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. 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. 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. Adding to some of the religious overtones are choral vocals in the background. 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. Coolio changed the lyrics to be more relevant to life on the streets. "Gangsta's Paradise" uses the same tune, and a different orchestration of the same backing music. The music is a reworking of Stevie Wonder's "Pastime Paradise", a song from his album Songs in the Key of Life. The single did not repeat the popularity of the original with Coolio. This version did not feature Coolio, and featured additional lyrics written by L.V. released a solo version of the single in 1996 on his debut album, I Am L.V.
Coolio gangsta paradise release year tv#
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. In 2008, it was ranked number 38 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop. The song was also listed at #69 on Billboard's Greatest Songs of All-Time. It sampled the chorus and music of the song "Pastime Paradise" by Stevie Wonder (1976). The song was voted as the best single of the year in The Village Voice Pazz & Jop critics poll. Coolio was awarded a Grammy for the song/album. The song was later released on the albums " Gangsta's Paradise" and Dangerous Minds soundtrack in 1995.
Coolio gangsta paradise release year movie#
from the movie Dangerous Minds (1995) (starring Michelle Pfeiffer). " Gangsta's Paradise" is a rap song by Coolio featuring L.V. That the ones we hurt Are you and me? Tell me why are we So blind to see. We keep spending most our lives Living in a gangsta's paradise.
We've been spending most our lives Living in a gangsta's paradise. 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, foo! They say I gotta learn But nobody's here to teach me. Power in the money, money in the power, Minute after minute, hour after hour, Everybody's running, but half of them ain't looking It's going on in the kitchen But I don't know what's cooking.
Coolio - Gangsta's Paradise - That the ones we hurt Are you and me? We've been spending most our lives Living in a gangsta's paradise. Fool, death ain't nothing but a heart beat away, I'm living life do or die, what can I say? I'm twenty-three now, will I ever live to see twenty-four, The way things is going I don't know.
I'm a locked out gangsta, set tripping banger And my homies are down so don't arouse my anger. I'm an educated fool with money on my mind Got my ten in my hand and a gleam in my eye. So I gotta be down with the 'hood team, Too much television watching, got me chasing dreams. Look at the situation, they got me facing, I can't live a normal life, I was raised by the state. Fool, I'm the kinda g that little homie's wanna be like, On my knees in the night Saying prayers in the street light. I really hate to trip but I gotta lob, As they croak, I see myself in the pistol smoke. You betta watch how ya talking And where ya walking Or you and your homies might be lined in chalk. Me be treated like a punk, you know that's unheard of. But I ain't never crossed a man that didn't deserve it. 'Cause I've been blasting and laughing so long That even my momma thinks that my mind has gone. As I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I take a look at my life And realize there's nothing left.