gangsta, n. — Green’s Dictionary of Slang

gangsta n.

also G-ster

[SE gangster; the spelling is deliberately geared to emphasize the anti-establishment pose. The gangsta image, as propounded through rap music, offers an alluring mix of sex (often coerced), violence, drugs and illicitly gained money, but those same characteristics have made it a threatening force for conformists, whether black or white]

(US black)

1. a rebellious, non-conformist individual, who refuses to accept establishment (white) authority.

1991		L. Bing Do or Die (1992) 8: If you have been wearing your hair in one of the prescribed g-ster do’s [...] it is cropped close to the scalp.
1993		Dr Dre ‘Deeez Nuuuts’ 🎵 So recognize game from the gangsta.
1993		R. Shell Iced 33: The young ‘Yo-Yo’ boys and girls are all gangsta-mad.
1999		Dr Dre ‘Still D.R.E.’ 🎵 I’m representing for the gangstas all across the world.
2000		Guardian Rev. 1 Jan. 18: He dresses like a black gangsta, in yellow wraparound shades, baggy trousers and trainers.

2. a gangster, a criminal, esp. a member of organized crime or an urban gang.

1990		N. George ‘CPT Time’ in Buppies, B-Boys, Baps and Bohos (1994) 60: I saw no drive-bys and very few young men who fit the ‘gangsta, gangsta’ rhetoric.
2001		Source Aug. 32: Carlito, the war-weary OG, advises: ‘You ain’t a lawyer no more, Dave; you a gangsta now’.
2002		50 Cent ‘Wanksta’ 🎵 Me I’m no mobsta / Me I’m no gangsta / Me I’m no hitman, me I’m just me, me. [Ibid.] You say you a gangsta, but you neva pop nuthin / We say you a wanksta, and you need to stop frontin.

In compounds

gangsta-ass (adj.) [-ass sfx]

(US black) pertaining to the street culture of a black urban gangsta.

1999

Dr Dre ‘Let’s Get High’ 🎵 I’m lookin real sauce in my gangsta-ass Casey’s.

gangsta bitch (n.) [bitch n.¹ (1)]

(US) a woman who associates with a male gang and may participate in its activities.

1997–2002

Alt. Eng. Dict. 🌐 gangsta bitch A female who is less than a woman, who hangs out with or participates with a crowd that is involved in gang activity.

gangsta class (n.) (also gangster class)

(US black) the style affected by a young street thug and/or drug dealer.

1994		G. Smitherman Black Talk.
1998		‘Bug World Awards’ in Shepherd Express (Milwaukee) 30 Jul., XIX:31 🌐 She’s attracted to his appearance of gangster class, believing him part of the high-rolling world she desperately wants to enter.

gangsta juice (n.) [juice n.¹ (3a)]

(US black gang) Olde English malt liquor; Night Train wine.

1993

K. Scott Monster (1994) 194: We stopped at the ’hood store for drinks – Old [sic] English and Night Train, gangsta juice.

gangsta lean (n.)

see gangster lean n.

gangsta limp (n.)

(US black) a style of walking, characterized by a slight dip in the stride, adopted by young urban black men.

1997		Coolio ‘Can I Get Down’ 🎵 on My Soul [album] But I start on full wit a gangsta limp / Morris couldn’t see this pimp / I’m backslappin gimps.
2003		UGK ‘Front, Back and Side to Side’ 🎵 Never goin out out like simps, walkin your block with gangsta limp.

gangsta roll (n.) (also gangster roll) [roll n. (2)]

(US black) a large wad of paper money.

1994		G. Smitherman Black Talk.
1995		Kid Frost ‘La Familia’ 🎵 Smile Now Die Later [album] and now I get my gangster roll on / brand new clothes on.