Coolio

Released: July 19, 1994

Producer: Wino

[Verse 1]
I know a place where the trees don't grow
Just another place where niggas live low
I know a place where life is fucked up
Make a wrong move and your ass get stuck up
Time ain't nothin' but a frame of mind
And life is like a mountain or a steep ass climb
I've been lookin' for a place to leave
The only free place is inside of me
So let's take a trip, and you don't need a grip
But you better be equipped cause it might be some shit
African-American, nothin' but a nigga
Had our fingers on the trigger, but I pulled mine quicker
I know a place where there ain't no calm and
You better stay away if you're soft like Charmin
South Central, Los Angeles, Watts, and Compton
A nigga from the west coast on his way to Harlem

[Verse 2]
Now it's time to step into the light (Light)
Put up your dukes, there's gonna be a fight (Fight)
And when it's time to fight, you better fight right
'Cause if it don't fight right, out goes your light
Take a close look at what I'm freakin' on
Niggas think I'm tweakin', but I'm speakin' on
Subject matter, data
Information that I gather
Through my travels
'Cause the hardest of the hard, hit hardcore killer
Can't stop the slug of a nine millimeter
Everybody thinks they know, but they know not
If they haven't caught a cap on the block *gunshot*
So shine up your boots and pick up the pieces
Grab a fresh pair of khakis with the sharp ass creases
Ring the alarm, here comes the storm
I got a firearm on my way to Harlem

[Verse 3]
I know a place where the sun don't shine
Everybody is a victim of neighborhood crime
I know a place where niggas walk the line
One false step and they must do time
Since I'm in the same boat
I must stay afloat
And sing every note
From the quotes that they wrote
So, I look into the past and walk the path of the greats
So I won't make the same mistakes that sealed my ancestors fates
If I had to be a slave I'd rather be in my grave
If I get in how many lives could I save?
One, two, three, a hundred, a thousand
My heart is poundin', the devil keeps soundin'
But he don't want my money, he wants my soul
So I reach like a tree, and like a weed I grow
My stomach is full, but my mind is starvin'
Rollin in a g ride on my way to Harlem

Born Artis Leon Ivey Jr., Coolio is a West Coast rapper who reached insane popularity levels in the mid 90’s with his hit “Gangsta’s Paradise” and album of the same name. Unfortunately he is now often referred to as a one-hit wonder, despite having multiple hits before and after “Gangsta’s Paradise”, including “Fantastic Voyage”, “1, 2, 3, 4 (Sumpin' New)”, and “C U When U Get There”.

He has also had several minor acting roles along with a semi-successful career as a chef, having released multiple cook books, the most famous of which being “Cooking with Coolio”.

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