title: Gangsta: Merchandizing the Rhymes of Violence
author:  Ronin Ro 
description: A collection of articles by freelance music reporter Ronin Ro, whose writing has appeared in <i>Spin, Rolling Stone, The Source</i> and <i>Rap Pages,</i> on the social ramifications of gangsta rap. Ro examines the proliferation of crack cocaine in the last decade and the rise of gang violence, and provides thorough criticism on the music this anarchic culture has spawned. Through insightful interviews and deft observations, Ro argues that record companies and artists looking to make a profit have contributed to the spread of gangs, and that the industry of gangsta rap validates, even promotes, misogyny, gun use and the corruption of children.
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  ![cover](docimages/cover_ader.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  # Prince
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ALSO BY RONIN RO
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  _Gangsta_
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  _Have Gun Will Travel_
  
  
  
  
  
  _Bad Boy_
  
  
  
  
  
  _Street Sweeper_
  
  
  
  
  
  _Tales to Astonish_
  
  
  
  
  
  _Raising Hell_
  
  
  
  
  
  _Dr. Dre_
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](docimages/tp.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  ![](docimages/image1.jpg)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  #### Contents
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [Part One: THE RISE](007_p1.html#p1)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [1\. This Thing Called Life](008_c1.html#c1)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [2\. Don’t Make Me Black](009_c2.html#c2)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [3\. Everybody Out](010_c3.html#c3)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [4\. Private Joy](011_c4.html#c4)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [5\. I May Not Be a Star](012_c5.html#c5)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [6\. All the Things People Say](013_c6.html#c6)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [7\. Parties Weren’t Meant to Last](014_c7.html#c7)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [8\. Be Glad That You Are Free](015_c8.html#c8)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [9\. You Say You Want a Leader](016_c9.html#c9)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [10\. Don’t Make Me Lose My Mind](017_c10.html#c10)
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  [11\. Everybody Can’t Be on Top](018_c1