gangsta rap

noun

: hip-hop music with lyrics explicitly portraying the violence and drug use of American inner-city gang life
gangsta rapper noun

Examples of gangsta rap in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This was a standout feature, particularly during the wee ‘90s dominance of gangsta rap, promoting equality and diversity within the hip-hop music genre. Ime Ekpo, Forbes, 22 Oct. 2024 This is a gangsta rap label and it’s called Death Row, not Heaven’s Gate! Kyle Denis, Billboard, 15 Oct. 2024 Combs’ lineup of rappers and singers presented a different sound from the gangsta rap, pop and grunge rock that were popular at the time. Char Adams, NBC News, 21 Sep. 2024 Jazz rap, boom bap, gangsta rap, all of it drew him in. Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 19 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for gangsta rap 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gangsta rap.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1989, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gangsta rap was in 1989

Dictionary Entries Near gangsta rap

Cite this Entry

“Gangsta rap.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gangsta%20rap. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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