Social struggle, mortality, and the cycle of street life.
In 1995, Coolio released the iconic hip-hop track featuring R&B singer L.V. . Originally recorded for the film Dangerous Minds , the song became a global phenomenon, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks. gangstas_paradise_coolio_lyrics_feat_lv
"I'm 23 now, but will I live to see 24?"—a line Coolio wrote while actually in his early 30s. Primary Lyrics (Chorus & Hook) Social struggle, mortality, and the cycle of street life
The song's emotional core is delivered through the haunting chorus performed by : Originally recorded for the film Dangerous Minds ,
Tell me why are we so blind to see That the ones we hurt are you and me?
The track is famously built on a sample from Stevie Wonder's 1976 song "Pastime Paradise". Coolio often noted that the lyrics felt as though they "wanted to be born," claiming he wrote the majority of the song in one sitting after freestyling the initial lines. Song Overview Coolio feat. L.V. Album: Gangsta's Paradise (1995)