gangsta

[ gang-stuh ]

noun

1. a member of an urban street gang:

   He was a true gangsta, and he fought like a soldier for his turf.

   Synonyms: cholo, homie, homeboy, thug

2. gangsta rap ( def ).

adjective

1. of or characteristic of urban street gangs, their members, or gangsta rap:

   There was no hiding his prison record or his gangsta tattoos from potential employers.

Word History and Origins

Origin of gangsta¹

First recorded in 1985–90; representing the typically r-less African American Vernacular English pronunciation of gangster ( def )

Example Sentences

Meanwhile, across America, Los Angeles was coming into its own as the capital of gangsta rap, led by menacing mogul Suge Knight's Death Row Records, which had Dr Dre and Tupac.

From BBC

Over the years, The Times spoke to Jones — who died Sunday at 91 — at many junctures in his career, where he recalled being a Black composer in Hollywood in a less-enlightened mid-century climate; making perhaps the biggest pop album of the century with Michael Jackson, and his heartbreak over gangsta rap’s real world violence that touched his family.

From Los Angeles Times

Govan introduced two young artist brothers, Kohshin and Delfin Finley, sons of Ron Finley, who is also known as the Gangsta Gardener.

From Los Angeles Times

They can just keep playing "Call of Duty" or scrolling social media without having to worry that their "gangsta" leader won't win.

From Salon

And I realized how political it is, more political than gangsta rap music — like, you can’t have certain people working with each other!

From Los Angeles Times