Gangster Movies in Gangsta Rap

Since the birth of Hip-Hop, there have been two main schools of thought: on one hand, prominent observers welcomed it as the main instrument to give voice to the voiceless. On the other hand, critics have condemned Hip-Hop and addressed it as a dreadful art. Gangsta rap is a highly controversial topic that has been discussed by many scholars during the last two decades. There are several angles from which this argument has been approached, such as political and feminist. However, little attention has been paid to a very crucial aspect of this Hip-Hop's sub-genre: its sources. Why the name “gangsta” rap? Where do rappers take their stage names from? What are the sources of their lyrics? The act of representing is pivotal to rap generation, therefore where do rappers take their inspiration from? How `real' are gangsta rappers? The aim of this book is to answer to all these questions by studying gangster movies and in what ways they have influenced gangsta rap, highlighting the fusion between gangsta rappers and gangster movies, focusing on films where rappers leave the stage to perform as actors.