I was reading this argument at the beginning so I'm not sure what direction it has gone, but I sort of see both perspectives.
DJ Chameleon is right in that if you are going to rap about the gang bangin, than you should have some street cred, otherwise the music is fake and your a poser. After all authentic music is suppose to come from the heart and personal experience.
Janzoon is right in that musicians (in this case rappers) are creative people who often affiliate or brush shoulders with those who walk on the dark side of life, but they themselves are not usually thugs.
Thugs & psychopaths aren't usually at the top of the creative heap so its up to the rappers who've dabbled in the street life to tell the story. If only the hardened gangster was allowed to rap his tale, than gangster rap would hardly exist.
I'm from Canada so a good rule of thumb to spot a studio gangster is if they're allowed to cross the border or rap abroad, because if you have a criminal record its a no go.
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