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List of slang used in hip-hop music of slang terms that have changed as hip-hop itself has evolved and Hip-hop music uses a variety of slang changed. Much of its lexicon is drawn from African American Vernacular English. English. Hip-hop slang makes use of alternative pronunciations, mostly drawn from AAVE; ordinary words given new meanings; new coinages and portmanteau and portmanteau words; and vernacular vernacular phrases. phrases. The slang used in a hiphop record can often date it to a certain era and/or school of hip-hop. As the hip-hop culture has expanded worldwide, non-Americans and even non-English speakers have incr easingly borrowed from and contributed to the slang of hip-hop, often modifying the meanings of words to their own uses.
Contents
Slang Words 1.1 Slang Directly from Music 1.1.1 Lamont Coleman 1.1.2 Frankie Smith and Snoop Dogg 1.2 English Words with Changed Meanings 1.3 Invented Terms & Portmanteaux a nd Trademarks 1.4 Hip-hop Slang for Brand Names and 1.5 Hip-hop Slang for Drugs, Gangs, and Guns 1.5.1 Gang Slang Terms 1.5.2 Drug-Related Slang Terms 1.5.3 Gun-Related Slang Terms 1.6 Numbers in Hip-hop Slang 1.7 Hip-hop Slang Phrases
Slang Words Slang Directly from Music Lamont Coleman
Harlem rapper Lamont rapper Lamont Coleman (stage name Big L) L) released a song on his posthumous album "The Big Picture" entitled "Ebonics". In this song, Big L goes through various hip hop slang terms and gives their "proper" meanings.
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Yo, yo burglary is a jook, a wolf's a crook obb Deep already explained the meanin' of shook If you caught a felony, you caught a F If you got killed, you got left If you got the dragon, you got bad breath If you 7:30, that mean you crazy Hit me on the hip means page me ngel dust is sherm, if you got AIDS, you got the germ If a chick gave you a disease, then you got burned
bezzie - meaning bitch mostly used in oakland breezy - a fine girl
-excerpt from Big L's "Ebonics" Frankie Smith and Snoop Dogg
This particular style of hip-hop slang was created specifically by certain hip-hop artists. Originated by funk musician Frankie Smith with his 1982 nonsense single "The Double-Dutch Bus", this style was popularized by rapper Snoop rapper Snoop Dogg when he used it on Dr. Dre's Dre's The Chronic album in 1992 1992.. Usually the ending of a word is removed, and replaced with the -izzle suffix. In other cases, -izz- is added in the middle of a word, for example, the word "house" becomes "hizzouse".
bizzle - bitch - bitch fizzle - can be female, fuck, flatulate or any number of words starting with the letter F hizzouse - house hizzle - hook, as in the phrase "off the hook" nizzle - nigga rizzle - real shiznit - shit (usually in a general positive sense); used especiall y in the phrase "Thats tha Shiznit!" fo'shizzle - for sure skizzle- a drip of any sort of intoxicating liquid. tizzle - tizzy, a state of agitation or nervousness. wizzle - wigga
English Words with Changed Meanings These words can be found with the same spelling in any English dictionary, but they are used as slang words and given an alternate meaning in hip-hop music.
Wat it do - Hello (Houston) Who am is - Who am i (South) bail - v.- leave, common slang meaning the same as in the phrase "Let's bail out". (EX: "Let's bail." = "Let's leave.")
