Three Videos Of New Style Chicago Boppin (The Dlow Shuffle)

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a two part pancocojams series about Chicago Boppin.

Part II of this series showcases three YouTube videos of Chicago Boppin along with some comments from the discussion threads for those videos and information about "boppin" and other African American Hip Hop dances/music.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2019/06/book-article-excerpts-information-about.html for Part I of this series. Part I presents information about the contemporary (around 2012 - 2015) Hip Hop dance called the New Style Chicago Boppin (Dlow Shuffle) as well as biographical information about two self-titled "Kings of Bop"- iAmDlow and Lil Kimo.

The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, entertainment, linguistic, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in these videos and all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publishers of these videos on YouTube.

****
SHOWCASE VIDEOS

WARNING- Songs used for the New style Chicago Boppin (Dlow Shuffle) may contain profanity and/or what is known as "the n word".

Video #1: The Dlow Shuffle ( WALA CAM )



WalacamTV.com, Published on Dec 12, 2013

FROM CHICAGO - BOP KING D'LOW HAS MADE A BOP DANCE SHUFFLE.
-snip-
Here's an excerpt that provides an explanation for the word "shuffle" that is used in the name of a number of contemporary Hip Hop/R&B dances:
From https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Shuffling
"Shuffling
A dance style originating in the 1980's characterized by fast heel and toe twisting and stepping, running man variations, stomping with the beat, foot swiveling from side to side, and having feet that appear to be gliding on and off the ground.

Shuffling is mostly for the feet and the arms just compliment whatever foot motions are taking place. This dance style is very high paced, intense cardio, and is usually to done to music with a constant beat such as electro, hardstyle, and/or techno.

Shuffling is preferrable in shoes as it won't hurt your feet, but also acceptable in socks or barefoot."...
-snip-
The Dlow Shuffle is a group dance that is similar if not the same as contemporary American line dances. The song's lyrics direct dancers to perform certain movements. The "bop" ("boppin") is just one movement that is done as part of the DLow Shuffle.

According to the instructor in https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoMjnkaw-mg. "How To Bop For Beginners", the basic bop movement is done by standing on your toes with your feet apart, and wobbling your legs back and forth. However, it should be noted that most of the commenters in that video's discussion thread ridiculed this video, indicating that that isn't how the bop is really done.

Here are some comments from the discussion thread for the embedded DLow Shuffle video (with numbers added for referencing purposes only).
1. Montana of 300's Bandana, 2017
"Who else here is from Chicago and came here for good memories?"

**
REPLY
2. THE- GREATEST, 2017
"mee bring back hella memories

**
REPLY
3. Scarface5477, 2017
"Montana of 300's Bandana yep"

**
4. Tae-773, 2018
"2018 guess people forgot about this 😣😣😔😔"

**
REPLY
5. Maley Saenuan, 2019
"Probably only one listening in 2019 😂"

**
REPLY
6. True Swervo3x, 2019
"Maley Saenuan nah im here to 😂"

**
REPLY
7. Lyric Thompson, 2019
"Im here!"

**
REPLY
8. Raymond Stewart, 2019
"I still listening to this in 2019

**
REPLY
9. 2OverEasy3, 2019
"Maley Saenuan right here witcha!"

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Video #2: BOPKING OF THE WORLD X LIL KEMO X #KEMOSTEP (OFFICIAL VIDEO) | SHOT BY @FUQJHUSTLE



MyVisionFilms, Published on Dec 12, 2013

BOPKING OF THE WORLD LIL KEMO DISPLAYS HIS MOVES AND TEACHES YOU THE KEMO STEP (OFFICIAL VIDEO)
DIRECTED BY J HUSTLE FOR MYVISIONFILMS
-snip-
Here are some comments from this video's discussion thread (with numbers added for referencing purposes only).

As is the case with a lot of comment compilations on pancocojams, I'm also interested in the use of African American Vernacular English in some of these comments. Explanations for a few of these terms are included after the first comment where that term is used.
1. Davionna Green, 2013
"OMG this song is off the hook I am about to dance to it now.cute and funy"
-snip-
"off the hook" = very good

**
2. Nakyla Thomas, 2013
"turn up 4 the bop kingz of chicago"
-snip-
"turn up" [verb) = get hyped (get very excited; get loose; get wild; go hard) for someone or something;
"Turn up" is also an expression of support and/or approval for someone or something

turnt up [noun] = the state of being turned up

**
3. Nina513, 2013
"Big ups to you Kemo!
Done watched lil homie grow into an official dance king via Wala Cam....
GET EM, KEMO! Put on fa da Midwest, daddy!"

