“Guns and butter” is an economic concept that represents the trade-off between a nation's investment in defense (guns) and civilian goods (butter). It comes from the idea that a country has limited resources, so it must choose how to allocate them — more spending on the military means less for domestic needs, and vice versa.

In a broader or cultural sense, especially in hip-hop and street culture, “guns and butter” can symbolize the difference between:

• "Guns" – things that hold long-term value, like assets, power, or knowledge
• "Butter" – flashy, short-term luxuries like jewelry, cars, or unnecessary spending