Paper Gangsta Lyrics
I think this is about LA Reid (Mr. California) and her time signed to Def Jam... With the Def in the Jam reference, and the signing monkey papers and empty pages full of stuff... And also the promises (diamond words) that they would make to her to get her to sign with them, but she is not interested in money making record company executives (paper gangstas) like LA Reid who is notorious for fu**ing his artists over (Toni Braxton, Janet Jackson, Rihanna, TLC etc etc etc...)
My Husband and I have a theory: We think it's about a prenuptial.
My Husband and I have a theory: We think it's about a prenuptial.
This song discusses the institution of marriage, or at least, power in relationships. These lyrics first speak as an individual as an active subject of their reality. Lady Gaga is not being talked about as an object, through the Patriarchal Gaze, as someone who does not have any ideas, emotions, or power of her own. She is not a tool. Instead she proclaims herself a superwoman, she won’t stop being who she is, and that she knows what she wants in a man. She then states what she wants, not what she thinks she should want to please someone else. She will not accept anyone who is less than “real.” She will not accept someone who just puts on a show to impress her. She will not “sign her life away.” Basically, she will not commit to a relationship that will just use her. Hence, a “paper gansta” is someone who uses tradition patriarchy to get what they want from her. Here, her themes of empowerment and independence from power are clear. At first, all the attention from a man seems great. Yet, his intentions were not honest, not “real.” The man in question was not “rapping to the beat of her heart.” He was not looking for love, but it seems a good time. Hence, if she signs (stays) with him, she’s been played. She knows this. She refuses this traditional masculine power structure as defined in relationships. She will not be a tool. She will be herself, and anyone who wants to be fabulous with her, must be true to her heart, to the beat of her song. She knows what she wants. She will not accept anything less. She is smart, confident, and is an active authority in her life. But with every song, like art, there's different interpretations. This song could also be about her time with Def Jam.
This is a juxtaposition of her talking about Def Jam and how it let her down and disappointing guys I think. She's not just talking about her bad experience with getting signed and how nothing moved though. She's definitely also talking about wanting a "real man," or a relationship with a real guy who's "just as fabulous" as her.
The song has like a double meaning. It's about her signing with Def Jam and then them letting he down, but its also about a guy who has money and is using it for all the wrong reasons, like trying to buy her love.
I love the haunting piano throughout the song, it really reflects the horror of those people who are out there to bring you down for their own benefit... she's brilliant.
I agree completely with these interpretations, just wanted to pronounce my love of the poetic beauty to this song-- well dissembled, but it's there. I think in essence this song is a cross-metaphor between relationships and the music business, and how there are Paper Gangstas in both "realms" which really might not be so different as they seem.
favorite lines: 'Sometimes I felt so Def in the Jam' 'till your diamond words melted into some ice' & 'I'm looking for a love, not an empty page full of stuff that means nothing but "you've been played"'
I think this song is about a Prenup. Because "get me something shiny to start." And " the dinners were nice" " Diamond words melted into ice" It just makes sense.
hah dont know what this is about, but absolutely love it.
First of all, this is such an underrated song. I agree that the song can have two meanings but I think it's more about Def Jam records. The imagery in the song is mostly related to writing, recording, and performing music and being "courted" by a record label (although I can see how "monkey papers" could be a prenup). Also, the line "You pimp LA" is, I think, a reference to how Def Jam screws over lots of Hollywood acts. She's basically saying even though you didn't believe in me I'm famous and you could have been a lot better off had you stuck with me (You shoulda been rappin to the beat of my song) but that's OK cause I'm a lot better off cause I didn't stick with you (A superwoman chick you know that I am). Throughout The Fame Gaga uses love and relationships as metaphors for fame and most of the songs can be interpreted both ways, but conceptually the album is still about fame.
Cuz the ones who loved me, told me to stop Like homegirl cant catch sh*t if it drops
i think she says BUT not CUZ....
You should have been around rapping to the beat of My song Mr. California, paper gansta RAW and Im looking For love,