**
4. Eric Foster, 2013
"Y'all got a cool lil dance but boppin been invited down here in FL... Look up Dj Chipman boppin and you'll see"

**
5. 864doorcutty, 2013
"Yo this beat go suppa hard all the kids were doin this at my wedding the crowd went crazy"
-snip-
"suppa" = super

"go hard" = go all out; do something with 100% effort; do something very well, as judged by Hip Hop standards

**
6. ZENZOKI1, 2013
"This too hype!!!

**
7. King Jrue, 2013
"what beat is that it go hard and the dance go hard too Shout Out Kemo And Dlow #KeepGoinHard "

**
8. Hook Gaming Tv, 2013
"kemo is the best bopper"

**
9. Tell Babygurl, 2013
"KEMO STEP KEMO STEP AYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
-snip-
"Ayee" = an expression that indicates excitement and/or approval

**
10. Vanessa Tunsel, 2013
"Is it me or this dance similar to the dlow shuffle js"
-snip-
"js"= just saying

**
REPLY
11. Dartrell Halmon, 2013
"he copied dlow but good bopking 123"

**
REPLY
12. Yung Vibe, 2013
"he didn't copy Dlow both of them made "bopping" they just have certain different moves to bopping. bopping isn't exactly what Dlow does. Do your research. Both of them are the "BopKings of the world" they both made that title. Dlow Shuffle is Dlow's Version of bopping and KemoStep is Lil Kemo's version of bopping"

**
13. DeBorah Perry, 2013
"hey these boys can make money with what they doin coming out with the Dlow Shuffle and Kemo Step"

**
14. mike coles, 2013
"funny thing is the 'kemo walk' is from dallas. we did the in 2010. its called SOUTH DALLAS SWAG. look it up if you dont believe me"

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REPLY
15. tom tim, 2013
"And?"

**
REPLY
16. Kaliyah Carter, 2013
"Nah..Kemo step and southdallas swag ain't alike actually ... As you saw in the video when he did it.., it was like going backwards... the suothdalls swag is FOWARD !"

**
17. Earnistine Labon, 2013
"Its basikly the same thing kemo an dlow copy one anothere"

**
REPLY
18. Joy O, 2013
"Dude there friends they not tryna compete n both I stud"

**
19. Acee Vee, 2013
"SO coulda went wayyyy harder bro. TURN UP tho. It can only get better. "

**
20. Edirin Ekokotu, 2013
"Nae Nae better sorry #SouthSide #ATL"

**
21. shunda evans, 2013
"TURN UPPPPP !!"

**
22. XJBX, 2013
"I be bopping all day now"

**
23. Amy Espino, 2013
"I be turning up"

**
REPLY
24. Tara Travis, 2014
"Your not the only one!!!!!!!!!!!!"

**
25. Jamisha Bogan, 2013
"BOP TO THE RIGHT AND BOP TO THE LEFT MY PART....LOL"

**
26. Elezha Hudson, 2013
"the way he bounced around was so funny but this is good. proud to be in Chicago!"

**
27. BreezyReactz, 2013
"The dlow shuffle is better but like it better than the Cupid shuffle kemo"
-snip-
The Cupid Shuffle (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h24_zoqu4_Q is an example of an American "shuffle dance" from 2007.

**
28. Richard Robinson, 2013
"We done went from 2pac and dmx to this and this not even rap that's how far we are but I do like the beat"

**
REPLY
29. TheRareD, 2014
"ever heard of the cha cha slide? this is basically the same type of song"

**
REPLY
30. Jameel S, 2014
"He's not trying to rap fool. It's a dance song."

**
31. Tato Dancing, 2013
"lol I love doing this dance in the hallway at school"

**
32. Aaliceya White, 2013
"bop all the time"

**
33. nate blue, 2013
"GRAB SOMTHING WHY U MADD WHY U MADD"

**
34. Audrella Walden, 2013
"This song is dope but it's hard as hell to do! Keep calm and love kemo, bop king of the wolrd"
-snip-
"dope"; "dope as hell" = very good

**
35. ohmynester, 2013
"South Florida has our version of these dances for years. Its crazy to see another interpretation of the dances I'm accustom to."

