Peak
1
Weeks
38
Score
9,666
Chart Year
1995
The accompanying music video for the song was directed by Antoine Fuqua and featured Michelle Pfeiffer reprising her earlier role in Dangerous Minds.[26] Initially Coolio was concerned with the video's treatment stating, "I wanted some low-riders and some shit in it; I was trying to take it 'hood'." Despite this, he trusted Fuqua and was ultimately pleased with the final result.[2] For the music video, Coolio won the Best Rap Video at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1996. The music video hit one billion YouTube views in July 2022.[2
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 blastin' and laughin' so long That even my momma 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 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 streetlight They been spending most their lives 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' I can't live a normal life, I was raised by the state So I gotta be down with the hood team Too much television watching, got me chasing 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'd out gangsta, set trippin' banger And my homies is down, so don't arouse my anger Fool, death ain't nothin' but a heart beat away I'm livin' life do or die, what can I say? I'm twenty-three now but will I live to see twenty-four? The way things is going, I don't know Tell me why are we so blind to see That the ones we hurt are you and me? They been spending most their lives 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 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 gotta 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 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 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?
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aug 19, 1995 | 28 | 98 |
| 2 | Aug 26, 1995 | 6 | 120 |
| 3 | Sep 2, 1995 | 2 | 124 |
| 4 | Sep 9, 1995 | 1 | 125 |
| 5 | Sep 16, 1995 | 1 | 125 |
| 6 | Sep 23, 1995 | 1 | 125 |
| 7 | Sep 30, 1995 | 2 | 124 |
| 8 | Oct 7, 1995 | 2 | 124 |
| 9 | Oct 14, 1995 | 2 | 124 |
| 10 | Oct 21, 1995 | 2 | 124 |
| 11 | Oct 28, 1995 | 2 | 124 |
| 12 | Nov 4, 1995 | 2 | 124 |
| 13 | Nov 11, 1995 | 2 | 124 |
| 14 | Nov 18, 1995 | 2 | 124 |
| 15 | Nov 25, 1995 | 3 | 123 |
| 16 | Dec 2, 1995 | 5 | 121 |
| 17 | Dec 9, 1995 | 5 | 121 |
| 18 | Dec 16, 1995 | 5 | 121 |
| 19 | Dec 23, 1995 | 4 | 122 |
| 20 | Dec 30, 1995 | 4 | 122 |