Crossword Genius

Unruly mobs almost beat this rap (7)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

gangsta

'this rap' is the definition.
(type of rap music)

'unruly mobs almost beat' is the wordplay.
'unruly mobs' becomes 'gangs'.
'almost' means to remove the last letter (most of the word but not all of it).
'beat' becomes 'tan' (I've seen this before).
'tan' with its last letter removed is 'ta'.
'gangs'+'ta'='GANGSTA'

(Another definition for gangsta that I've seen is " Style of rap".)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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