Gangsta (Kehlani song)

"Gangsta" is a song by American singer and songwriter Kehlani. It serves as the fourth and final single from the Suicide Squad soundtrack. The song was released on August 1, 2016 by Atlantic Records and was written by Kehlani, Myron Birdsong, Skylar Grey, Andrew Swanson and JMIKE, with the latter two also producing the song.^[2] Lyrically the song speaks to their desire for a gangster's love for them referring to the relationship between The Joker and Harley Quinn in the movie from the latter's point of view. The song is also featured on the deluxe edition of SweetSexySavage.

"Gangsta"
Single by Kehlani
from the album Suicide Squad: The Album and SweetSexySavage (deluxe edition)
Released	August 1, 2016
Recorded	2016
Studio	Atlantic Studios (Los Angeles, California)
Genre	Alternative R&B
Length	2:57
Label	Atlantic
Songwriter(s)	Kehlani Parrish Skylar Grey[1] Andrew Swanson Jeremy Coleman Jason Evigan Jacob Luttrell
Producer(s)	JMIKE Djemba Djemba
Kehlani singles chronology
"Distraction" (2016) "Gangsta" (2016) "Keep On" (2017)
Suicide Squad singles chronology
"Purple Lamborghini" (2016) "Gangsta" (2016) "Standing in the Rain" (2016)
Music video
"Gangsta" on YouTube

Music video

The music video premiered in August 2016 on Kehlani's YouTube account. In the video Kehlani is seen in places making multiple references to the movie. They start lying in a room of broken glass next to the bat Harley uses in the movie, swimming in a pool of water similar to acid Harley dives into, performing aerial acrobatics on the ceiling, dancing in a club for a love interest who looks similar to the Joker with green hair, tattoos and purple clothes and finally meeting that love interest outside. This is intercut with scenes from the movie showing the relationship of Harley and the Joker.

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2016–2017)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[3]	61
Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[4]	54
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[5]	37
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100)[6]	56
France (SNEP)[7]	81
Ireland (IRMA)[8]	76
Italy (FIMI)[9]	66
New Zealand Heatseekers (Recorded Music NZ)[10]	2
Portugal (AFP)[11]	49
Scotland (OCC)[12]	41
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100)[13]	39
Sweden Heatseeker (Sverigetopplistan)[14]	9
UK Singles (OCC)[15]	57
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[16]	12
US Billboard Hot 100[17]	41
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[18]	13

Year-end charts

Chart (2016)	Position
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[19]	84

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[20]	Gold	40,000‡
Poland (ZPAV)[21]	Gold	25,000‡
Portugal (AFP)[22]	Gold	5,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[23]	Silver	200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[24]	Platinum	1,000,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

1. "Kehlani's "Gangsta" Wasn't Originally Written For The 'Suicide Squad' Soundtrack". Genius. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
2. "Kehlani – Gangsta Lyrics - Genius Lyrics". Retrieved August 17, 2016.
3. Ryan, Gavin (August 22, 2016). "Australian Singles: The Chainsmokers and Halsey Have No 1 Song". Noise11. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
4. "Kehlani – Gangsta" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
5. "Kehlani Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
6. "ČNS IFPI" (in Czech). Hitparáda – Digital Top 100 Oficiální. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select 34. týden 2016 in the date selector. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
7. "Le Top de la semaine : Top Singles Téléchargés - SNEP (Week 32, 2016)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on September 4, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
8. "Chart Track: Week 33, 2016". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
9. "Classifica settimanale WK 36" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved September 10, 2016.
10. "NZ Heatseekers Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. August 15, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2016.
11. "Kehlani – Gangsta". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved September 8, 2016.
12. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
13. "ČNS IFPI" (in Slovak). Hitparáda – Singles Digital Top 100 Oficiálna. IFPI Czech Republic. Note: Select SINGLES DIGITAL - TOP 100 and insert 201634 into search. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
14. "Vecolista Heatseeker – Vecka 33, 19 augusti 2016" (in Swedish). Sverigetopplistan. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
15. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 20, 2016.
16. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 17, 2016.
17. "Kehlani Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
18. "Kehlani Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2016.
19. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2016". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
20. "Canadian single certifications – Kehlani – Gangsta". Music Canada. Retrieved February 15, 2018.
21. "OLiS - oficjalna lista wyróżnień" (in Polish). Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved June 21, 2023. Click "TYTUŁ" and enter Gangsta in the search box.
22. "Portuguese single certifications – Kehlani – Gangsta" (PDF) (in Portuguese). Associação Fonográfica Portuguesa. Retrieved February 7, 2023.
23. "British single certifications – Kehlani – Gangsta". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved April 8, 2019.
24. "American single certifications – Kehlani – Gangsta". Recording Industry Association of America.

External links

• Lyrics of this song at Genius