--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In my head, I was getting 'gangsta,'…" description: "\"“In my head, I was getting 'gangsta,' which I've always felt showed greater intent than getting 'gangster' in that it expresses a willful unlawfulness ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd6/mat-johnson-20820_quote_in-my-head-i-was-getting-gangsta-which-i_1487056.jpg" --- # In my head, I was getting 'gangsta,' which I've always… ![“In my head, I was getting 'gangsta,' which I've always felt showed greater intent than getting 'gangster' in that it expresses a willful unlawfulness even upon its own linguistic representation.” quote by Mat Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd6/mat-johnson-20820_quote_in-my-head-i-was-getting-gangsta-which-i_1487056.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd6/mat-johnson-20820_quote_in-my-head-i-was-getting-gangsta-which-i_1487056.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd6/mat-johnson-20820_quote_in-my-head-i-was-getting-gangsta-which-i_1487056.jpg) > ““In my head, I was getting 'gangsta,' which I've always felt showed greater intent than getting 'gangster' in that it expresses a willful unlawfulness even upon its own linguistic representation.”” [Mat Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker distinguishes “gangsta” as a term implying deliberate, rebellious intent, more so than “gangster.” **In simple terms:** “Gangsta” sounds more rebellious than “gangster.” Key Takeaway Recognize how word choice signals attitude. Themes language identity rebellion Mood defiant reflective Type cultural observational When to use this quote - music lyrics - street culture - personal branding Key Concepts semantic nuance intent perception Questions to Reflect On - How does slang shape perception of intent? - When does word choice affect credibility? A Different Perspective May be misinterpreted as glorifying crime. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gangsta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gangsta/) [Gangster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gangster/) [Gangster Expresses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gangster-expresses-5431548/) [Getting Gangsta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-gangsta-5431550/) [Unlawfulness Linguistic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unlawfulness-linguistic-5431551/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a gangster, I'm a straight up G. The gangster life is the life for me..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-a-gangster-i-m-a-straight-up-g-the-gangster-life-is-the-life-for/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Every night her body gets jacked up by that gangsta love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-night-her-body-gets-jacked-up-by-that-gangsta-love/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm so gangsta prissy chicks don't wanna fuck wit me. I'm so gutta ghetto girls fall in love with me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-m-so-gangsta-prissy-chicks-don-t-wanna-fuck-wit-me-i-m-so-gutta/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I aint no hipster but girl I can make youre hips stir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-miller/i-aint-no-hipster-but-girl-i-can-make-youre-hips-stir/) [Mac Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-miller/) > [“When you understand the mechanincs of stress and master the techniques to manipulate someone's fears and dreams, you will be powerful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-understand-the-mechanincs-of-stress-and-master-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm a culinary gangsta with a very spiritual side, so when I was introduced to the 'spiritual gangster' line, I had to have it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-fieri/i-m-a-culinary-gangsta-with-a-very-spiritual-side-so-when-i-was/) [Guy Fieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-fieri/) > [Most of the things we call gangsta are acts of fear, takes way more courage and strength to find a way to act out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/most-of-the-things-we-call-gangsta-are-acts-of-fear-takes-way-more/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [They say make a song about cars & drugs but even gangsta mawfcka's fall in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/they-say-make-a-song-about-cars-drugs-but-even-gangsta-mawfcka-s-fall/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ima a gangster ima stright up g the gangster life is the life for me killing people by day selling drugs by night the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ima-a-gangster-ima-stright-up-g-the-gangster-life-is-the-life-for-me/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I think people see me definitely as a "gangsta" rapper, and what people love about me is when they meet me and they meet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheek-louch/i-think-people-see-me-definitely-as-a-gangsta-rapper-and-what-people/) [Sheek Louch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheek-louch/) > [Me I'm no Wanksta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/50-cent/me-i-m-no-wanksta/) [50 Cent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/50-cent/) > [I'm gangsta, yep, you can never play me, Log on to the 'net and I'm a be online waitin, I'm gangsta, so gangsta, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chamillionaire/i-m-gangsta-yep-you-can-never-play-me-log-on-to-the-net-and-i-m-a-be/) [Chamillionaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chamillionaire/) > [I believe gangsta rap, as such, in its foundation is simply anti-systemic and transgressive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bocafloja/i-believe-gangsta-rap-as-such-in-its-foundation-is-simply-anti/) [Bocafloja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bocafloja/) > [He brought a sensibility and a hard-edged reasonableness to operating restaurants that had a lasting impact on me and still affects how I run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bastianich/he-brought-a-sensibility-and-a-hard-edged-reasonableness-to-operating/) [Joe Bastianich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bastianich/) > [Party crasher, panty snatcher. Call me up if you're a gangsta. Don't be fancy, just get dancy Why so serious?