O.G. is one who standin’ on his own feet
A boss is one who guarantee we gon’ eat
Rick Ross – Ima Boss
The term O.G. is the acronym for Original Gangster with the roots dating back to 1972 when Original was used by the Crips. It was used to insinuate that “we’re first” – the Originals. Two years later the word “Gangster” was added to form the Original Gangster Crips and they only used the term “O.G.” when writing their name or their neighbourhood.
Since then, “O.G.” has been widely used in hip-hop and hood culture in reference to original individuals within a certain area or just someone successful or highly skilled in any given area.
Rick Ross shares more of his wisdom with us in his verse on Ima Boss where he mentions how an O.G. is someone who can take care of themselves, who can achieve success in a certain field. Whereas a boss (pronounced “bawse” by Rick Ross) is someone who guarantees all their boys eat.
To expand this further, the term “eat” is used to describe success in such a way that everyone reaps and benefits from it. The prime example of this (as always) is a figure such as Jay-Z, who throughout the years has guaranteed quite a few people gon’ eat.
To quote him on this from his verse in Pound Cake:
I’ve done made more millionaires than the lotto did
Dame made millions, Biggs made millions
Ye made millions, Just made millions
Lyor made millions, Cam made millions
Beans’ll tell you if he wasn’t in his feelings
JAY-Z – Pound Cake
On a more relevant scale, this can be applied to many organizations and businesses in existence today. An O.G. in a business is someone who is highly skilled and experienced in his or her field, earning a respectable salary and living a comfortable life. However, a Bawse is someone who grows and expands their business so well that they are able to bring up those around them, empowering them and giving them an opportunity to eat together.
We shouldn’t underestimate the power businesses have within society. The success and growth of any business venture isn’t beneficial only to its shareholders, but rather to many others through the opportunities and positions created.
Do you want to be an O.G. or do you want to be a boss?
#HoodIntellectuals
