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TalkTheTalk HipHop PDF
TalkTheTalk HipHop PDF
This is the original glossary of hip hop slang from the first edition of Talk the Talk: The Slang of
65 American Subcultures by Luc Reid, Writers Digest Books, 2006. Because hip hop slang is more pop
culture than subculture, it was not included in the new edition, but this version may be freely distributed
as long as it's not altered and this information remains intact.
The new second edition Talk the Talk: The Slang of 67 American Subcultures is now available
for Kindle, with a paperback release in February 2013. You can find it on Amazon at
http://www.amazon.com/Talk-Slang-American-Subcultures-ebook/dp/B00B43LAB0 .
You can find out more about Luc Reid and his writing at his Web site, www.lucreid.com, and
you can download this glossary from the Talk the Talk Web site at http://www.subculturetalk.com.
Because hip hop slang is a general use change the meaning of the word it modifies, but
slang, applied to every kind of life situation (as simply draws attention to it while changing the
opposed to the more limited uses covered by rhythm of the sentence, something that can
the subculture slang in most of this book), it come in handy for rappers.
contains a lot of words for things like sex, When written, "ass" used in this way is often
drunkenness, social relationships, and other a separate word ("bad ass gangsta"), but can
situations that aren't specific enough to warrant also, less often, be hyphenated ("bad-ass
special terms in most subculture slang. After all, gangsta") or even connected to the end of the
why would a drunk circus clown need a different word ("badass gangsta").
word than a drunk stamp collector?
Spelling in hip hop slang isn't entirely fixed. "I really think this is and was a lame ass battle."
Words that end in er are sometimes written in baller: A man who has money, respect, and
hip hop slang with either an er or an a; for attention from women.
instance, gangster/gangsta. The letter “z” is
sometimes substituted for “s,” and words banger: A dangerous gang member.
ending in -ing are written to end with in' or in. bank (synonyms: cheese, chips, cream,
Overall, the written form is less predictable and duckets, ends, mail, paper, scrilla or scrillah):
more phonetic than Standard English. Money.
Additional unfamiliar terms come from some see also: flow
unusual word transformations. For instance,
one type of hip hop slang places the syllable battle: (as a noun) A contest between rappers,
“iz” before the first vowel in some words (so that, who take turns rapping and trying to cut each
for instance, “house” becomes “hizouse.” A other down and build themselves up. The
similar type uses only the first letter or two of a winner gets recognition and respect.
word and replaces the rest with “izzle”, so that (as a verb) To participate in a battle.
“fo' sure” or “fo' sho'” becomes “fo' shizzle” or battle record: A vinyl record compiled with a
even “fashizzle”. These kinds of transformations variety of music samples and sounds designed
can sometimes operate as fads and can quickly to provide material for a DJ to scratch with.
become outdated. They also can easily be
bend: A prostitute.
overused, and it may be best to avoid using
them unless you're very familiar with the speech. bitch: 1) A prostitute.
Hip hop slang has a strong vocabulary for 2) A girlfriend. Not necessarily derogatory.
referring to extremes and for labelling things as 3) An insulting term for a man, implying he's
good or bad. In a strange way, some of these weak or cowardly.
terms have grown over time to mean their own
opposites: for instance, both “cold” and “ill” can bite (synonym: xerox): To steal another
mean either “very desirable” or “completely rapper's lyrics, beats, etc.
worthless.” "You're dumb anyway if you did bite off of him,
cuz he ain't that good."
disrespect (synonym: dis or diss): 1) (as a verb) duckets (synonyms: bank, cheese, chips,
To treat a person badly. cream, ends, mail, paper, scrilla or scrillah):
2) (as a noun) Bad treatment. Money.
DJ (synonym: turntablist): (as a noun) Short for emcee (synonyms: rapper, MC, Master of
"disc jockey," a person who is expert at using Ceremonies): An artist who speaks rhythmic
vinyl records on turntables (and more recently, rap lyrics over hip hop or rap music.
CDs on specialized equipment) to create a
ends (synonyms: bank, cheese, chips, cream,
range of sounds and pull together music
duckets, mail, paper, scrilla or scrillah): Money.
samples. Rap music originated with DJs
manipulating records to make dance music. A fade: To suppress or disregard.
Master of Ceremonies (MC) would often speak fat (synonyms: dope, phat, live, slammin'):
over parts of the mix (i.e., rap). Over time, Excellent; very good.
rappers rather than DJs have become more
prominent. flow: 1) (verb) To rap with continuous rhyme.
