| Artist | Coolio feat. L.V. |
| Producer | Doug Rasheed |
| Composer / Lyricist | Artis Ivey Jr. (Coolio), Larry Sanders (L.V.), Doug Rasheed, Stevie Wonder |
| Music Publisher | Tommy Boy Records |
“Gangsta’s Paradise” was released in August 1995 via the legendary Hip Hop & Electronic label Tommy Boy Records, founded in NYC in 1981. The track served as the lead single for the soundtrack of the film Dangerous Minds and Coolio’s sophomore studio album of the same name. Notably, the instrumental brilliantly samples the chorus and music of Stevie Wonder’s 1976 classic “Pastime Paradise,” transforming it into a defining hip-hop anthem of the 90s.
As one of the best-selling singles of all time, the track earned Coolio a Grammy Award for Best Rap Solo Performance. Its introspective and grim lyrics depicting the harsh realities of street life, paired with L.V.’s haunting choir-like vocals, resonated globally. The track broke boundaries for hip-hop, reaching number one in over a dozen countries, and remains a timeless, universally recognized cultural milestone.
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