Nick Cannon Explains Why He Thinks "Gangster" Is A Worse Term Than "N*gger"

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Nick Cannon also said that Suge Knight once told him the streets were run by cowards because "real ones was either dead or locked up."

If you ask Nick Cannon, the term "gangster" has crippled inner-city communities. The media mogul's lengthy VladTV has been released in parts for over a week, and his latest clip has stirred up a bit of controversy. Cannon and Vlad were speaking about street life and "gangster" mindsets when Cannon made it clear that the word isn't one of his favorites.

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"I f*cking hate that term," Cannon said. "Because terms like that—'gangster' is worse than the word 'n*gger.' Simple as that. Because it's hurt our community way more than the word n*gger has. When you think about—because we embrace being a gangster so much that we kill each other. Even if many people kill us over the word 'n*gger,' think about how many gangsters have killed each other."

Vlad brought up that if you're not considered to be a gangster, people think that you're "soft." Nick added that people also go as far as to call themselves and each other "savages." Cannon said, "Do you know what a savage is? Somebody who eats people. And we embrace it!"

At the end of the clip, Cannon suggested that as "OG gangsters" get older, they become more reflective of their youth. He said the older generation of gang members use their latter years trying to dissuade younger generations from getting involved in the street life, but unfortunately, the cycle has already been set.

"Suge said something... Like some of the most deep stuff, too, in one of the stories he was explaining," said Cannon. "He was like, at some point it was nothing but cowards on the street 'cause all the real ones was either dead or locked up. So, now the game is being operated by cowards, and then once the cowards take out each other, then what you got left? Killed your whole community off." Watch the clip in full below.


About The Author
Erika Marie is a seasoned journalist, editor, and ghostwriter who works predominantly in the fields of music, spirituality, mental health advocacy, and social activism. The Los Angeles editor, storyteller, and activist has been involved in the behind-the-scenes workings of the entertainment industry for nearly two decades. E.M. attempts to write stories that are compelling while remaining informative and respectful. She's an advocate of lyrical witticism & the power of the pen. Favorites: Motown, New Jack Swing, '90s R&B, Hip Hop, Indie Rock, & Punk; Funk, Soul, Harlem Renaissance Jazz greats, and artists who innovate, not simply replicate.
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