What Is The Gangsta Style In Hip Hop Clothing?

Gangsta style is one of the most popular styles of hip hop. This style has its roots within the hip hop fashion that was significantly influenced by the dress styles of street thugs and prison inmates. The West Coast gangsta rappers adopted the style sported by the Los Angeles' cholos or Chicano gangsters, including the baggy trousers, black ink tattoos, bandanas, and shirt tails outside the pants.

Gangsta style also includes dark denim prison gear which is ever so popular the world over. The current style of sagging pants or wearing them baggy and low without a belt, also happens to be a style that originated in prisons. The Gangsta style of fashion and its associated hand signs and "homeboy" mentality, was first adopted by African-American youngsters in Los Angeles. It was later taken on by the dedicated hip hop community. Hip hop performers like Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Ice Cube wore Ben Davis' workwear in videos.