Bun B Keeps It Gangsta

Written by Rizoh. Posted in Gumbo

Published on March 06, 2008 with 32 Comments">32 Comments

bun_b.jpg
[Photo © Rizoh]

I had an opportunity to interview Bun B for ENVY magazine the other day. I asked him about cynics who may or may not judge his song “That’s Gangsta” by its title.

He had an interesting response to that:

“People still judge books by the cover. And to read a song title saying “That’s Gangsta,” the most obvious connotation will be that I’m talking about shooting people or hurting people. But if you listen to the record, you’ll see that what I’m talking about is that walking around feeling like you gotta beat people up and shoot people up is not gangsta. That ain’t what being gangsta is.

Standing up for what you believe in, standing up for people that can’t stand up for themselves and being true to yourself and not what people want you to be — that’s gangsta.”

What about you? What was your initial reaction when you read the song title?

Bun B feat. Sean Kingston – “That’s Gangsta”

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TRU

Rizoh

Rizoh is the most powerful man in all the lands. He lives in Houston where he earned a BS in Nerf Herding. He's the founder of The Rap Up, the editor of Roc4Life.com, and is in the Grammy-awaiting band Pervertable Disciples.

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  • Ali G

    my initial response was ‘fuck is sean kingston doin here’

  • Ali G

    my initial response was ‘fuck is sean kingston doin here’

  • buggalosoldier

    I got love for both bun and pimp c. They are a hood legends in my eyez

  • buggalosoldier

    I got love for both bun and pimp c. They are a hood legends in my eyez

  • Don Dada

    Awwready..bun keeps it real

  • Don Dada

    Awwready..bun keeps it real

  • onetime

    iono man, it sho sounded like he was talking bout shooting people up and shit

  • onetime

    iono man, it sho sounded like he was talking bout shooting people up and shit

  • pks

    did he say something bout his partner oding on syrup? buahahaha

  • pks

    did he say something bout his partner oding on syrup? buahahaha

  • montay

    i never really listen to a bun b album unless the song was on TV but i might buy this new album

  • montay

    i never really listen to a bun b album unless the song was on TV but i might buy this new album

  • blip

    you shoulda asked him how shitty rappers like him still sell

  • blip

    you shoulda asked him how shitty rappers like him still sell

  • esbee

    LOL @ blip…Bun is prolly better than your fav rapper’s fav rapper..

    @Riz: I was hmmm..this should be interesting..

  • esbee

    LOL @ blip…Bun is prolly better than your fav rapper’s fav rapper..

    @Riz: I was hmmm..this should be interesting..

  • khal

    i mean, anytime the word “gangsta” is thrown around, the automatic thought is “ok he talking about being a G”. the problem is that people will read track titles and not peep the actual message. at least in hip-hop – its almost like sarcasm or irony is lost in hip-hop, due to niggas staying on that “keep it real” shit. critics are quick to prejudge, while when a nigga like Bun B does a track with a message or breaking something down, its lost. like his verse on “Cocaine” – he went in on that one, and it wasnt just “sellin that whiiiiiiiiiiite!”, but the assumption is just “oh, another crack song”.

  • khal

    i mean, anytime the word “gangsta” is thrown around, the automatic thought is “ok he talking about being a G”. the problem is that people will read track titles and not peep the actual message. at least in hip-hop – its almost like sarcasm or irony is lost in hip-hop, due to niggas staying on that “keep it real” shit. critics are quick to prejudge, while when a nigga like Bun B does a track with a message or breaking something down, its lost. like his verse on “Cocaine” – he went in on that one, and it wasnt just “sellin that whiiiiiiiiiiite!”, but the assumption is just “oh, another crack song”.

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  • sam

    Is it just me or is that the wackest song out all year

  • sam

    Is it just me or is that the wackest song out all year

  • dpgc

    Can somebody hit us up with the song?

  • dpgc

    Can somebody hit us up with the song?

  • G-Harp The Producer

    Hmm…
    My reaction was really curiosity, because anything an artist as allented as Bun B is not gonna make a “go shoot and sell drugs” “gangsta” song.

  • G-Harp The Producer

    Hmm…
    My reaction was really curiosity, because anything an artist as allented as Bun B is not gonna make a “go shoot and sell drugs” “gangsta” song.

  • E.Tiggidy

    Iunno but throw up the audio and let me hear it. That’s what I says

  • E.Tiggidy

    Iunno but throw up the audio and let me hear it. That’s what I says

  • Mjlovesthekids

    Same response as the sean kingston comment. No lie, I wanted to slap Bun B, cause he’s better than that.

    Sean Kingston?!

    Was it THAT necessary?

  • Mjlovesthekids

    Same response as the sean kingston comment. No lie, I wanted to slap Bun B, cause he’s better than that.

    Sean Kingston?!

    Was it THAT necessary?

  • http://my.rawkus.com/xn/detail/u_ivanrott Ivan

    …and yeah, what the fluuuuuuuuuuuuuuck is Baby Biggie doing on this track…?

  • http://my.rawkus.com/xn/detail/u_ivanrott Ivan

    …and yeah, what the fluuuuuuuuuuuuuuck is Baby Biggie doing on this track…?

  • Joel W

    I thought it was ironic when I read the title.

  • Joel W

    I thought it was ironic when I read the title.

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