying to ignore the problems that I'm currently facing

I can't live a normal life, I was raised by the state
I was raised in a difficult environment by the state

So I gotta be down with the 'hood team
So I have to be loyal to my gang

Too much television watching got me chasing dreams
I was influenced by unrealistic media and now have unattainable aspirations

I'm an educated fool with money on my mind
I am educated but make poor choices due to greed

Got my ten in my hand and a gleam in my eye
I have my weapon and am ready to use it

I'm a locked out gangsta, set tripping banger
I am an excluded gang member who will cause violence

And my homies is down so don't arouse my anger
My friends are loyal and will protect me if needed

Fool, death ain't nothing but a heartbeat away
Death is always a possibility

I'm living life do or die, what can I say?
I have to live life recklessly and dangerously

I'm twenty-three now, will I ever live to see twenty-four?
I am young but might not have a long life

The way things is going I don't know.
I'm not sure what my future holds

Tell me why are we so blind to see
Why don't we realize

That the ones we hurt are you and me?
That we end up hurting ourselves and others

Power in the money, money in the power
Money creates power and power creates money

Minute after minute, hour after hour
The cycle of time passes quickly

Everybody's running, but half of them ain't looking
People are blindly following the crowd

It's going on in the kitchen
There is something suspicious happening

But I don't know what's cooking
I am not sure what exactly is happening

They say I gotta learn
People say I need to learn

But nobody's here to teach me
But there is nobody to teach me

If they can't understand it, how can they reach me?
If they cannot comprehend my situation, how can they help me?

I guess they can't, I guess they won't
Perhaps they are unable or unwilling to help

I guess they front
They are pretending to help

That's why I know my life is out of luck, fool
That is why I believe my life is unlucky