After self-financing an EP and a music video, Dahlia was brought to the attention of veteran record executive Sylvia Rhone by A&R representative Amanda Berkowitz. In 2012, describing Dahlia as "more than just a pop artist," Rhone signed her to her newly-launched label, Vested In Culture (VIC), a joint venture with Epic Records. Dahlia's debut album is set to come out in 2013, and will be VIC's inaugural release.
Dahlia's first single and video for VIC is the track "Gangsta", which MTV called "filled to the brim with fierce rapping". Shot in Miami, the video for "Gangsta" reflects the difficulties of her earlier life. The video, which was directed by Samantha Lecca, premiered on Vevo on March 5, 2013, and Dahlia was selected as a BET "Music Matters" artist.
Dahlia digitally released three songs, "Gangsta", "Money Party", and "Mirror" on March 5, 2013.
Gangsta
Kat Dahlia Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You say you a gangsta, ain't seen a thing you've done
I do it all on myself, I ain't getting help
From no one, from no one
Yeah I'm young, 21, living in a crazy world
But I know the difference between a man and a herb
You frontin' like you got it, claim they hatin' on your wallet
No I ain't stunting like my daddy, he's livin' with my granny
Used to be a big baller, he's surviving off of gambling
But I love him he's my daddy, yeah I love him he's my daddy
Put him in a big house before I ever see a Grammy
And my mommy started working days at the church
Finding faith in God cause the real world hurts, so much evil lurks
They just make us work but we can't find work
Abuela, mommy and the girls in a one bedroom
South beach lifestyle, they just paying for the view
Mommy on the couch since she was 42
Sacrificing for the kids cause that's what mommies do
So I smoke my spliff, I spliff it hard
Candi says to stop, my voice is getting too harsh
So I sobered up and my thoughts they rush
And now I think of you behind bars
Cross state lines, they spliffing good
In Miami you catch a charge and the whole family tears apart
You say you a gangsta, that don't impress me none
You say you a gangsta, ain't seen a thing you've done
I do it all on myself, I ain't getting help
From no one, from no one
You say you a gangsta, that don't impress me none
You say you a gangsta, ain't seen a thing you've done
I do it all on myself, I ain't getting help
From no one, from no one
And this recession so depressing
My parents don't stop stressing
Just hoping I learned all their lessons
Mm and I'm paying for this session, I'm paying for this session
And I'm paying rent, food, clothes, phones, Christmas presents
Six shots in, I'm just counting all my blessings
No days off baby, I ain't resting
I told my sins, now I'm done confessing
You say you a gangsta, that don't impress me none
You say you a gangsta, ain't seen a thing you've done
I do it all on myself, I ain't getting help
From no one, from no one
You say you a gangsta, that don't impress me none
You say you a gangsta, ain't seen a thing you've done
I do it all on myself, I ain't getting help
From no one, from no one
One way to the top, I'll make with what I got
You want my number, baby, I'm on a mission, catch up
Men selling love like thieves
But when the girlie leaves he'll start flirting with me
So I took on my heart, off my sleeve
Never trust a man cause they all hungry
Yeah, they all hungry
Never trust a man cause they all hungry
Right when you thought you had me
Baby, you just lost someone
Finally got over you
Baby, time to move on
Never learned your lesson
Ain't even gon' question
Why it went so wrong
Right when you thought you had me
Baby, you just lost someone
Finally got over you
Baby, time to move on
Never learned your lesson
Ain't even gon' question
Why it went so wrong
You say you a gangsta, that don't impress me none
You say you a gangsta, ain't seen a thing you done
In Kat Dahlia's "Gangsta," she sings about not being impressed by a man who claims to be a gangster but hasn't actually done anything to prove it. She asserts her independence and self-sufficiency, saying that she does everything on her own and doesn't need any help from anyone. The song also delves into the hardships that Kat and her family have faced, with her father living with her grandmother and surviving off gambling while her mother works hard at a church to support the family. The song is a testament to Kat's resilience and determination to succeed on her own terms, despite obstacles and naysayers.
In the first verse, Kat creates a contrast between herself and the man claiming to be a gangster. She notes that she is young and living in a crazy world, but she knows the difference between a man and a "herb" (someone who is weak or not authentic). She calls out the man for fronting and pretending to have more than he actually does, including a Gucci watch that he watches obsessively. Meanwhile, Kat's father used to be a "big baller" but now lives with her grandmother and survives through gambling. Kat expresses her love for her father, but also her desire to provide for him and her family by putting him in a big house before she ever wins a Grammy. In the pre-chorus, she describes her mother's sacrifice to work at a church since the real world hurts so much, but also notes the difficulty in finding work.
The chorus is a repetition of the lines "You say you a gangsta, that don't impress me none/ You say you a gangsta, ain't seen a thing you've done/ I do it all on myself, I ain't getting help/ From no one, from no one." Here, Kat asserts her self-sufficiency and again calls out the man who claims to be a gangster but hasn't actually done anything to impress her. In the second verse, she talks about the recession and how it's affecting her family, with her parents constantly stressing and hoping that she learned from their lessons. She also talks about the financial burden of paying for a therapy session, rent, food, clothes, phones, and Christmas presents. However, she counts her blessings and acknowledges that she has no days off and never rests because she's focused on making it to the top.
