Lyrics Original Translation Bilingual
Street Science, you're on the air, "Static" What do you feel when you hear a record like Tupac's new one? Static I love Tupac's new record, "Static" Right but don't you feel like that creates, "Static" A tension between East and West? Static He's talking about killing people, "Static" I had sex with your wife and not in those words, "Static" But he's talking about I wanna see you deceased, "Static" No doubt, to live and die in L.A. California, what you say about Los Angeles Still the only place for me that never rains in the sun And everybody got love To live and die in L.A., where everyday we try to fatten our pockets Us niggaz hustle for the cash so it's hard to knock it Everybody got they own thang, currency chasin' Worldwide through the hard times, warrior faces Shed tears as we bury niggaz close to heart What was a friend now a ghost in the dark, cold hearted 'bout it Nigga got smoked by a fiend, tryin' to floss on him Blind to a broken man's dream, a hard lesson Court cases keep me guessin', plea bargain Ain't an option now, so I'm stressin', cost me more To be free than a life in the pen Makin' money off of cuss words, writin' again Learn how to think ahead, so I fight with my pen Late night down Sunset likin' the scene What's the worst they could do to a nigga got me lost in hell To live and die in L.A. on bail, my angel sing To live and die in L.A., it's the place to be (And the angels go) You've got to be there to know it, what everybody wanna see To live and die in L.A., it's the place to be You've got to be there to know it, what everybody wanna see It's the, City of Angels and constant danger South Central L.A., can't get no stranger Full of drama like a soap opera, on the curb Watchin' the ghetto bird helicopters, I observe So many niggaz gettin' three strikes, tossed in jail I swear the pen the right across from hell, I can't cry 'Cause it's on now, I'm just a nigga on his own now Livin' life Thug style, so I can't smile Writin' to my peoples when they ask for pictures Thinkin' Cali just fun and bitches, hahaha Better learn about the dress code, B's and C's All them other niggaz copycats, these is G's I love Cali like I love woman 'Cause every nigga in L.A. got a little bit of Thug in him We might fight with each other, but I promise you this We'll burn this bitch down, get us pissed to live and die in L.A. To live and die in L.A., it's the place to be (Let my angel sing) You've got to be there to know it, what everybody wanna see To live and die in L.A., it's the place to be You've got to be there to know it, what everbody wanna see 'Cause would it be L.A. without Mexicans? Black love brown pride and the sets again Pete Wilson tryin' to see us all broke, I'm on some bullshit Out for everything they owe, remember K-DAY Weekends, Crenshaw, MLK Automatics rang free, niggaz lost they way Gang signs being showed, nigga love your hood But recognize and it's all good, where the weed at? Niggaz gettin' shermed out Snoop Dogg in this muthafucka perved out, M.O.B. Big Suge in the Low-Low, bounce and turn Dogg Pound in the Lex, wit a ounce to burn Got them Watts niggaz with me, OFTB They got some hash took the stash left the rest for me Neck bone, Tre, Head Ron, Punchy too Big Rock got knocked but this one's for you I hit the studio and drop a jewel, hopin' it pay Gettin' high watchin' time fly, to live and die in L.A. To live and die in L.A., it's the place to be (Let my angel sing) You've got to be there to know it, what everybody wanna see To live and die in L.A., it's the place to be You've got to be there to know it, what everybody wanna see This go out for 92.3 and 106 All the radio stations that be bumpin' my shit Makin' my shit sells katruple quitraple platinum, hehe This go out to all the magazines that supported me All the real motherfuckers All the stores, the mom and pop spots A&R people, all y'all motherfuckers L.A., California Love part motherfuckin' two Without gay ass Dre ย
Lyrics meaning The lyrics present Los Angeles as both a beloved home and a dangerous place. The speaker celebrates its people, neighborhoods, music, and energy, while describing grief, legal trouble, violence, and the pressure to make money. The mood moves between pride and affection, and stress and defiance: loving the city does not mean pretending that life there is easy.
Several images capture this contrast. โCity of Angelsโ sounds peaceful, but the nearby โconstant dangerโ and helicopters overhead suggest a harsher reality. The repeated phrase โlive and dieโ makes belonging feel intense: Los Angeles is not just somewhere to visit, but a place that can shape oneโs whole life. Writing with a pen is also presented as a way to think ahead and respond to hardship, turning music into a form of work and self-expression.
The songโs admiration is strong, but not simple or uncritical. Its affection for Los Angeles includes pride in local identity and community, even as it acknowledges conflict between neighborhoods and the costs of street life. The chorus calls the city a place everyone wants to see, while the verses suggest that outsiders may misunderstand it. The lyrics leave open whether this devotion is hopeful, defiant, or both.