"DJ" is both a noun and a title. 2) (noun) A section of a rap that rhymes
(as a verb) To manipulate vinyl records so continuously.
as to make music out of samples of existing 3) (noun) Money.
songs. fly: Attractive; sexy; very fine.
see also: mix, scratch
freak: 1) (verb) To have sex.
dog or dogg (synonym: dawg): 1) (as a noun) 2) (verb) In reference to a woman, to dance
A friend or member of a person's crew. provocatively.
2) (as a form of address) A friend, or 3) (noun) A woman who is very sexual.
sometimes a neutral acquaintance. A
particularly close friend can be called a "road freestyle: (as a verb) To improvise a rap.
dog." (as a noun) An improvised rap.
3) (as a verb) To act insultingly toward fresh: 1) New; innovative.
someone. 2) Fine; high quality.
see also: crew, homeboy, dis
front: To pretend to be other than you are,
"Wasn't feeling ya verse, dogg." especially to pretend to be tough.
dome: A head. "Did they agree? If yeah then it's cool, but if
dope (synonyms: fat, phat, live, slammin'): they never then no, 'cause I don't want 'em
Excellent; very good. think we frontin'."
see also: cold game: Real life, as opposed to things that aren't
down with: 1) Willing; having no objection to. true or don't matter.
2) Part of; accepted by. see also: playa
"Don't front, a lot of you who remember them gangsta or gangster: 1) A gang member.
were down with Terrible T. and Sweet L.D., 2) A criminal.
even though we may not have been down with 3) A formidable rapper.
MC Hammer." gank: To steal from or otherwise cause harm to.
drop a dime: To inform on someone to the gat or gatt: A gun, especially an automatic.
police.
get busy: To have sex.
drop knowledge (synonym: drop science): To
ghetto bird: A police helicopter.
show knowledge or skill.
ghost: (as an adjective) Suddenly gone.
drop science (synonym: drop knowledge): To
(as a verb) To disappear.
show knowledge or skill.
glock (synonyms: chrome, steel, strap): A gun.
"I haven't worked this hard to be pigeon-holed
by any dumb f*ck racists that act like they can go Federal: To make it big; to become famous
drop science, when they really as ignorant as or very successful (figuratively, across the
any Adolf Hitler wannabee." entire country).
Talk the Talk Hip-Hop Glossary, by Luc Reid - page 5
"He is getting a lot of attention and has genuine janky: No good, or fake.
street cred without going federal."
"You know I'm not some janky ass newbie."
grip: 1) Rapping ability; refers to the rapper's
jet (synonyms: bone out, bounce, roll out): To
grip on the microphone.
leave.
2) Money.
3) A gun. live (synonyms: dope, fat, phat, slammin'):
Excellent; very good.
hard: Tough; dangerous.
loc: (pronounced "loke")
hardcore: Truly represented; real; straight.
1) (noun) A term of address for a friend or
hawk (synonym: scope): To stare or watch. acquaintance.
2) (adjective) Crazy.
heat: A gun.
3) (adjective) Cool; admirable.
hella: Much; very; a lot of.
mad: Very many; a lot.
"They started coming to my events and showing mail (synonyms: bank, cheese, chips, cream,
me hella love." duckets, ends, paper, scrilla or scrillah): Money.
hip hop or hip-hop: Rap music or rapper marinate: To hang out and relax.
culture. Hip hop encompasses DJing, rapping,
dancing, the hip hop music club scene, and the "While I was just marinating a few days ago,
street culture of people who listen to hip hop this thought popped into my head."
music.
mark: A sucker; someone who's an easy target.
The term "hip hop" is more closely
This word is borrowed from con artist and
associated with the dance/club scene than the
carnival slang (see separate sections).
term "rap." "Rap" also has other meanings.
see also: rap Master of Ceremonies (synonyms: rapper, MC,
emcee): An artist who speaks rhythmic rap
homeboy or homegirl (synonyms: homey or
lyrics over hip hop or rap music.
homie, homes): A friend or relative.
MC (synonyms: rapper, emcee, Master of
homes (synonyms: homeboy or homegirl,
Ceremonies): An artist who speaks rhythmic
homey or homie): A friend or relative.
rap lyrics over hip hop or rap music.
homey or homie (synonyms: homeboy or
mix: (as a verb) To time, combine, and
homegirl, homes): A friend or relative.
manipulate music played on turntables as a
hood: Short for "neighborhood." means of making hip hop music.