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bent - adj.- intoxicated bird - n.- girl biscuit - n.- gun, pistol bitch - n.- besides the usual meanings, the phrase "my bitch" can simply mean "my girl." When applied to males, it is an insult meaning coward, sissy, punk, etc. (EX: "You's a bitch.") blunt - n.- a cigar used as a joint, filled with marijuana instead of tobacco. blunted - adj.- same meaning as 'stoned', but specifically the intoxication from smoking a blunt or blunts of marijuana. boo -n.- affectionate term for one's significant other bounce - v.- leave, go (EX: "Let's bounce." = "Let's leave.") bugged out - adj.- Acting weird, unorthodox, or upset, etc. (EX: "He's " He's bugged out.") buggin'- v.- acting weird, unorthodox, or upset, etc. (EX: "Why you buggin'?") bumpin'- adj.- cool, pleasurable, to one's liking. EX: "That shit is bumpin'." Also as a verb, as in the phrase "It's bumpin'.", which usually refers to music. burner-n.- gun bust -v.- perform, do. (EX: "Bust a rhyme" = "Rapping a rhyme", while "Bust a move" = "Make a move/perform a move") busted -adj.- ugly, caught doing a crime. {EX: "Yo' girl is BUSTED!") cap - n.- bullet (EX: "I'ma bust a cap in yo' ass." = "I will shoot you.") capped -v.- shot. cheese - n.- money chill - v.- relax, keep cool chill - adj.- relaxed, alright. al right. (EX: "He's chill." = "He's alright." or "He's relaxed.") chillin' - v.- relaxing cold - adj.- tight, good, nice, and sometimes mean, as in the phrase "cold-hearted". If a guy cheats on his girl, a response might be "That's cold." If one is looking at a really nice suit, the response might be "Man, that suit is COLD!" coolin' - v.- relaxing, being comfortable crab -n.- A derogatory term used by factions of the Blood gang to refer to Crip gang members. A play on the word "Crip". crib -n.- place of residence (One of MTV's of MTV's shows is called MTV's Cribs, Cribs , in reference to the homes of celebrities.) dime - n.- a very attrac attractive tive woman; a "ten" on a scale of one-to-ten. See also Drug-Related Slang Terms. dip - v.- leave. (EX: "Let's dip." = "Let's go.") dog (also "dogg" and "dawg") -n.- a close and trusted friend. doggy (also "dawgy") -n.- close friend dope - adj.- cool, appealing, etc. down - adj.- with it, or willing to take part. (EX: "I'm down to do it." = "I'm up for it." "That fool thinks he's down." = "That guy thinks t hinks he's hardcore.") fat - adj.- cool, appealing. When written, it is almost always intentionally spelled " phat " phat". ". fire - adj.-tight, nice, cool. may also refers to marijuana. flow - v.- rap with beat, can also be used as a noun. (EX: "He was flowing." or "Listen to my flow.") fly - adj.- cool, appealing, etc. folk - n.- friends, acquaintances, or at least temporary partners. front - v.- pretending to be that which you are not, acting tough. also short for confronting someone. game - n.- knowledge, skill, expertise, knack, "mack-skills", techniques, etc. (EX: "He got game with those girls." = "He has good technique with the ladies.") ghost -v.- to leave, leave quietly, quickly. (EX: "He got ghost." = "He left quickly." or "It's time to get ghost." = "It's time to evacuate from the scene.") gully - adj.- from the hood or ghetto. gurp - adj.- very drunk hate - v.- aside from its usual meaning, has different shades of meaning such as "criticizing", or "disrupting" someone's game. (EX: "Why you gotta hate on me?" = "Why do you have to insult me?")
