Song Details
- Album Release Date: 2012
- Genre: hip-hop
Song Meaning of “Dangerous” by Kevin Gates
Kevin Gates’ “Dangerous” captures the sentiment of many people who come from a disadvantaged and unheard background. In the song, he speaks in the perspective of someone living a life of hardship and crime. He conveys the idea that life is full of risks, but living with risks provides a sense of control. Equally, the danger of his lifestyle is something that gives him a sense of safety and security.
The song speaks to the duality of Gates’ experience—the fear of a life lived on the fringes tempered with the comfort of approval and agency. He doesn’t try to suppress the fear when it comes his way, rather he accepts it as a necessary evil that comes with a greater sense of courage and power.
Gates also highlights the idea of survival in his lyrics. He emphasizes that entering the dangerous world can be a way of survival, gaining money to take care of yourself and your family. This idea ties back to the idea of risk and control—gaining control by assuming the risks of a difficult situation.
The song provides an eye-opening view into a world that many people will never understand. It gives a voice to those who are rarely heard, and conveys the reality of danger in the face of poverty and lack of opportunity.