No, no I don't mean people running around talking that "gangsta sh*t" or people claiming that they are toting guns and whatnot. I'm asking why has that been all gangsta rap become? Some may say that is what it has always been, but that is only what it was on the surface and those that were more than likely frightened when gangsta rap first made its appearance.

I know that Ice Cube said that if you don't gangsta rap not to comment on it (in "Gangsta Rap Made Me Do It"), but I'm going to speak on it from a fan's perspective. What gangsta rap really used to be about addressing the problems and issues in our community. The guns and violence was just a fear and shock factor to get people's attention and to let people know that extreme measures would be taken if conditions did not change. This is actually the same mentality and rationing of the Black Panthers and Malcolm X. When Ice-T and N.W.A. came out, they were really trying to bring all of the issues that they were facing in their communities to the forefront and show those who were not living that lifestyle their day-to-day interactions with injustice.

However, if they just told the story and "complained" about their conditions, nobody would listen. The violence is what captures everybody's attention and got the focus put on these artists and the communities they were rapping about. The problem became that the market got flooded with "gangsters" and the focus of the communities and what their adversities they were facing were no longer the focus. The "machismo" image became the focus and that is now what we are stuck with today (with a few exceptions). In reality, about 90% of artists, no matter what category we tend to put them in (which an argument could be made that we need to stop categorizing at all), no incorporate gangsta rap elements, even if they are not considered a gangsta rapper.

This is exactly what Dead Prez is talking about on "Gangsta, Gangster" from Pulse of the People. Being "gangsta" has nothing to do with having the biggest gun or smoking the most weed. It's about fighting those elements that go against the good of your community and your culture. In order to do so, guns MIGHT be an effective way to get your point across, but they are not always necessary. Hopefully hip hop can recognize this and one day we will get back to the real gangsta music. Until then, we are just stuck with elements of gangsta music that are misguided. Listeners, if nothing else, do your part b at least recognizing the difference.

Let me know what you guys think. Will real gangsta rap ever make its way back? Is gangsta rap fine the way it is now? Let me hear it. Leave a comment and/or email at straightouttahiphop@gmail.com. And on another note, RIP to Teddy Pendegrass whose music is still in heavy rotation today. He has also had a heavy influence on many of hip hop's top artists. He will continue to live through his music.

Peace