Wanksta
Encyclopedia
"Wanksta" is the second single from the 8 Mile
soundtrack
. Released in 2002, the single, performed by 50 Cent
, reached No. 13. It was first used on the mixtape No Mercy, No Fear
.
's & Dr. Dre's labels, Shady
/Aftermath
, as well as his first single since 1999's Thug Love. Originally appearing on his 2002 mixtape No Mercy, No Fear
, it received a lot of airplay, and was eventually added to the 8 Mile soundtrack. It was a bonus track (track 17) on his 2003 commercial debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin'. Eminem also made a remix aimed at Ja Rule
and tweeked the beat to sound high pitched.
The song's lyrics are believed to speak against long time nemesis Ja Rule
, but 50 Cent
disputed this himself in a MuchMusic
interview, stating that the song was not directed against Ja Rule, "But Ja Rule is a wanksta".
The instrumental for the song was used for "Crackin", a song by The Psychopathic Rydas
. It was also used for "The Real Wanksta" by Black Child, who is signed to The Inc. and was beefing with 50 because he was affiliated with Ja Rule.
R&B girl group Blaque
recorded an answer song entitled "No Ganksta" in 2003.
50 Cent
has explicitly stated that the word is not related to wanker
:
from Family Guy
appeared in a short clip at the 20th annual MTV Video Music Awards
insulting 50 Cent, which has become a viral video circulating on numerous online services. Stewie, with blocks spelling out "MTV", Rupert and a baby toy in the background, reads some words from this song in a comical voice, then commenting: "Well, good luck finding the subject and predicate of that run-on sentence! And what the bloody hell does it mean, "we don't go nowhere without toast"? Now, you listen to me, Mr. Cent. If you want to make it in this business, lay off the doobie!". He then pulls out a hitherto concealed sign reading "Stewie for Governor".
8 Mile (film)
8 Mile is a 2002 American hip-hop drama film written by Scott Silver, directed by Curtis Hanson, and starring Eminem, Mekhi Phifer, Brittany Murphy, and Kim Basinger....
soundtrack
8 Mile (soundtrack)
-Album:-Singles:-Certifications:...
. Released in 2002, the single, performed by 50 Cent
50 Cent
Curtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by...
, reached No. 13. It was first used on the mixtape No Mercy, No Fear
No Mercy, No Fear
No Mercy, No Fear is the second mixtape by 50 Cent and G-Unit. It was recorded after signing a $1 million deal with Aftermath Entertainment and Shady Records after releasing his 2002 compilation album Guess Who's Back?...
.
Background
The song was his first single to chart after signing up with EminemEminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
's & Dr. Dre's labels, Shady
Shady Records
Shady Records is an American record label specializing in hip hop music. Eminem and his manager Paul Rosenberg founded the label in 1999 after the release of The Slim Shady LP.Since the formation, the label has signed nine acts...
/Aftermath
Aftermath Entertainment
Aftermath Entertainment is an American record label founded by Dr. Dre. It operates as a subsidiary of, and is distributed through, Universal Music Group's Interscope Records. Current acts include Dr. Dre, Eminem, 50 Cent and Slim da Mobster, with former acts including Busta Rhymes, Game, Raekwon,...
, as well as his first single since 1999's Thug Love. Originally appearing on his 2002 mixtape No Mercy, No Fear
No Mercy, No Fear
No Mercy, No Fear is the second mixtape by 50 Cent and G-Unit. It was recorded after signing a $1 million deal with Aftermath Entertainment and Shady Records after releasing his 2002 compilation album Guess Who's Back?...
, it received a lot of airplay, and was eventually added to the 8 Mile soundtrack. It was a bonus track (track 17) on his 2003 commercial debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin'. Eminem also made a remix aimed at Ja Rule
Ja Rule
Jeffrey Atkins , better known by his stage name Ja Rule, is an American rapper, singer, and actor.Born in Hollis, Queens, he began his career in the group Cash Money Click and debuted in 1999 with Venni Vetti Vecci and its single "Holla Holla"...
and tweeked the beat to sound high pitched.
The song's lyrics are believed to speak against long time nemesis Ja Rule
Ja Rule
Jeffrey Atkins , better known by his stage name Ja Rule, is an American rapper, singer, and actor.Born in Hollis, Queens, he began his career in the group Cash Money Click and debuted in 1999 with Venni Vetti Vecci and its single "Holla Holla"...
, but 50 Cent
50 Cent
Curtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by...
disputed this himself in a MuchMusic
MuchMusic
MuchMusic is a Canadian English language Category A specialty channel owned by Bell Media. MuchMusic is dedicated to music-related programs, pop and youth culture.-History:...
interview, stating that the song was not directed against Ja Rule, "But Ja Rule is a wanksta".
The instrumental for the song was used for "Crackin", a song by The Psychopathic Rydas
Psychopathic Rydas
Psychopathic Rydas is an American hip hop group based in Detroit, Michigan. Formed in 1999, the group consists of Psychopathic Records-associated rappers performing under alternate stage names in the style of mainstream gangsta rap...
. It was also used for "The Real Wanksta" by Black Child, who is signed to The Inc. and was beefing with 50 because he was affiliated with Ja Rule.
R&B girl group Blaque
Blaque
Blaque is an American Urban-R&B group that had a string of hits in the late 90’s. The group's name stands for Believing, Life, Achieving, Quest, Unity, Everything. Their debut album sold more than 1.5 million copies and was certified Platinum...
recorded an answer song entitled "No Ganksta" in 2003.
Etymology
The title is generally accepted as a portmanteau word meaning "self-obsessed, show-off person". The precise origin is debated, although most theories suggest a blend of "gangsta" and "wannabe".50 Cent
50 Cent
Curtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by...
has explicitly stated that the word is not related to wanker
Wanker
Wanker is a pejorative term of English origin, common in Commonwealth and ex-Commonwealth countries, including Britain, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. It initially referred to an onanist but has since become a general insult. It is synonymous with tosser.-Meaning:The term wanker...
:
JA: And another claim to fame: you introduced the word 'wanksta' into the language with your track 'Wanksta'. That word sort of means something in England — does it mean the same in America?
50: Nah, nah! 'Wanksta's like... we use that terminology to mean a fake gangster. When people told me about the word 'wanker'...
In popular culture
Stewie GriffinStewie Griffin
Stewie Griffin is a fictional character from the animated television series Family Guy. Once obsessed with world domination and matricide, Stewie is the youngest child of Peter and Lois Griffin, and the brother of Chris and Meg....
from Family Guy
Family Guy
Family Guy is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian...
appeared in a short clip at the 20th annual MTV Video Music Awards
MTV Video Music Awards
An MTV Video Music Award , is an award presented by the cable channel MTV to honor the best in music videos...
insulting 50 Cent, which has become a viral video circulating on numerous online services. Stewie, with blocks spelling out "MTV", Rupert and a baby toy in the background, reads some words from this song in a comical voice, then commenting: "Well, good luck finding the subject and predicate of that run-on sentence! And what the bloody hell does it mean, "we don't go nowhere without toast"? Now, you listen to me, Mr. Cent. If you want to make it in this business, lay off the doobie!". He then pulls out a hitherto concealed sign reading "Stewie for Governor".
Chart positions
| Chart (2002) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
13 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | 4 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Rap Tracks Hot Rap Tracks Rap Songs is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States. It lists the 25 most popular hip-hop/rap songs, calculated weekly by airplay on rhythmic and urban radio stations and sales in hip hop-focused or exclusive markets. From 1989 through 2001, it was based on how much the single... |
3 |