Definition

Noun: 1. A member of a youth gang, especially one involved in street crime and associated with hip-hop culture: The term specifically refers to a person who lives a lifestyle characterized by gang affiliation, street credibility, and often criminal activity. It originates from African-American Vernacular English (AAVE) and is strongly linked to certain genres of rap music. 2. A person who adopts the style, attitude, or persona associated with gang culture: This can refer to someone who emulates the fashion, slang, and demeanor of a gangster, particularly in a musical or performative context, without necessarily being involved in actual criminal gangs.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The lyrics described the harsh reality of life as a gangsta in the inner city.
  • That rapper cultivates a gangsta image in his music videos.
  • The film explores the conflict between a young gangsta and his desire to leave that life.

Advanced Usage

• "Gangsta rap": A subgenre of hip-hop music that emerged in the late 1980s, characterized by lyrics that often portray the violence, materialism, and hardships of street gang life.
  • N.W.A. is often credited with popularizing gangsta rap.
• Used as an adjective (slang/informal): To describe something as authentically tough, cool, or extreme in a way associated with the gangsta persona.
  • That was a gangsta move. (Meaning: a bold, ruthless, or impressively daring action).

Variants and Related Words

• Gangster (noun): A member of a gang of criminals; a more general term not specific to youth culture or hip-hop.
• Gang (noun): A group of young people who associate closely, often exclusively, for social reasons, and may be involved in crime.

Synonyms

• Gangster
• Hoodlum (dated)
• Street thug
• Hustler (context-dependent)

Related Idioms

• "Gangsta's Paradise": Popularized by the song of the same name, this phrase is used to describe an environment or state of being defined by gang violence, poverty, and struggle.
  • The neighborhood he grew up in was no paradise; it was a gangsta's paradise.

Noun

1. (Black English) a member of a youth gang