Oh Come On Rihanna

[ghanashyam]

Late Princess Diana may have many things against her but she was never " gangsta" ( a reflection of crime and violent culture). But thanks to the Rihanna she brought them together. I mean, the pop singers should stick to their culture, the culture of taking down clothes and perform like porn stars on the stage. Do not drag bring good people as inspirations.

"We're not sure how much the late Princess's style has really rubbed off on Rihanna though; we're pretty sure Diana never carried a penis-emblazoned clutch bag..........."

Anyway, I learnt a new word " gangsta",thanks to lady Rihanna.

http://fashion.telegraph.co.uk/news-features/TMG10350463/Rihanna-Princess-Diana-was-gangsta-with-her-clothes.html?utm_source=tmg&utm_medium=TD_rihanna0410&utm_campaign=FashionTDs

[LauraM]

I agree.  Rihanna could have taken her style cues from Princess Diana and commended her for them without calling her "gangsta!" 

I've noticed lately that people sometimes use this word as a compliment especially when it's clear that the person who is being complimented is anything but "gangsta."  It comes across to me as a trivialization of the word "gangsta" and suggests that the speaker needs a bigger vocabulary so as to be more precise and expressive.  Even a bigger slang vocabulary!   

But I think what's really happening here is that the meaning of the term is evolving and broadening from its original definition and it's being applied in ways that it wouldn't have been originally.  Which begs the question, of course, if someone really is gangsta, what can we call them, since supposedly Princess Diana was gangsta!

[justusforus]

Rihanna may have been trying to "class up" her image, ironically with a slang and a reference to a beloved icon.  Due to the domestic violence issues and her continued association with the abuser and her songs which are often demeaning or depict violence to women, she has to think about her fan base.  There are words she has unsed in interviews and songs I would not repeat in a public forum.

[Alfonso]

I think the meaning the term "gangsta" is evolving, I'm sure what Rihanna meant was just the flashy, high class style of the late Princess Diana. I'd like to say, you can't compare the Rihanna to Princess Diana, especially in terms of class and style.

[DiesIrae]

It's just Rihanna giving the term class, I suppose. It's kind of amusing seeing/hearing people do that, combining different things to give new meanings to them, probably to make things more accessible for many.

[JoeDirt]

Rihanna may have been trying to "class up" her image.

Class up her image? Did you see her new music video? Half naked "twerking" and calling her fans dollar signs.

On topic: the word "gansta" has many meanings today and some of them are positive and that's what she probably meant.

[Monox D. I-Fly]

On 10/7/2013 at 4:05 AM, JoeDirt said:

 

Class up her image? Did you see her new music video? Half naked "twerking" and calling her fans dollar signs.

What's the title of that song? Gotta look it up on YouTube.