Gangsta's Paradise
From HallsWiki
Gangsta's Paradise is a rap song by Coolio about the harsh realities and overall shortness of gang life, written in response to the growing trend of "Gangsta Rap". It took third place in the Battle of the Rap and Hip-Hop Songs.
The song was parodied by "Weird Al" Yankovic as Amish Paradise (which in turn took fourth place in the Battle of the Comedy and Novelty Songs). Coolio was angry about the parody, which had happened due to a miscommunication between their agents. The two have since smoothed things over.
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Lyrics
As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I take a look at my life and realize there's nuttin left Cause I've been blastin and laughin so long that Even my mama thinks that my mind is gone But I 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 talkin, and where you walkin Or you and your homies might be lined in chalk I really hate to trip, but I gotta loc As they croak I see myself in the pistol smoke, fool I'm the kinda G the little homies wanna be like On my knees in the night Sayin prayers in the street light Been spending most their lives living in a Gangsta's Paradise Been spending most their lives living in a Gangsta's Paradise Keep spending most our lives living in a Gangsta's Paradise Keep spending most our lives living in a Gangsta's Paradise Look at the situation, they got me facing I can't live a normal life, I was raised by the street So I gotta be down with the hood team Too much television watchin got me chasin dreams I'm a educated fool with money on my mind Got my ten in my hand and a gleam in my eye I'm a loc'ed out gangsta, set-trippin banger And my homies is down, so don't arouse my anger, fool Death ain't nuthin but a heart beat away I'm livin life do-or-die-a, what can I say? I'm twenty-three now, but will I live to see twenty-fo'? The way things is goin and I don't know Tell me why are we, so blind to see That the ones we hurt, are you and me Been spending most their lives living in a Gangsta's Paradise Been spending most their lives living in a Gangsta's Paradise Keep spending most our lives living in a Gangsta's Paradise Keep spending most our lives living in a Gangsta's Paradise Power in the money, money in the power Minute after minute, hour after hour Everybody's runnin, but half of them ain't lookin What's goin on in the kitchen, but I dont know what's cookin They say I got ta learn, but nobody's here to teach me , If they cant 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! Been spending most their lives living in a Gangsta's Paradise Been spending most their lives living in a Gangsta's Paradise Keep spending most our lives living in a Gangsta's Paradise Keep spending most our lives living in a Gangsta's Paradise Tell me why are we, so blind to see That the ones we hurt, are you and me
