gangsta


Also found in: Dictionary, Thesaurus, Wikipedia.
Related to gangsta: gangsta rap

gangsta

1. noun, colloquial African-American slang Someone who is an active member of a criminal gang or engages in a lifestyle characterized by criminal activities; a gangster. Mom's worried you're gonna become a gangsta and end up dead.
2. noun, slang By extension, one who is tough or aggressive or exhibits such a persona. That guy's a real gangsta—I'm a little intimidated by him, honestly.
3. adjective, slang Tough and aggressive and exhibiting bold action. The term usually implies approval of such action. A: "I can't believe I just demanded all that money from him!" B: "I know, that was so gangsta, dude!"
4. adjective Describing a style of rap music characterized by lyrics and themes concerning the struggle of urban life, gang membership, violence, and sexual exploits. Ice-T is considered a forefather of gangsta rap.

gangsta rap

A style of rap music characterized by lyrics and themes concerning the struggle of urban life, gang membership, violence, and sexual exploits. Ice-T is considered a forefather of gangsta rap.
See also: gangsta, rap

baby gangsta

slang A gangster who is deemed by others to be insignificant or illegitimate. Ignore him, he's just a baby gangsta, new on the scene.
See also: baby, gangsta

baby gangsta

and BG
n. a baby gangster; a fake gangster. (Streets.) He’s just a baby gangsta. Got a lot of growing to do. Little “BGs” grow up to be real ones.
See also: baby, gangsta
References in periodicals archive ?
David says: "I'm delighted that my Gangsta Granny has made her West End debut
Gangsta Granny is hitting the road; GOING OUT
All in all, Gangsta Granny manages to be as much "hip-hop" as "hip op" and really puts the old into old school - go see it.
review
David even added cheeky elements of their characters to his Gangsta Granny.
'I think it's a fantastic show, so much better than the book! As his novel Gangsta Granny is brought to life on stage in Cardiff, DavidWalliams reveals the inspiration behind the book - and how writing for children is a real passion
The first section of this essay examines the origins of and responses to gangsta rap.
From Compton to Cape Town: black(faceless)ness and the appropriation of gangsta rap in Die Antwoord's "Fok Julle Naaiers"
He mediates between the poles of what might be labeled the "middle-class uplift" position of appalled critics who view gangsta culture as a badge of racial servitude, and those observers who contend that depicting the "real" conditions of lower-class African American urban life exposes racial injustice and might even offer "revolutionary" inspiration.
Under a Bad Sign: Criminal Self-Representation in African American Popular Culture
While heavy metal downsized and carved out a comfortable niche far outside the musical mainstream, gangsta rap--which conveniently emerged as Middle America's favorite bugaboo just as the Satanic specter of metal was declining--has permeated the culture at large to a degree that is sometimes difficult to fully measure.
No more rap on culture
Posse's over-the-top depiction of a black, West Coast gangsta rap group and the comics' liberal use of the N-word made me want to figure out what would compel Marra, who is white and grew up in New York, to create such an incendiary work.
In conversation: Benjamin Marra with Ashok Kondabolu
Remarkably life-like, down to his signature tattoos, Timberland boots and jewellery, the hologram stalked the stage, swapping phrases with Snoop Dogg and performing 2 of Amerikaz Most Wanted, Come With Me, and Gangsta Party.
Tupac Shakur hologram steals show at US music festival
Taking a cue from the many gangster movies in B- town, he has named it Gangsta.
Arjun's newfound joy -- a pup
50 cent LG Arena, Birmingham GANGSTA rapper 50 Cent may have been lying low-key in recent times but he proved why he has done enough to keep his fans coming back for more year after year.
Gangsta rap storms Brum
When he'd finally released Gangsta for Life: The Symphony of David Brooks in 2007, the album played like a collection of the previous year and a half's roughest but also biggest tunes.
Mavado Mr. Brooks ... A Better Tomorrow (VP)
The problem with the gangsta shit is it really promotes killing your own at any cost to get your money.
TOK
But instead of starting out as a nice, innocuous bit of romantic interest, the 11-time Grammy-winning artist opted for a screen debut that the toughest gangsta raptress might have thought twice about doing.
ALICIA KEYS: SOUL SINGER, ACTION STAR
Nuthin' but a "G" Thang: The Culture and Commerce of Gangsta Rap.
Eithne Quinn. Nuthin' but a "G" Thang: The Culture and Commerce of Gangsta Rap
MediaSentry, an investigator retained by the recording industry, had allegedly caught her collecting gangsta rap on her hard drive late one night using peer-to-peer file sharing software.
Stop the music: taking on the record industry
Idioms browser ?
Full browser ?