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I don't consider myself a gangsta rapper. But I'm probably more qualified to be a gangsta rapper than people who call themselves that. I've been through that life.

I believe that I understand gangs better than others. Because they're formed out of necessity. They're formed by people to keep from being suppressed.

I've written a book on gangs, taught a course on gangs at Occidental.

I'm not a gangster, bro.

I know people in gangs; I could have went down that route.

As I got older, I got into all kinds of things in the streets - but for some reason, I never got caught up with the gangs growing up. Everybody dug me, man. I never had problems.

I've never been in a gang. None of my friends have been in a gang. I've never rolled around with big entourages.

I'm a gangster, and gangsters don't ask questions.

I wanted the attention I missed at home, so I became the leader of a gang. That way, I got attention and was recognized as being important. It wasn't a bad gang - you know, in poor districts in New York, there's a gang to every block. We never robbed at the point of a gun; we'd steal potatoes from a grocery store, or crackers.

In fashion, there are so many gangs, if you identify too much with one, you get caught - I would lose my freedom.