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hating (hatin') - v.- same meaning as 'hate' (see above). (EX: Don't be hatin'!) heat or heater - n.- any type of firearm heat - n.- police, FBI, law enforcement in general (used especially in the film, Heat Heat). ). herb - n.- especially marijuana but can be any sort of drug. hood - n.- neighborhood, usually, or the turf of certain gangs ice -n.- diamonds, usually refers to the plural. (EX: "That nigga got shit loads'a ice on his wrist." = "That guy is wearing a bracelet with a lot of diamonds.") ill -adj.- 1. cool, appealing, far-out (EX: "That's ill!") 2. crazy, rowdy, mean ("Why are you acting ill to that guy?") I'ma - a contraction of "I'm" and "gonna" jet- to leave quickly (EX: "C'mon, let's jet.") iron -n.- firearm kickin'- adj.- appealing; (EX: "Those rims are kickin'.") lamp- v.- chill, relax marinate -v.- chill, relax murk (Also mirk) -v.- 1. leave. "I'm finna murk." = "I'm about to le ave.") 2. murder, kill. (EX: "Pass me the strap, I'm 'bout to murk this foo." = "Give me a gun, I'm about to kill this guy.") nigga (also "nigger") -n.- rarely refers to a racial slur, often simply a word for a man of color and occasionally a white man. (EX: "Yo, nigga...") oreo -n.- opposite of "wizzle" or "wigger", refers to t o the Nabisco cookie with the same name which has a white, creamy filling surrounded by two brown, chocolate cookies (EX: "You look black but you act white. You're an Oreo!" ) piece -n.- 1.firearm 2.pipe 3.a tagging (graffit i marking a certain gang or individual's turf) piff 1. -n.- 1. cocaine (EX: "Pass the piff!") 2. -adj.- something cool (EX: "My style is straight up piff!") pig -n.- police officer player (also playa) - n.- 1. Someone who knows how to manipulate women towards sex, etc. 2. Someone who knows how to manipulate things in general . 3. Someone who cheats on his girlfriend or wife (or if a woman: boyfriend, husband). 4. Less correctly applied to a "baller" (see "baller"). popes - n. - the police, an abbreviation of po-po. (EX: "Look out for the popes!") punk - n. - a coward, alternatively an asshole punk - a coward or wimp. (EX: "Don't punk out on me." = "Don't get cowardly.") punked - intimidated. (EX: "He got punked by that fool." = "He got intimidated or bullied by that person.") pussy - n. - a coward, a sissy. used as a put-down, usually against males. It also refers to the female vagina or the female in general. pussy - v. - Sex (EX: "I'm gettin' hella pussy back at my crib tonight" = "I will have sex tonight at my house.") scratch - n. - money scrillah - n. - money shorty - n.- a girl or woman if referring to a girlfriend, a child if referring to someone's son or daughter. spit - v.- rap (EX: "He can spit." = "He can rap.") steel -n.- firearm straight - adj.- fine, okay. not related to sexuality. (EX: A person asks "You want some Henny?" Henny ?" The other person replies, "No thanks, I'm straight.") strapped -adj.- bearing a firearm stunting - showing your best or to act out of the ordinary tight - adj.- cool, high-quality, appealing. toaster -n.- firearm trippin' -v.- high on drugs, kidding, or being cr azy. (EX: "You must be trippin'.") tweak -n.- to do crystal meth; Can also be altering something
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tweaking -v.- under the influence of crystal meth whip -n.- car, automobile or firearm wigger (Also wigga) -n.- a white man who acts as if he is a man of color. (EX: "Yo wigga, I'ma fuck you up.")
Invented Terms & Portmanteaux These words and their meanings would not be found in an English dictionary, but are used in hip-hop music slang. Though used and popularized by M.C.s, most of t hese words were not coined by any M.C.; instead, they were taken from the local street slang of each M.C.'s area. Many of these words have become mainstream nationally because of various popular hip-hop artists.
