This is ironic, my mom and I were talking about Puff earlier...
People have different definitions of gangsta. I never thought Puff was soft, but "not soft" isnt synonymous with "gangsta". Having money and connections to go into any war isnt synonymous with gangsta either, but it does mean you are on mob-like status...
People from NY would have a better idea than me. I dont think Puff is a gangsta in the truest sense of the word, but I do think he not someone to fukk with, because he can get a situation handled without getting his hands dirty. That itself can be looked at as gangsta, and I don't have an issue with that. I've never heard of Puff shaking shyt with gangstas (like someone else said, when I've heard him running down on people, none of those people are recognized as g's), but because gangstas respect him, and he has always had gangstas around him and who will slide for him, that type of authority and respect is kinda gangsta...