**
36. tajae terrell, 2013
"this dance is too live!!!!!!!!! Imma get dis dance poppin n cincinnati fo u kemo. #KEMOSTEP"

**
37. Antwan Hoyte, 2013
"please dont let this be a new thing in 2014"

**
38. christina ballard, 2013
"They sure do got this bopping thing crazy they got my Momma doing it"

**
39. Le Patron N'Scrawberri, 2013
"raw as hell"

**
40. Malek Clay, 2013
"The new Cha Cha slide"

**
41. north philly, 2013
"Certain parts were weak,but it was an overall cool vid and song."

**
42. Dionne Wallace II, 2013
"come out with some shirts like Why you mad, Grab sumthin' , and slide bop, of course Find yo swag"

**
43. Kamari King, 2013
"That's the best boping song ever Lil kemo TTU"
-snip-
"TTU" = too turned up

**
44. Prtygurl12, 2013
"I been doing this for the past hour .Lawd ."

**
45. lauryn miller, 2013
"He just killed it 😜"
-snip-
"killed it" = do something very well

**
46. Cameron McDonald, 2013
"dlow shuffle is better"

**
REPLY
47. Just That Guy :3, 2013
"Why you mad?!"

**
48. Latonya Smith, 2013
"I respect with dlow n kemo are doing... they came out with two different bop but similar style.. very smart... keep pushing this movement.. at least it something positive...keep the videos n new styles coming.. hit me up"
-snip-
"hit me up" = give me some "likes" under this comment

**
49. ryland moore, 2013
"yall did good i aint even gon hate"

**
50. Markitta Hall, 2013
".YOURS GOOD BUT NOT NOT ALL DAT SSSSSSSSS/OOOOOOOOOOO TO U DOE U AND DLOW KEEP IT UP SHORTYY
-snip-
S/O = shout out = public acknowledgement

"doe you" = [ do you] = do your thing

**
51. Breanacuteness Green, 2013
"Can all y'all hatters do it or nawww"

**
52. Dakota Peace, 2013
"Did y'all not hear him say shoutout to Dlow? He didn't steal the dance"

**
53. Breyanna Armistead, 2013
"White people don't be haten because black have talent than"

**
54. Mr. Realistic, 2014
"Not only is the dance cool but theres no unnecessary cursing"

**
55. Katia White, 2014
"I. Love. You. Kemow. My. Son. Be. Doing. It. Ever. Day"

**
56. Malika Dunem, 2014
"Luv dis dance"

**
57. Latasia Jefferson, 2014
"Omg I love this dance I learned it in 2 days"

**
58. Montrel Ashe, 2014
"TURN UPPPPPPP THIS MY JAMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

**
59. Sabrina black, 2014
"This is an easy dance. So is the Dlow shuffle. I watched the dlow for the past four weeks and I can envision it. I'm just now watching this and this is as easy as the Cha cha cha slide. Why you mad then?"

**
60. Paydro Kash, 2014
"bopping is life🎉🎉"

**
61. ashley jay, 2014
"Why is everybody doing the dolow shuffle"

**
62. Lavoi Wilder, 2014
"Damm I wish we bopped in Baltimore"

**
63. Jameel S, 2014
"New electric slide lol"

**
64. Ashley Sterling, 2014
"This is a great hip hop dance"

**
65. just ask me, 2014
"He is the best dlow is too them two got my kids killing it kemo got my daughter over here killing It.She kills the whip nae nae,dlowshuffle,kemostep 2,naenae ,and this dance"

**
66. yshawn Highlights, 2014
"Nobody rember dis"

**
67. K a a a y Karnaisa, 2014
"i like this song it gets u crunked up"
-snip-
"crunked up" = turned up; hyped

**
68. William Watts, 2017
"Who still doing this in 2k17 tho"

**
REPLY
69. Renee Clyde, 2017
"William Watts not me"

**
REPLY
70. yung savage, 2017
"William Watts only you"

**
REPLY
71. IPrefer Butter, 2017
"William Watts me"

**
72. Khyron Watson, 2016
"that so oooooooold"

**
73. Gregory Proctor, 2017
"Who else here from chicago and came here for memories"

**
74. dakaria, 2017
"I miss bopping 😥😥😥"

**
75. [no name retrieved]
"This was so lit,I miss these dances,Old memories 😭"

**
76. Hiyt Gggs, 2018
"Who remember when everybody did this"

**
77. kimberly Sangster, 2019
"so nostalgic"

**
78. King KJ3, 2019
"Take Me Back To Deez Days😩"

****
Video #3: Sicko Mobb & The Bop Kids of Chicago



The FADER, Published on Oct 30, 2014
-snip-
Here are some comments from this video's discussion thread (with numbers added for referencing purposes only).
1. Troll God, 2014
"glad to see Chicago makin its own style"

**
2. Ms. Hill, 2014
"I know bout boppin through memo that dude is bad and dlow and queen fee fee....I love Chicago and I'm not even from there all becuz of them.....turn up"
-snip-
"Memo" here might be a typo for "kemo".