Wifey - Girlfriend Okie - Friend (Philly) Guts - The Interior of a car. e.g "The Red lambo got white guts up inside it" (Red Cafe) Or "The Guts soft like my female breast is it a v12 yes" (CASSIDY) Kicks - Sneakers Big Face - 100 Dollar Bill Jakes - Police Whip - Car Real Talk-Telling the truth or being serious Chow Down- Eating food baby mama -n.- the mother of an unmarried man's child, who himself is ref erred to as a "baby daddy". baller -n.- a high-roller, a money-maker. Hence the verb "ballin'" ('balling'), which refers to someone who is doing very well for himself in terms of money. bee-yotch (also biatch or biotch) -n.- see bitch bling-bling -n.- See article for definition and origin of term. boy-boy -n.- a friend with benefits chickenhead -n.- a bitch or a woman that gives oral sex (referred to the motion of giving a blow job). chillax -v.- relaxing. A combination of "chill" and "relax." crunk -adj.- having a good time or "high and drunk at the same time". reportedly derives from "crazy" and "drunk" being combined or from "crazy" and "funk" being combined. used by Southern rappers specifically. buttahead, alternatively, buttaface -n.- n.- A girl with a nice body but with an ugly face. taken from the phrase "Everything look good, buttahead [but her head]." (EX: "Jermaine's girl is a buttahead." = "Jermaine's girl has a good body, but her face is ugly.") def -adj.def -adj.- cool, appealing, fly, ill. said to be abbreviated from "definitive". used by M.C.s in the mid to late 1980's and not used anymore unless they are being intentionally "old school". dimepiece -n.- same meaning as dime, i.e., a very attractive woman. a "ten" on a one-to-ten scale. diss -v.- to criticize or disrespect someone. (EX: "He dissed that bit ch.") gank -v.- steal ganked -v.- robbed, swindled (EX: "He got ganked." = "He got robbed.") gat -n.- a gun. less generally, an automatic firearm, especially a machine gun. gun. an abbreviation of Gatling of Gatling gun. gun. ghettobird -n.- police helicopter growns (also "grown men") -n.- 22" rims or bigger on an automobile hella -adv.- very. formed from "hell" and "of". not used much by M.C.s anymore. common on the West Coast. Coast. homeboy -n.- someone from the same neighborhood or area homie (or "homey") -n.- a good male friend hoodrat -n.- neighborhood girl with loose morals, neighborhood slut
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hooptie -n.- an old car, a beater. hyphy -adj.- An exuberant and ecstatic free flowing sensation that occurs when an individual is particularly passionate, beyond the ability to control themselves. Amped; feeling good. Used particularly by Bay Area M.C.'s jakes -pl.n.- police officers. used especially by New by New York City M.C.s. jumped -v.- to get beaten up, (EX: "You jus' another punk in the club, aboutta get jumped!" = "You are just another punk in this club, and you're about to get beaten up.") Mo' Fo' -n.- motherfucker Oil-n.- referring to liquor one-time -n.- police. peeps -n.- people, as in "my peeps" player-hater ( playa-hata playa-hata) -n.- specifically, one who hates a player (see above). generally, one who hates someone who is doing well. the term is usually abbreviated to "hater" popo -n.- police. an abbreviation of the full word. pork chopper -n.- police helicopter. "pork-" is from the term " pig", which is used to refer to policemen scrilla -n.- money. used especially by West Coast M.C.s. (Mack ( Mack 10, 10, E-40 E-40,, etc.) slab -n.- pre-1980 fullsize GM luxury vehicles, primarily Buick, Oldsmobile, and Cadillacs. The term originated in the South Park section Park section of Houston, of Houston, Texas. Texas . It usually refers to old school GM sedans. slob -n.- an insulting name for Bloods, used by the Crips. snitch-n.-someone who tells on you swangas -n.- sought-after wire rims on 1983 and 1984 Cadillacs tweaker -n.- a hoe, a chickenhead on methamphetamines. wack -adj.- awful, cheap, stupid, weak, etc. T -n.- police car
Hip-hop Slang for Brand Names and Trademarks
Ac - short for Acura for Acura.. Benz/Benzo - short for Mercedes-Benz for Mercedes-Benz,, a brand known for luxury automobiles automobiles.. Beamer - any model of BMW vehicle. Cad- a Cadillac Cadillac.. Caddy - a Cadillac. cut (also "cut dog") - an Oldsmobile Cutlass Cristal - Roederer Cristal, Cristal, a brand of champagne of champagne Deuce and a Quarter - a Buick Electra Dom P. - Dom Perignon, Perignon, a brand of champagne Henny, Hen - Hennessy Hennessy,, a brand of cognac of cognac L dog- a Lincoln 'Lac- a Cadillac. Lex - short for Lexus for Lexus,, a brand of luxury automobile. also short for 'Rolex' a brand of luxury watches. Moe - Moët et Chandon, Chandon, a brand of champagne Navi - Lincoln Lincoln Navigator Navigator Timbs - Timberland boots Rolly (also Rolley) - a term for Rolex for Rolex,, as used in Snoop Dogg's Dogg 's 2004 hit "Drop " Drop It Like It's Hot". Hot ". also used as a synonym for a Rolls Royce automobile.