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-nk/party-crasher-panty-snatcher-call-me-up-if-you-re-a-gangsta-don-t-be/) [P!nk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-nk/) ## More by Mat Johnson > [“The Antarctic gives the impression of being white, but really it's blue. Almost entirely constructed of that pale, powder blue that at times can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-johnson/the-antarctic-gives-the-impression-of-being-white-but-really-it-s/) [Mat Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-johnson/) > [“You've got to admit, slick, you got a skill for avoiding the devil." "That just means that now the devils out there, looking for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-johnson/you-ve-got-to-admit-slick-you-got-a-skill-for-avoiding-the-devil-that/) [Mat Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-johnson/) > [Long-haul trucking. Just roaming the country, alone, with audiobooks and podcasts, sleeping in the back of the cab, showering at gas stations at 4…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-johnson/long-haul-trucking-just-roaming-the-country-alone-with-audiobooks-and/) [Mat Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-johnson/) > [“That is how they stay so white: by refusing to accept blemish or history. Whiteness isn't about being something, it is about being no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-johnson/that-is-how-they-stay-so-white-by-refusing-to-accept-blemish-or/) [Mat Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-johnson/) > [My weak suit is whatever each reader hates about each book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-johnson/my-weak-suit-is-whatever-each-reader-hates-about-each-book/) [Mat Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-johnson/) > [It is a great moment in every freak's life when he or she finds out that at least they are not the only one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-johnson/it-is-a-great-moment-in-every-freak-s-life-when-he-or-she-finds-out/) [Mat Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-johnson/) > [“There are two types of lazy bosses. One is so lazy that they make you do not only your own work but theirs too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-johnson/there-are-two-types-of-lazy-bosses-one-is-so-lazy-that-they-make-you/) [Mat Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-johnson/) > [My strong suit is that I've been willing to risk on the page to get somewhere interesting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-johnson/my-strong-suit-is-that-i-ve-been-willing-to-risk-on-the-page-to-get/) [Mat Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-johnson/) > [“In this age when reality is built on big lies, what better place for truth than fiction?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-johnson/in-this-age-when-reality-is-built-on-big-lies-what-better-place-for/) [Mat Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-johnson/) > [“The people, they need someone to live through. Trust me, I used to be in roller derby back in the day. People need a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-johnson/the-people-they-need-someone-to-live-through-trust-me-i-used-to-be-in/) [Mat Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-johnson/) > [Even drunk, I knew any escape plan that involved going to Detroit, Michigan, was a harbinger of doom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-johnson/even-drunk-i-knew-any-escape-plan-that-involved-going-to-detroit/) [Mat Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-johnson/) > [“In the ghetto there is a mansion, and it is my father's house... Its expansive lawn is utterly useless, wild like it smokes its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-johnson/in-the-ghetto-there-is-a-mansion-and-it-is-my-father-s-house-its/) [Mat Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-johnson/) > [“I have always loved quitting jobs. Whether because the job itself was repugnant or the people working at it with me, I have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-johnson/i-have-always-loved-quitting-jobs-whether-because-the-job-itself-was/) [Mat Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-johnson/) > [I love the idea of biracial. I actually don't use the word biracial. I tend to use mixed. Biracial to me accentuates the word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-johnson/i-love-the-idea-of-biracial-i-actually-don-t-use-the-word-biracial-i/) [Mat Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-johnson/) > [I start with fear. It comes in so many forms. When I write, some of the fear goes away. So I write into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-johnson/i-start-with-fear-it-comes-in-so-many-forms-when-i-write-some-of-the/) [Mat Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-johnson/) [Explore all 30 Mat Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-johnson/) ## More Gangsta quotes > [Party crasher, panty snatcher. Call me up if you're a gangsta. Don't be fancy, just get dancy Why so serious?