**
3. Big Tooko, 2014
"Big boi Killt it"

**
4. Kon, 2014
"24/7. Keep it Goin!"

**
5. ya boy, 2014
"It's like the chi town version of clownin in LA"
-snip-
"Chi town" = Chicago
-snip-
Here's a review of the 2005 documentary Rize that refers to "clowning"
leilapostgrad27 June 2005; https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0436724/reviews
Before you can understand "krumping" and "clowning," you've got to understand the history and people of South Central Los Angeles. Director David LaChapelle opens his documentary, Rize, with news footage and images from the 1965 Watts riots and the 1992 Rodney King riots. Out of the violence and hate came Tommy the Clown, the hip-hop clown who got kids to stop fighting and start dancing. These "clown groups" gave kids an alternative to gang life. Clown dancing grew, expanded, and evolved into an entirely new form of dance – "krumping." It may look aggressive and violent, but it's pure release, expression, and art. When LaChapelle shows footage of African tribal dancing, one can't help but see the resemblance to "krump" dancing, from the quick and deliberate body movements to the face paint, as if that dancing was in their blood. Rize gives these dancers something the rest of society has long denied them – dignity and respect. See this one.

**
REPLY
6. 504jec, 2015
"The leg movement is most Definitely New Orleans bounce."

**
7. Kel, 2014
"Finally something positive for the kids to look up to instead of killing each other. Kinda like how krumping was for the westcoast and getting light/footwork for the east"

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REPLY
8. Tony Kushington, 2014
"The footwork is a Chicago dance, tho"

**
REPLY
9. James Bond jr, 2014
"@Tony Kushington He means the foot work which the West Coast has been known for since the late 60's. Crip walking and Blood walking was made famous through out the USA. When you hear footwork or walking you think of the West Coast. Yoy cats think you invited everything huh?"

**
REPLY
10. Tony Kushington, 2014
"@James Bond jr I ain't never heard crip walkin and blood walkin referred to as the footwork. I got family in socal and the north. I don't think we invented anything, you think that."

**
REPLY
11. ThaClassicalMusician, 2014
"@Tony Kushington The footwork is definitely not a Chicago dance. That's whats wrong with Chicago, there's no substance. Nothing ever lasts. Let's hop in our time machine and go back 3 or 4 years when drill music was actually mainstream. Now, it's nothing. It's actually quite sad that you guys can't produce something that's everlasting or at least lasts longer than the duration of 2-3 years."
-snip-
Here's some information about "drill music" from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drill_music
"Drill music is a style of trap music that originated in the South Side of Chicago in the early 2010s. It is defined by its dark, violent, nihilistic lyrical content and ominous trap-influenced beats.

Drill progressed into the American mainstream in mid-2012 following the success of rappers and producers like Young Chop, Chief Keef, Lil Durk, Fredo Santana, SD and Lil Reese, who had many local fans and a significant Internet presence. Media attention and the signing of drill musicians to major labels followed. Artists within the genre have been noted for their style of lyricism and association with crime in Chicago.

A regional subgenre, UK drill, rose to prominence in London, particularly in the district of Brixton, beginning in 2012.

Drill lyrics typically reflect life on the streets, and tend to be gritty, violent, realistic and nihilistic. … Though it bears many similarities to trap music, the speed of a drill beat is generally slower with a moderate tempo, having about 60 to 70 beats per minute.[8][9] Some producers work at double tempo, such as 130 to 140 beats per minute.”...

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REPLY
12. Tony Kushington, 2014
"@ThaClassicalMusician Lol the Footwork is most definitely a Chicago dance. And who in their right mind would want "drill music" to last. Its horrible. I'd rather hear Mick Jenkins or Supa Bwe spit than listen to crap violent music. Where are you from might I ask? You must of been born in the 90's"

**
REPLY
13. ThaClassicalMusician, 2014
"@Tony Kushington I think drill music HAD potential but MAJORITY the rappers coming out of Chicago aren't creative enough. They lack the skill that it takes to captivate a broader audience and perpetuate that popularity for long amounts of time. With that being said King Louie seems like he'd be able to consistently go mainstream and gain A LOT of fans if he's consistent. I'm from VA too born 96'."