Hip-hop Slang for Drugs, Gangs, and Guns Gang Slang Terms
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BG -n.- Baby Gangsta: an adolescent gangster. bluh -n.- a slurred pronunciation of Blood of Blood.. generally means friend, homie, fellow Bloods member. usually used in phrases such as "What up, bluh?", meaning "What's up, Blood?" generally used to refer to a Blood gang member, but sometimes used by Bloods towards nonBloods gang members to provoke confrontation. Cuzz/Cuzzo -n.- Crip. sometimes pronounced "cuh". a familiar term betwe en members of the Crip gang, it can also be used in a confrontational manner from a Crip gang member towards a non-Crip. G -n.- a gangsta. (I'm a G, I'm a G) in East Coast or "oldschool" hip-hop can mean simply a guy or girl. gangsta (gangster) -n.- member of a street gang. also refers to an attitude or style and can be used towards objects, actions or ideas. (EX: "That Caddy is gangsta!" = "That Cadillac is cool!") OG -n.- Original Gangster. initially referred to the founder of a street gang, but now commonly refers to any older gang member. usually common to gangbangers who live up to their notoriety, reputation, and never "sold out". has been adopted outside of the gang culture for general use in hip-hop to refer to any originator of something or older person. loc -adj.- pronounced "loke". derived from the Spanish word "loco", meaning "crazy". can also mean "cool" or be a slang term for dark sunglasses. Also interchangeable with "cuz" as applied to members of the Crip gang. slob -n.- derogatory term towards a Blood gangster, used by members of the Crip gang. overhoe -n.- derogatory term towards a Ova Soldier gang Soldier gang member. suwitchboy -n.- derogatory term towards a D.T.B ganster crab a term used by bloods reffering to crips.
Drug-Related Slang Terms
Papi - The drug connect White Lady - Cocaine Slanging - Selling Drugs (New Orleans) Girl - Cocaine Dope boy - Drug Dealer Trapping - Selling drugs (Atalanta) The Trap - Place where people sell drugs (Atalanta) boi - heroin brown - heroin bud - marijuana buddha - marijuana butter - crack cocaine chewy - a cigar that has been emptied and refilled with marijuana and cocaine chronic - marijuana cookies - crack cocaine dank - marijuana dime (also "dimebag" or "dimesack") - ten dollar bag of illicit drugs dodo - marijuana doja - marijuana drank - codeine (Houston) 'dro- marijuana grown using a hydroponic set-up dub - a twenty dollar bag of marijuana. can also refer to twenty inch rims on a car. fire - marijuana or meaning a sex term torwards oral sex ganja- marijuana gizz - crack cocaine green - marijuana hard - crack cocaine hydro - marijuana grown using a hydroponic set-up indo - marijuana from Indonesia or marijuana that has been grown indoors
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limb - marijuana. a term popularized in Florida Florida.. mota - marijuana nick (also "nickel", "nickelbag", "nickelsack") - a five dollar bag of illicit drugs Reggie Miller - "regular killer" commercial weed, usually from Mexico Mexico.. rocks - crack cocaine sherm - a marijuana cigarette that has been dipped in embalming fluid shwag - marijuana soft - cocaine smack - heroin smoke - marijuana sticky icky - marijuana piff- cocaine powder - cocaine primo - a joint laced with angel dust or crack cocaine purp - codeine (Houston) thizz - ecstasy. Other forms of the word include thizzin', thizzed. Used primarily by Bay Area M.C.'s wet - a marijuana cigarette that has been dipped in embalming fluid (Texas slang) white - cocaine work - cocaine yayo - cocaine Maybelline - cocaine [Oklahoma] Powdering his face - snorting cocaine
Gun-Related Slang Terms