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/p-nk/party-crasher-panty-snatcher-call-me-up-if-you-re-a-gangsta-don-t-be/) [P!nk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/p-nk/) > [He brought a sensibility and a hard-edged reasonableness to operating restaurants that had a lasting impact on me and still affects how I run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-bastianich/he-brought-a-sensibility-and-a-hard-edged-reasonableness-to-operating/) [Joe Bastianich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-bastianich/) > [I believe gangsta rap, as such, in its foundation is simply anti-systemic and transgressive.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bocafloja/i-believe-gangsta-rap-as-such-in-its-foundation-is-simply-anti/) [Bocafloja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bocafloja/) > [I'm gangsta, yep, you can never play me, Log on to the 'net and I'm a be online waitin, I'm gangsta, so gangsta, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chamillionaire/i-m-gangsta-yep-you-can-never-play-me-log-on-to-the-net-and-i-m-a-be/) [Chamillionaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chamillionaire/) > [“When you understand the mechanincs of stress and master the techniques to manipulate someone's fears and dreams, you will be powerful.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-you-understand-the-mechanincs-of-stress-and-master-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm a culinary gangsta with a very spiritual side, so when I was introduced to the 'spiritual gangster' line, I had to have it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-fieri/i-m-a-culinary-gangsta-with-a-very-spiritual-side-so-when-i-was/) [Guy Fieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-fieri/) > [Me I'm no Wanksta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/50-cent/me-i-m-no-wanksta/) [50 Cent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/50-cent/) > [I think people see me definitely as a "gangsta" rapper, and what people love about me is when they meet me and they meet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheek-louch/i-think-people-see-me-definitely-as-a-gangsta-rapper-and-what-people/) [Sheek Louch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheek-louch/) > [Hang to the side pass that shit to the left ima rip this shit and push it off my chest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hang-to-the-side-pass-that-shit-to-the-left-ima-rip-this-shit-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [There is a white girl from Australia that spits in an Australian accent, and her name is Chelsea Jane. That I can get into.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rah-digga/there-is-a-white-girl-from-australia-that-spits-in-an-australian/) [Rah Digga](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rah-digga/) > [Ain't No Doubt I'm Definately one of a kind. A Crazy Little Bitch That'll Blow Ya Mind!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ain-t-no-doubt-i-m-definately-one-of-a-kind-a-crazy-little-bitch-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Sorry! The fuck machine is temporarily out of order..So fuck yourself and save a quarter!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/sorry-the-fuck-machine-is-temporarily-out-of-order-so-fuck-yourself/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I see you ..beside me ^\_^](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki/i-see-you-beside-me/) [Nikki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki/) > [Nas always been my favorite rapper, but 50 Cent, he changed my way of thinking about music 'cause he was so detailed in his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/schoolboy-q/nas-always-been-my-favorite-rapper-but-50-cent-he-changed-my-way-of/) [Schoolboy Q](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/schoolboy-q/) > [You kick like me, no exaggeration necessary Living revolutionary, nothin' less than legendary Gangsta shit heredity, got it from my dad Flow colder than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ti/you-kick-like-me-no-exaggeration-necessary-living-revolutionary/) [TI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ti/) [Browse all 227 Gangsta quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gangsta/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“In my head, I was getting 'gangsta,' which I've always felt showed greater intent than getting 'gangster' in that it expresses a willful unlawfulness even upon its own linguistic representation.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mat Johnson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-johnson/in-my-head-i-was-getting-gangsta-which-i-ve-always-felt-showed/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Gangsta" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-johnson/in-my-head-i-was-getting-gangsta-which-i-ve-always-felt-showed/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd6/mat-johnson-20820_quote_in-my-head-i-was-getting-gangsta-which-i_1487056.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd6/mat-johnson-20820_quote_in-my-head-i-was-getting-gangsta-which-i_1487056.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd6/mat-johnson-20820_quote_in-my-head-i-was-getting-gangsta-which-i_1487056.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“In my head, I was getting 'gangsta,' which I've always felt showed greater intent than getting 'gangster' in…” — Mat Johnson", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Mat Johnson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mat-johnson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“In my head, I was getting...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-johnson/in-my-head-i-was-getting-gangsta-which-i-ve-always-felt-showed/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mat-johnson/in-my-head-i-was-getting-gangsta-which-i-ve-always-felt-showed/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```