Are you a big fan of Hip Hop music and culture? Here are some words/ phrases derived or spread from the Hip Hop culture, which is the most prolific generators and popularizers of slang. Some terms that emerge from hip-hop take decades to enter the mainstream (where they are then often mistaken as “new”), while others catch fire instantly but then flame out due to overuse.
double entendre
A word or phrase that has a double meaning, with one of
the meanings usually naughty or rude. Hip-hop artists’ tradition of pushing the
limits of language have made them the foremost proliferators of advanced
wordplay in modern times. One of hip-hop’s wordplay staples is the double
entendre, a phrase or entire verse packed with a double meaning. Some of the
most skilled wordsmiths have layered in four or even more potential meanings
into a single line, with hip-hop fans often dissecting and debating potential
interpretations.
fresh
Speaking of fashion, in the 1980s fresh became a generic
slang term of approval, like cool or sick. This is a word fundamental to
hip-hop, as the fashion documentary Fresh Dressed (2015) chronicles. To be
fresh is to be sharp and impeccably dressed. “Young people can create an
aesthetic within the culture where other young people will look at them and go,
‘Man … I respect how he looks. He’s dignified,’” says Fresh Dressed director
Sacha Jenkins, a former music editor at Vibe. “That’s what hip-hop did: it gave
a lot of people an identity.”
diss
Originating as a shortening of disrespect and now
mainstream as both a noun and a verb, the word diss was born as rap slang.
Disses are as much a part of rap as boasts, with entire songs (diss tracks)
devoted to insulting rivals and fueling ongoing beefs. Both diss tracks and rap
battles follow in the time-honored Black tradition of verbal sparring known as
the dozens (among other names).
homie
Homie is thought to be short for homeboy, which can mean
a close friend from the same neighborhood. But more generally, it just means a
friend. And hip-hop often has a strong focus on identifying one’s true friends.
def
to describe a person, thing, or event that is cool,
great, excellent, dope, or terrific
keeping it real
Hip-hop magazine XXL defines keeping it real as “the act
of staying true to one’s self or upbringing”—even in the midst of challenges
or, conversely, attaining massive success. Synonymous expression is “pushin’ P”.
steez
You seein’ this steez? Originating in the 1980s, the word
steez combines style and ease and is a unique, personal style pulled off with
ease.
thug life
When you should do something, but instead you call Thug
Life and do something else, usually something way less productive. When you
shouldn't do something, but instead you call Thug Life and do it anyway.
GOAT
In sports, legends like LeBron James, Michael Jordan, and
Serena Williams are often referred to as the G.O.A.T.—the “Greatest Of All
Time.” We can attribute the term G.O.A.T. to the actual G.O.A.T. himself:
Muhammad Ali. But by 2000, the term had become popular enough in the rap scene
that LL Cool J named his album G.O.A.T.—The Greatest Of All Time. It’s now
common for rap fans and outlets to debate who is rap’s G.O.A.T., with the likes
of Jay-Z, Tupac, and the Notorious B.I.G. often topping lists.
skrrt skrrt
A word used to describe having to quickly get out of
situation, or simply getting to a certain place as fast as you can.
stan
A blend of stalker and fan, the term stan describes an
“overly enthusiastic fan, especially of a celebrity.” This term is linked to
Eminem’s 2000 song “Stan.”
okurrr
Okurrr is a fun, sassy, and trilled way of saying OK and
a catchphrase of rapper Cardi B. It originates in drag culture and was notably
featured on RuPaul’s Drag Race. Not sure how to pronounce it? According to
Cardi B, it should sound like “a cold pigeon in New York City.”
phat
The first records of phat—a respelling of fat—come from
around 1960. It came to be used as a synonym for cool and as a positive
descriptor of attractiveness, especially applied to women, leading to
(unsupported) theories that the word stands for “Pretty Hot And Tempting,”
among other creative phrases.
da bomb
Da bomb is a compliment; it means something is “the
best.” Kriss Kross released “Da Bomb” in 1993, and now the phrase is remembered
as a relic of that era.
jiggy
Remember “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It,” Will Smith’s 1997 hit? Jiggy
means nervous; active; excitedly energetic. wonderful and exciting, especially
because stylish.
How about practicing what you’ve learned by
filling in the blanks in the following sentences?
1.
Pete: You gotta check out the new Tex-Mex restaurant
“Mamacita”! Their Carne Guisada is da ___________________!
Jenn: Yeah, I heard a lot of locals
saying the place is ______!
2.
Uh-oh! Looks like Nick got a bit tipsy. Guess
we should ____________________ out of here before he does something stupid.
3.
The late King of Pop often complained about
having a lot of crazy _________________ in front of his house night and day,
sneaking into his bedroom closet.
4.
At work, I might wear a button-down shirt tucked
into ironed slacks, but on weekends, I keep it _________________ with baggy
jeans and a hoodie.
5.
Sheila: Seriously? I can’t cover for you today,
Tom! It’s Friday!
6.
I loved her stand-up-comedy last night! It
was full of witty double-________________!
7.
Dang! Myles was getting ______________ wearing
the ___________ shades on!
8.
Lia has a way with words! All her novels have
___________________!
9.
Jimmie had mid-terms the following day, but
he just called ___________ _______________ and kept playing video games.
10. Loren is one of my best_______________, who
always looks as _____________ as can be! Yup, he is such a looker!
11. You’d better stop _________________ Ted or he’ll
kick your ass.
12. Mohammad Ali will forever be remembered as _______________,
Greatest Of All Time.
Answer Keys
1. (da)
bomb, def
2. skrrt
skrrt
3. stans
4. real
5. okurr
6. entendre
7. jiggy,
phat
8. steez
9. thug
life
10. homies, fresh
11. dissing
12. GOAT