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REPLY
14. Tony Kushington, 2014
"Google Mick Jenkins, Supe Bwe and Hurt Everybody. They alone are killing any mainstream artist you can name. Chicago has hella talent. You just don't know"

**
15. BENNIE CARR, 2015
"that ain't no bop, the bop came from Florida"

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16. Alayah James, 2015
"Go Chi Ayyeee


Sicko Mobb, Lil Kemo, Bop Queen Destiny and more show us the ins and outs of bopping in Chicago."

**
17. Jimmy John, 2016
"Good to see this trending in Chicago because Florida been trying to get the world on this vibe but for some reason people aren't buying into it. Look up some Florida rappers who on this by searching Tampa dance, Ft Lauderdale dance, or Miami dance to see people doing the dances."

**
18. dakaria, 2018
"The best period/time of Chicago .man I miss doing this dance😷😥😥"

**
REPLY
19. LoJack, 2018
"dakaria .H On god. I miss the footworking and bopping days. Sh&t* used to be so lit"
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this comment.

"lit" = very good; hot

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REPLY
20. T- Papo, 2019
" LoJack I wish someone could bring it back. Make it popular again or sum sh&t* 😭"
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in this comment.

"sh&t" (the sh&t) means something that is essential; something that is "for real"; something that is very good.

**
REPLY
21. king kadri, 2019
"fr lets bring that sh&t* back"
-snip-
“fr”= for real, meaning "definitely"; repeating "fr" adds emphasis

**
22. DJ Silver, 2019
"Frfr. We need Dlo or Kemo to come back"

**
23. Sara DaSilva, 2019
"When I moved out of the west side of Chicago this what they was doing. It’s been a few years now I wonder what dance they doing now?"

****
This concludes Part II of this two part pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

What "Half Steppin" And Other Vernacular Terms Mean In Big Daddy Kane's 1988 Hip Hop Classic "Ain't No Half Steppin'"

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest Update: August 17, 2020

This pancocojams post showcases Big Daddy Kane's 1988 Hip Hop track "Ain't No Half Steppin'".

This post also provides definitions of the term "half steppin" and certain other terms & references that that are used in that track. Additions and corrections are welcome.

The content of this post is presented for cultural, linguistic, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks Big Daddy Kane for his musical legacy. Thanks also to to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.

****
INFORMATION ABOUT BIG DADDY KANE'S "AIN'T NO HALF STEPPIN"
From https://genius.com/Big-daddy-kane-aint-no-half-steppin-lyrics
Created by box, 2010
..."The prestigious Rolling Stone Magazine voted this as the 25th best hip hop song of all time.
Written By Marley Marl & Big Daddy Kane.

Scratches- DJ Mister Cee

Mixed By Marley Marl

Release Date -June 28, 1988

Samples
Get Into It by Big Daddy Kane
The Big Beat by Billy Squier
UFO by ESG (NY)
Ease On Down The Road by Charlie Smalls (Ft. Diana Ross & Michael Jackson)
Blind Alley by The Emotions"

****
SHOWCASE VIDEO Big Daddy Kane - Aint No Half Steppin

UPROXX video, May 30, 2018

****
Pancocojams Editor:
I've numbered these lines as a means of referring to them in the Definition Of Certain Terms section below.

AIN'T NO HALF STEPPIN'
(written by Marley Marl & Big Daddy Kane)

[Intro]
1) Aw Yea, I'm with this
2) I'm just gonna sit here laid back to this nice mellow beat, you know
3) And drop some smooth lyrics
4) Cause it's '88
5) Time to set it straight, know what I'm saying?
6) And ain't no half stepping
7) Word, I'm ready:

[Verse 1]
8) Rappers stepping to me, they want to get some
9) But I'm the Kane, so yo, you know the outcome
10) Another victory
11) They can't get with me
12) So pick a BC date cause you're history
14) I'm the authentic poet to get lyrical
15) For you to beat me, it's gonna take a miracle
16) And, stepping to me, yo that's the wrong move
17) So what you on, Hobbs, dope or dog food?
18) Competition I just devour
19) Like a pit bull against a Chihuahua
20) Cause when it comes to being dope, hot damn
21) I got it good, now let me tell you who I am
22) The B-I-G D-A-double D-Y K-A-N-E
23) Dramatic, Asiatic, not like many
34) I'm different, so don't compare me to another
25) Cause they can't hang, word to the mother
26) At least not with the principal in this pedigree
27) So when I roll on you rappers, you better be
28) Ready to die because you're petty
29) You're just a butter knife, I'm a machete
30) That's made by Ginsu, wait until when you
31) Try to front, so I can chop into
32) Your body, just because you try to be basing
34) Friday the 13th, I'mma play Jason
35) No type of joke, gag, game, puzzle or riddle
36) The name is Big Daddy, yes Big not little
37) So define it
38) Here's your walking papers, sign it
39) And take a walk
40) As the Kane start to talk, cause