Glock handgun - nine, nina, Nina Ross Glock handgun .22 caliber gun caliber gun - Deuce Deuce, Scooby-Doo (used by Cypress Hill) Hill) 40-caliber gun - 4 pounda 44-caliber gun - 44, Fo' Fo' 45-caliber gun - Fo'Five Desert Eagle - Desert Eaze, Deagle AR-15 - AR AK-47 - AK MAC-10 - Mac shotgun - pump, shotty, "The Dimple-ator" INTRATEC-DC9 - Tec, Tec-9
Numbers in Hip-hop Slang
187 - homicide 24/7 - all day hustle 411 - information. from 4-1-1 4-1-1,, the number for directory for directory assistance in the United States 420 - Number associated with cannabis and cannabis usage. also refers to April 20th, which many people refer to as "Marijuana Day" because of the date. 5-0 - in reference to the police (as in the television show Hawaii Five-O) Five-O) 1096 - police code for mentally ill suspect (from the film The Sugarland Express). Express ). commonly used in the state of Texas of Texas.. 4080 - industry rule #4080, in reference to the music industry and it's lack of morals and ethics (from "Check The Rhime" by A Tribe Called Quest) Quest) 5150 - code for mentally ill from the California Welfare and Institutions Code. also the name of a Van Halen and an Eazy-E album 730 - the code for a crazy person. according to some New York City rappers the term "730" originated from mental health patients health patients receiving their medication at 7:30am and 7:30pm.
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808 - in reference to the Roland TR-808 drum machine. 211 - robbery. 20 - location. (EX: "What's yo' 20?" = "Where are you?")
Hip-hop Slang Phrases
Brain - Oral sex from a woman Buck - 1. To act uppety, to provoke (EX: You wanna get buck nigga?) 2. To steal (Yo, we was buckin' gummy worms all day!) Bus a nut - Ejaculate bum rush - crashing into a show hoping to see it for free, to arrive in force, to ambush from behind bust a cap - shoot a bullet bust a move - to act first in an altercation, to perform a dance step. popularized by Young M.C.'s M.C. 's hit single, "Bust A Move" (1989 ( 1989). ). bust out - leave or exit quickly. (EX: "He busted out of the club." = "He left the club quickly.") bust out - show or bring out something. (EX: "He busted out a fat dubsack from his coat pocket." = "He took a big sack of drugs out of his pocket.") cappin - lying, saying you were going to do something and not doing that thing. popularized by rapper Tampa rapper Tampa.. clap iron - to shoot a firearm coolin' it - relaxing da bomb - the bomb. cool, appealing, or popular da shiznit - "the shit". cool, appealing, etc. popularized by Snoop Dogg. Dogg . dead presidents - money (U.S. currency has a picture of a former President of the United States) fo shizzle my nizzle - literally, lit erally, "for sure my nigga". popularized by Snoop Dogg. heavy metal - firearms keep it trill - keep it true and real (true + real = trill) kickin' it - relaxing my bad - my mistake or I'm sorry off the chain - unbelievable, outrageous, wild, etc. off the hook - unbelievable, outrageous, wild, etc. oh fo sure - no problem, you're welcome open up shop - sell drugs, establish a drug-selling spot peace out - good bye peep game - to take note of someone's game, observe someone's game in action, etc. plexing - starting stuff or beefying (Houston slang) roll out - leave. specifically, to get in your vehicle and leave the scene. spit game (also "spittin' game") - to speak "game". see the definition of "game" above. to the beat - acceptable, on top of things throwed - tight, the best, or great (Houston slang) what's goin' down? - what are we doing tonight? can refer to a fight. what tha dilly yo? (also "...dealio?") - what is going on?. Originated from "What the deal, yo?" what up? - hello, how are you?, or what is going on? wiggity-wack - very disturbing. presently, the "wiggity" has been dropped and those in hiphop now use just "wack".) word up - you got that straight, that's right, or how's it going. many now simply use the word "word".