1) A person's neighborhood, usually only (as a noun) The music (rather than the rap)
used in reference to poorer areas. of a hip hop song.
2) Poorer neighborhoods in general. see also: DJ, jam
hype: (as a noun) Media spin, advertising, or money: A name used for a friend or
promotion. acquaintance. The word is also used in its
(as an adjective) Very good; excellent. traditional sense of "currency," but there are
many other hip hop slang words for "currency"
ill or illin': 1) Strange; weird; crazy.
(for instance, bank).
2) Really good; fine.
see also: homeboy, bank
3) Bad; nasty.
see also: bug, wack motherfuckin': A word used for emphasis
before a noun or verb. The meaning of the noun
jack: (as a verb) To steal or steal from.
or verb isn't changed, but more attention is
(as a noun) Nothing, or nothing worthwhile.
drawn to it, and the rhythm of the sentence is
jakes (synonym: one-times): The police. changed, which can be useful to rappers.
jam: A rap song. see also: ass
see also: mix move on (synonyms: step to, step up): To
provoke someone.
Talk the Talk Hip-Hop Glossary, by Luc Reid - page 6
nigga or nigger: 1) General use, non- props: Gratitude or recognition; short for
derogatory term to use when addressing a "proper respect."
friend or acquaintance. punk: A person who isn't worthy of respect; a
2) An appellation for any person who coward.
understands the street and acts authentically.
Despite the widespread use of the word rap: (as a verb) To speak lyrics rhythmically, as
"nigga" in hip hop culture, the term still carries a rapper does.
its history of persecution of blacks by whites, so (as a noun) A rap song, or the lyrics to a rap
non-blacks and even blacks who are song.
considered to be more a part of mainstream rapper (synonyms: MC, emcee, Master of
culture than of street culture can't necessarily Ceremonies): An artist who speaks rhythmic
count on using the word without giving offense. rap lyrics over hip hop or rap music. The lyrics
OG or Original Gangster: A title for a person may be memorized or improvised. As a rule,
who has knowledge and experience of gang life rap artists don't perform other rappers' work.
and is looked up to by gang members. raw: True; real; straight.
off the hook: Wild; really exciting; impressive. represent: Stand up, or stand up for.
"Your flow was off the hook."
"This is for people who are serious, people that
old school: Outdated or retro. are loyal, people who will represent to the
one-times (synonym: jakes): The police fullest."
paper (synonyms: bank, cheese, chips, cream, ride: A car.
duckets, ends, mail, scrilla or scrillah): Money. see also: whip
peace: (as an interjection) Goodbye (or less roll out (synonyms: bone out, bounce, jet): To
often, “hello”). leave.
(as an adjective) Relaxed; calm; in control.
roll with: To be part of a group; to hang out
peeps: People, specifically in reference to with.
those from the same area or same culture as see also: down with, crew
the speaker.
scope (synonym: hawk): To stare or watch.
phat (synonyms: dope, fat, live, slammin'):
scratch: (as a verb, in reference to a DJ) To
Excellent; very good.
spin vinyl records back and forth to produce a
piece: 1) A gun. scratching sound sometimes used in rap music.
2) Sex. (as a noun) Money.
see also: chrome, heat
scrilla or scrillah (synonyms: bank, cheese,
play: 1) To be part of, especially in the phrase chips, cream, duckets, ends, mail, paper):
"play that." Money.
2) To try to deceive.
scrub: A lazy or worthless person.
playa or player: Someone who's successful in
serve: To defeat or outface.
life; e.g., a person who can get money, respect,
and sex. shife: In regard to a person: new,
inexperienced, contemptible, or inconsequential.
"Keep on going Jeremy. You taken da game to
a new height, playa." shorty: 1) A younger person or child.
2) A woman, particularly one who looks to
playa-hata or player-hater: A person who be girlfriend material.
speaks insultingly of people more successful
than himself. "Folk, I'm callin' Alicia Keys ... I give a f*ck who
you are, shorty claimed by me from now on."
point blank: Right now; here in this situation.
slammin' (synonyms: dope, fat, phat, live):
posse (synonym: crew): The associates a
Excellent; very good.
person spends time with and depends on.
smoke: To kill, especially with a gun.
Talk the Talk Hip-Hop Glossary, by Luc Reid - page 7