Gangsta's Paradise

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 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 crook 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

We've been spending most our lives - Living in the Gangsta's Paradise
We've been spending most our lives - Living in the Gangsta's Paradise
We keep spending most our lives - Living in the Gangsta's Paradise
We keep spending most our lives - Living in the Gangsta's Paradise

Look at the situation, they got me facin

I can't live a normal life, I was raised by the strict
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 nuttin 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 I dunno

Tell me why are we -- so blind to see

That the ones we hurt -- are you and me?

We've been spending most our lives - Living in the Gangsta's Paradise
We've been spending most our lives - Living in the Gangsta's Paradise
We keep spending most our lives - Living in the Gangsta's Paradise
We keep spending most our lives - Living in the Gangsta's Paradise

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 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

We've been spending most our lives - Living in the Gangsta's Paradise
We've been spending most our lives - Living in the Gangsta's Paradise
We keep spending most our lives - Living in the Gangsta's Paradise
We keep spending most our lives - Living in the 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?

* * *
Gangsta's Paradise
Tasksheet

1) Translate into “normal English” and explain:

a. Nuttin left
b. I've been blastin
c. My mind is gone
d. Ain't
e. A punk
f. “Be lined in chalk”
g. To trip
h. I gotta loc
i. Crook
j. Kinda G
k. Facin
l. “Raised by the strict”
m. “Down with the hood team”
n. “Got me chasin dreams…”
o. Loc'ed out gangsta
p. Set-trippin banger
q. “Don't arouse my anger”
r. “I'm livin life do-or-die-a”
s. “It's goin on in the kitchen”
t. “They say I gotta learn, but
nobody's here to teach me”
u. “If they cant understand it,
how can they reach me? “
v. “I guess they front”
2) Answer the following questions:

1.“As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death” – this is a quote, but
from where?

2. Why is he saying prayers?

3. Why does he call it “the Gangsta's Paradise”?

4. What does it do to the song that the language and grammar is so technically
bad?
5. Does the song paint a good or bad image of being “gangsta”? Find words or
phrases in the texts to support your conclusions.

6. What’s the difference between “Gangsta” and “Gangster”?

7. Is it cool to be gangsta?

8. Do you like it? Why / why not?

3) Pick up the words which refer to violence and death:

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__________
4) Choose 3 words describing the tone of the song among the following adjectives:
sad violent joyful strong hard resigned
sweet deep
melancholy disappointed angry frightened

From 3) and 4), what can you conclude about the song and the message it conveys?
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Gangsta's Paradise
Tasksheet
1. Translate into “normal English” and explain:
a. Nuttin left = Nothing left
a. I've been blastin = I’ve been cursing
b. My mind is gone = I’ve grown dim
c. Ain't = am not
d. A punk = pejorative
e. “Be lined in chalk” = be dead1
f. To trip = (here) to overreact
g. I gotta loc = I have to be crazy-acting OR I have to be the gang leader
h. Crook = criminal
i. Kinda G = kind of gangster
j. Facin = Facing
k. “Raised by the strict” = brought up by the very clever
l. “Down with the hood team” = hanging out with the gang
m. “Got me chasin dreams…” = has led me to loose touch with reality
n. Loc'ed out gangsta = gangsta wearing sunglasses / shades
o. Set-trippin banger = hardcore and mighty (approx.)
p. “Don't arouse my anger” = don’t make me angry
q. “I'm livin life do-or-die-a” = living on the edge (approx.)
r. “It's goin on in the kitchen” = something (big) is happening
s. “They say I gotta learn, but nobody's here to teach me” = They know
better, but they are all talking and no acting.
t. “If they cant understand it, how can they reach me?“ = If they can’t
understand (my kind of people), how can they understand the problem?
u. “I guess they front” = I guess they pretend
Suggest pupils to use the Urban Dictionary to solve this.
http://www.urbandictionary.com/

2. “As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death” – this is a quote,
but from where? The Bible – Psalm 23 - used at Christian burial
ceremonies.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and
thy staff they comfort me.

3. Why is he saying prayers? Because he is afraid or needs salvation.

4. Why does he call it “the Gangsta's Paradise”? Ironic, it seemed like a
paradise from the outside.
5. What does it do to the song that the language and grammar is so
technically bad? Discuss
6. Does the song paint a good or bad image of being “gangsta”? Find words or
phrases in the texts to support your conclusions. Discuss
7. What’s the difference between “Gangsta” and “Gangster”. Gangsta is the
modern, hip-hop and rap style, while gangsters are the “old fashioned”
mob-types.
8. Is it cool to be gangsta? Discuss
9. Do you like it? Why / why not? - - -

1
Outlined in chalk, like done by the police at a homicide!