The bridge talks about the theme of never trusting a man because they're all hungry and will sell love like thieves. Kat takes her heart off her sleeve and resolves not to trust any man because they can't be relied upon. In the final chorus, Kat repeats the lines in the first chorus but adds a new section where she sings about finally getting over a previous relationship and moving on, never questioning why it went so wrong.
Line by Line Meaning
You say you a gangsta, that don't impress me none
The fact that you claim to be a gangster doesn't impress me in any way.
You say you a gangsta, ain't seen a thing you've done
I haven't seen any of your actions that prove you are actually a gangster.
I do it all on myself, I ain't getting help, From no one, from no one
I am independent and do everything myself, without any help from anyone.
Yeah I'm young, 21, living in a crazy world
I am only 21 and living in a world that is quite insane.
But I know the difference between a man and a herb
I can tell the difference between a real man and a fake one.
You frontin' like you got it, claim they hatin' on your wallet
You are pretending to have money, while blaming others for trying to take it from you.
Gucci telling you the time and you watch it
You are so obsessed with your luxury items that you even use them to tell time.
No I ain't stunting like my daddy, he's livin' with my granny
I am not living a flashy life like my father, who is actually living with my grandmother.
Used to be a big baller, he's surviving off of gambling
My father used to have a lot of money, but now he is barely getting by through gambling.
But I love him he's my daddy, yeah I love him he's my daddy
Even though my father is going through tough times, I still love him because he is my dad.
Put him in a big house before I ever see a Grammy
I would rather make sure my father has a comfortable home before I earn any music awards.
And my mommy started working days at the church
My mother has started working at the church during the day.
Finding faith in God cause the real world hurts, so much evil lurks
My mother has turned to God for strength and guidance because the world is so full of negativity and darkness.
They just make us work but we can't find work
We are always made to work hard, but we cannot find meaningful work that will help us get ahead in life.
Abuela, mommy, and the girls in a one-bedroom
My grandmother, mother, and sisters all live together in a small one-bedroom apartment.
South beach lifestyle, they just paying for the view
Even though we live in a popular and trendy area, we are struggling to make ends meet and can only enjoy the view.
Mommy on the couch since she was 42
My mother has been struggling and unable to find a good job since she turned 42 years old.
Sacrificing for the kids cause that's what mommies do
My mother is making a lot of sacrifices for us because that is what good mothers do.
So I smoke my spliff, I spliff it hard
I smoke my marijuana cigarette and enjoy it thoroughly.
Candi says to stop, my voice is getting too harsh
My friend Candi tells me to stop smoking because it is harsh on my voice.
So I sobered up and my thoughts they rush
I stop smoking and my thoughts start racing.
And now I think of you behind bars
My thoughts turn to you being behind bars and the impact it has on our family.
Cross state lines, they spliffing good
People are smoking marijuana across state lines and enjoying it thoroughly.
In Miami you catch a charge and the whole family tears apart
If you get caught doing something illegal in Miami, it could tear apart the whole family.
And this recession so depressing
The current recession is very depressing.
My parents don't stop stressing
My parents are constantly worrying about our financial situation.
Just hoping I learned all their lessons
My parents are hoping that I have learned from their experiences and will be able to succeed despite the challenges.
Mm and I'm paying for this session, I'm paying for this session
I am paying for this therapy session myself.
And I'm paying rent, food, clothes, phones, Christmas presents
I am responsible for paying for all of my own expenses, including rent, food, clothes, phones, and Christmas gifts.
Six shots in, I'm just counting all my blessings
After drinking six shots, I am reflecting on all of the good things in my life.
No days off baby, I ain't resting
I am constantly working hard and never taking a break.
I told my sins, now I'm done confessing
I have confessed my sins and am ready to move on.
One way to the top, I'll make with what I got
I am determined to make it to the top, using my current resources.
You want my number, baby, I'm on a mission, catch up
If you want my phone number, you'll have to work hard to catch my attention because I am focused on achieving my goals.
Men selling love like thieves
Men are trying to sell me love, as if it is something that can be bought or stolen.
But when the girlie leaves he'll start flirting with me
As soon as the other girl leaves, he will start flirting with me instead.
So I took on my heart, off my sleeve
I have decided to stop wearing my heart on my sleeve and be more guarded.
Never trust a man cause they all hungry
I have learned not to trust men because they all seem to be after something for themselves.
Right when you thought you had me, Baby, you just lost someone
Just when you thought you had power over me, you actually lost someone important in your life.
Finally got over you, Baby, time to move on
I have finally moved on from you and it is time for me to start a new chapter in my life.
Never learned your lesson, Ain't even gon' question Why it went so wrong
You never seem to learn from your mistakes, and I am not going to waste my time questioning why things went wrong between us.
Lyrics © Songtrust Ave, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: JUSTIN ANTHONY DESANTIS, KATRIANA HUGUET
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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This is proof that I can enjoy rappers if they told better stories.
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