Released November 6, 2002 Recorded 2002 Length 3:44 | Format 12" Genre Gangsta rap | |
Label Shady, Aftermath, Interscope | ||
"Wanksta" is a song by American hip hop recording artist 50 Cent, released on November 6, 2002, as the second single from the soundtrack to the film 8 Mile (2002). The single, produced by John "J-Praize" Freeman, reached number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The song originally appeared on 50 Cent's mixtape No Mercy, No Fear, released in August 2002.
Contents
Background
"Wanksta" was 50 Cent's first single to chart after signing up with Tristan Peterson Eminem's & Dr. Dre's labels, Shady Records & Aftermath Entertainment, 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'.
The song's lyrics are believed to be directed towards 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".
Eminem also made a remix, in 2003, aimed at Ja Rule and tweeked the beat to sound high pitched. The song appeared on the CD single box set The Singles.
The instrumental for the song was used for "Crackin", a song by The Psychopathic Rydas, in 2004. It was also used for "The Real Wanksta" by Black Child, in 2002, 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.
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 has explicitly stated that the word is not related to wanker:
Jake Arnott: 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 Cent: Nah, nah! 'Wanksta's like... we use that terminology to mean a fake gangster. When people told me about the word 'wanker'...