GANGSTA’S PARADISE

COOLIO

COOLIOArtis Leon Ivey Jr. (born August 1, 1963), better known by the stage name Coolio, is an American musician, rapper, actor and record producer.

MOODDark and tragic – meant to be a criticism of the violance and tragedy of gangster life.

THEME

Life on the streets

STRUCTURECan be seen as alyrical poem as it is a famous rap song.

SETTING• American ghettos or

any gangster affiliated areas in America.

• It can also suggest any other area around the world related to gangsterism.

TITLE

GANGSTA’S PARADISE

SLANG: A US term for a member of a criminal group/gang

CONTRAST:Gang: violenceParadise: peace

For a gangster the street are their paradise

LINE 1

As I walk through the valley of the shadow ofdeathALLUSION:

(direct or indirect referal to something that the writer or speaker assumes is common knowledge)Bible; Psalm 23:4

WORD PLAY:VALLEY vs ALLEY

LINE 2

I take a look at my life and realize there’s not much left

Been spending his life gaining & losing nothing.

Figuratively: lost the meaning of life.

LINE 3

Cause I’ve been blasting and laughing so long that

•The sound made by an explosion.•Good time: an enjoyable occasion of fun and laughter (slang)

way of expressing amusement

Enjoying gang lifeJoy or excitement of killing

LINE 4

Even my momma thinks that my mind is gone

•Mother does not know her own child•He had a personality change due to his gang affiliation (possible drug use)

LINE 5

But I ain’t never crossed a man that didn’t deserve it

•Kill•Back-stab

He never killed/back stabbed a man who showed him respect.

Informal language & Americanism

LINE 6

Me, be treated like a punk, you know that’s unheard of A young wild, lawless

personDenies being a lawless person; does not take responsibility for his actions

LINE 7-8

You better watch how you talking, and where youwalking

Or you and your homies

might be lined in chalk

Gang life lives on the principle of mutual respect. Trespassing on a gang’s territory or bad-mouthing them is a sign of disrespect and thus you are warned or killed (look at line 8)

Shortened version of ‘homeboy’: member of a US gang (slang)

Murder scene

LINE 9I really hate to trip, but I gotta loc’A drug induced hallucinating experience

Informal language: going to

He tries to stop but is too dependent on drugs either to forget his problem or give him the capability to do violence.

LINE 10

As they croak I see myself in the pistol smoke, foolSlang: to dieDeep hoarse sound

i.e. the sound his victims make as they die

Silly person; person whose conduct is unwise.

Refers to:•Himself•reader

He sees how they die as he shoots them.

LINE 11

I’m the kinda G the

little homies wanna be like

Informal language: kind ofwant to

Less important/new gang members or even young children living in the American ghettos

Old initiated gang memberThe capital letter might even suggest his importance in the gang

Older gang member is a roll model for the newer members

LINE 12 - 13On my knees in the night

Saying prayers in the street light

Might refer to:• Has no home or lives on the street and thus says his prayer on the streets.

• On his knees in a execution manner with a gun to his head praying that he won’t be shot

LINE 14 - 15

Been spending most our lives living in the Gangsta’s Paradise

Been spending most our lives living in the Gangsta’s Paradise

REPITION:Born into gangs due to social circumstances

LINE 16 - 17

Keep spending most our lives living in the Gangsta’s Paradise

Keep spending most our lives living in the Gangsta’s Paradise

REPITION:Stay in gangs because it is a way of life or a choice they made

ANSWERS1. In the title a contrast is present. Violence and

danger is associated with the word “gangster”. However, one thinks of peace, happiness and love when you hear the word “paradise”. Therefore, the writer emphasises the point that the streets are their paradise.

2. “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.”

The writer uses the reference to the verse in the Bible to emphasise the turmoil associated with gangster-life. Just like hardship is present in the life of a Christian, it is present in the life of gangsters. Instead of referring to the grace of God that comforts you, the writer refers to his life that has no meaning because of the life he chose. Thus, he may be referring to the idea that there is no room for religion or salvation in the life of a gangster.

3. The writer’s choice of words are the type of words gangsters use or words you associate with gangsterism, for example; gangsta, blasting, punk, croak, ain’t, gotta, kinda, G etc. These words are informal and some are slang words, it creates a relaxed atmosphere because of the disregard of language conventions. The words also contribute towards the mood of the poem, by creating a dark and tragic atmosphere because these words are associated with gangsterism.

4. The life of a gangster mainly takes place on the streets, where there are no societal rules and they mostly have no aim in life. They abuse alcohol and other banned substances and kill people who oppose them, or do not follow the rules of the street. They are subjected to gang violence.5. The “fool” can either be himself or the readers. It may be the reader, because the speaker insults the reader for not comprehending the obvious (life of the gangster). Or he may insult himself because of the bad choices he makes because of the type of life he leads.

6. The image created is either of the speaker who lives on the street and thus says his prayers on the streets. Or the writer creates a situation where the speaker is on his knees in a execution manner, with a gun to his head, praying that he won’t be shot.7. To emphasise the cruel nature of the speaker’s life and the point of no return to a normal life for the gangster. The word changes to show that the speaker did not choose this life and must continue this way of life as it is the only one he knows.