Gangsta's Paradise

Gangsta's Paradise is a rap song by Coolio featuring L.V. from the movie Dangerous Minds (1995) (starring Michelle Pfeiffer). The song was later released on the albums Gangsta's Paradise and Dangerous Minds soundtrack in 1995. Coolio was awarded a Grammy for the song/album. The song was voted as the best single of the year in The Village Voice Pazz & Jop critics poll. It sampled the chorus and music of the song "Pastime Paradise" by Stevie Wonder (1976). The song was also listed at #69 on Billboard's Greatest Songs of All-Time. In 2008, it was ranked number 38 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop. Following Coolio's appearance in the UK TV show Celebrity Big Brother 2009 Gangsta's Paradise re-entered the UK singles chart peaking at #31. L.V. released a solo version of the single in 1996 on his debut album, I Am L.V.. This version did not feature Coolio, and featured additional lyrics written by L.V. himself. The single did not repeat the popularity of the original with Coolio. The music is a reworking of Stevie Wonder's "Pastime Paradise", a song from his album Songs in the Key of Life. "Gangsta's Paradise" uses the same tune, and a different orchestration of the same backing music. Coolio changed the lyrics to be more relevant to life on the streets. The song begins with a line from Psalm 23:4 from the Bible: As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, but then diverges with: I take a look at my life / And realize there's nothin' left. Adding to some of the religious overtones are choral vocals in the background. Many of the lyrics are very dark and tragic and are meant to be a criticism of the violence and tragedy of the "gangsta" life. The choral lines (sung by L.V.) Tell me why are we so blind to see / That the ones we hurt are you and me offer an especially plaintive self-criticism. The music video for the song was directed by Antoine Fuqua of Propaganda Films, and featured Michelle Pfeiffer reprising her earlier role in Dangerous Minds. When Coolio won the Best Rap Video at the MTV Video Music Awards in 1996, he said in a press conference that Bone Thugs-n-Harmony deserved the award for "Tha Crossroads".

[Recording Info] [Verse 1: Coolio] 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 [Hook: LV] Been spendin' most their lives livin' in the gangsta's paradise Been spendin' most their lives livin' in the gangsta's paradise Keep spendin' most our lives livin' in the gangsta's paradise Keep spendin' most our lives livin' in the gangsta's paradise [Verse 2: Coolio] Look at the situation they got me facin' 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'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 23 now, but will I live to see 24? The way things is goin' I don't know [Bridge: LV] Tell me why are we so blind to see That the ones we hurt are you and me? [Hook: LV] Been spendin' most their lives livin' in the gangsta's paradise Been spendin' most their lives livin' in the gangsta's paradise Keep spendin' most our lives livin' in the gangsta's paradise Keep spendin' most our lives livin' in the gangsta's paradise [Verse 3: Coolio] Power and the money, money and the power Minute after minute, hour after hour Everybody's runnin', but half of them ain't lookin' It's goin' 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 frontin'; that's why I know my life is out of luck, fool! [Hook: LV] Been spendin' most their lives livin' in the gangsta's paradise Been spendin' most their lives livin' in the gangsta's paradise Keep spendin' most our lives livin' in the gangsta's paradise Keep spendin' most our lives livin' in the gangsta's paradise [Bridge: LV] 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?