Gangsta Wonderland

 

The gangsta image has been highly glorified in the rap/hip-hop community. It has become an exclusive image that makes men strive at all levels to be accepted into this hierarchy of "true" masculinity. Men find themselves "rolling with their homiees" into events, and activities, that are often times illegal. In other words, the more illegal the activity, the more masculinity is approved under those challenging requirements. The black male is seen constantly trying to get up to a level of achieving this masculinity by defying authority. The image that is embraced here is one of rebellion and one that possibly goes back to disapprove of the past slavery of a black man. It sees itself as empowering young men and shaping them to overthrow the same system that had once imprisoned them.