What does Thug Life stand for?
Most young people have probably come across the term "Thug Life" several times, at least online. The term is still widely used today, especially through the US hip-hop scene and viral meme culture. But what does it actually mean exactly?
The meaning of Thug Life
The term "thug life" originally comes from the US hip-hop scene of the 1990s. The well-known rapper Tupac Shakur coined with his Music this concept as a social phenomenon. Translated, "thug" means something like "gangster" or "criminal". Hip-hop fans use the term "Thug Life" to reflect their social solidarity with the impoverished, mostly Afro-American population of the USA and their cultural connection to the hip-hop scene and "life on the street" contrary.
According to Shakur, "Thug Life" is also an acronym for "The Hate U Give Little Infants Fucks Everybody." The hate you have for young children harms everyone." Shakur was probably referring to the political debates of the 1990s within of the USA, gangster rap and its mostly African-American fans are repeatedly directly related to crime and organized crime put. Shakur probably wanted to use the term to refer to the discrimination and the numerous prejudices of the (white) American population towards their Afro-American fellow human beings make.
How Thug Life spread
The term "thug life" has become widespread in recent years, mainly through social media and the associated viral meme culture. In addition to the cultural and political solidarity with the Afro-American rap scene, the term became a parodic expression of exaggerated, almost embarrassing coolness. Above all, daring and simply stupid actions are satirically commented on within the meme culture with "Thug Life". Oftentimes, sunglasses or joints are thrown into the Video/Image edited and the song "The Next Episode" by the well-known US black horse Dr. Played Dre and Snoop Dogg.
So the term changed online from an expression of solidarity with the US hip-hop scene to a satirical one Style element of the meme culture, the exaggerated coolness and daring actions, which were originally intended to show off, to "flex", parodies.
