Intro
Idris Elba Lyrics

Man I worked for one of the biggest companies in New York City
I was once employed by one of the most significant corporations in NYC.

He didn't own his own company, white man owned it, so they owned him
He wasn't the owner of his employer; a white man owned it, and hence, had control over him.

Nobody owns me though
However, I am liberated, and nobody can command me.

Your gangster is not defined by how low your jeans fall by your waist
One's gangster's persona cannot be determined by how low they wear their jeans on their waist.

But more how your genes stand up to their expectations
It is more about how one's character and traits satisfy others' demands and expectations.

Never forgetting where you came from
It is essential to remember and never ignore your roots and origins.

Your gangster, your gangster
Your gangster role and identity.

Gangsters, hustlers, republicans, democrats, pimps and hoes
Different categories of individuals like gangsters, hustlers, republicans, democrats, pimps, and prostitutes.

Conservatives, labor, the seller, the buyer, the product, the producer
Other examples of individuals or groups like conservatives, laborers, sellers, buyers, products or producers.

See you are what you are in this world
Your social identity is what you possess, stand for, and represent in society.

The gangster is absorbed and adored by those that don't understand the laws that govern gangsterment
The gangster character appeals and excites people who don't know the sanctions and rules that regulate gang life.

Gangsterment allows you to make up your own laws and create brand new words
The gangster culture creates new laws and vocabularies within its socialization process.

Gangster mentality
The attitude and way of thinking that defines a gangster.

Gangster mentality, an American way created by the white
This mentality began as an American phenomenon and was initiated primarily by white people.

Mastered by the black, and absorbed by the fiends, taxed by the governmentality, charted by Forbes
It was then improved and developed by black people and accepted by those addicted to it, taxed by the states, and outlined by Forbes magazine.

If you believe in Jay-Z then you too can be a gangster
Following Jay-Z's ideology can lead one to become a gangster just like him.

Then you too can be a gangster by any means necessary
You have the potential to be a gangster using whatever means necessary to get there.

By owning that dream, I mean it's a long walk to freedom but
By embracing the dream of being a gangster, it will be a lengthy journey to freedom.

While deep, deep, deep inside the bush
While being deep in the wilderness, well away from civilization.

The war on terror screams, damn it feels good
Despite the terrifying war, being a gangster still brings pleasure and fulfillment.

To be a gangster, swagger is not a must, it's a liability, a cliche, a bad suit
It is not necessary to have swagger to be a gangster, as it is more of a burden or stereotype rather than an advantage.

Cut the bullshit, you know if it wasn't for this, there would be no that
Let's be truthful. Without gangster culture, many would not exist.

Which we call, the American Gangster
This entire phenomenon is known as the American Gangster culture.