[Hook]
41) Ain't no half-steppin'
42) I'm the Big Daddy Kane

[Verse 2]
43) My rhymes are so dope and
44) The rappers be hoping
45) To sound like me, so soon I'll have to open
46) A school of emceeing, for those who want to be in
47) My field in court
48) Then again on second thought
49) To have emcees coming out sounding so similar
50) It's quite confusing for you to remember
51) The originator, and boy do I hate a
52) Perpetrator, but I'm much greater
53) The best oh yes I guess suggest the rest should fess
54) Don't mess or test your highness
55) Unless you just address with best finesse
56) And bless the paragraph I manifest
57) Rap prime minister, some say sinister
58) Non-stopping the groove, until when it's the
59) Climax, and I max, relax and chill
60) Have a break from a take of me acting ill
61) Brain cells are lit, ideas start to hit
62) Next the formation of words that fit
63) At the table I sit, making it legit
64) And when my pen hits the paper, ahh sh&t!*
65) I stop and stand strong over emcees
66) And devour with the power of Hercules
67) Or Samson, but I go further the length
68) Cause you could scalp my Cameo and I'll still have strength
69) And no, that's not a myth, and if you try to riff
70) Or get with, the man with the given gift of gab
71) Your vocab, I'll only ignore
72) Be sleeping on your rhymes till I start to snore
75) You can't awake me, or even make me
76) Fear you, son, cause you can't do me none
77) So, think about it if you're trying to go
78) When you want to step to me, I think you should know there

[Hook]

[Verse 3]
77) I appear right here and scare and dare
78) A mere musketeer that would dare to compare
79) Put him in the rear, back there where he can't see clear
80) Get a beer, idea or near stare, yeah
81) So on to be want to be competition
82) Trying to step to me--must be on a mission
83) Up on the stage is where I'mma get you at
84) You think I'm losing?
85) Psst, picture that

[Hook]

[Verse 4]
86) The name is Big Daddy, you know, as in your father
87) So when you hear a def rhyme, believe that I'm the author
88) I grab the mic and make emcees evaporate
89) The party people say 'Damn, that rapper's great'
90) The creator conductor of poetry
91) Et cetera, et cetera, it ain't easy being me
92) I speak clearly so you can understand
93) Put words together like Letter Man
94) Now that's dictation, proceeding to my innovation
95) Not like the other MC's that are an imitation
96) Or an animation, a cartoon to me
97) But when I'm finished, I'm sure that you are soon to see
98) Reality, my secret technique
99) Because I always speak with mentality
100) I put my title in your face, dare you to base
101) And if you try and come get it, yo I'mma show you who's with it
102) So if you know like I know, instead of messing around
103) Play like Roy Rogers and slooow doown
104) Just give yourself a break, or someone else will take
105) Your title, namely me, cause I'm homicidal
106) That means murder, cause I'm about to hurt a-
107) Nother MC, that try to get with me
108) I'll just break him and bake him and rake him
109) And take him and mold him and make him
110) Hold up the peace sign
111) As Salaam Alaikum!

Source: https://genius.com/Big-daddy-kane-aint-no-half-steppin-lyrics
-snip-
*This word is fully spelled out in these lyrics.

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DEFINITIONS FOR CERTAIN VERNACULAR AND OTHER TERMS IN BIG DADDY KANE'S "AIN'T NO HALF STEPPIN'"
These numbers correspond to the order that the word, phrase, or saying (with that meaning) appear in this Hip Hop track.

1. "I'm with this" - I got this (I'm very confident about what I'm saying and/or doing.)
3. "drop lyrics" - rap; ("Spit bars" is a later [?] equivalent term for "drop lyrics".)
6. "ain't no half steppin" - in the context of this song, Big Daddy Kane is saying that he isn't going to to "half step" when it comes to being a MC (rapper) i.e. He's not going to be a "sucker MC"*.

"Half steppin' = to fail to do something the right way, fully and completely; to fail to give something your all (all your commitment and energy).

"Half steppin[g] refers to the way you do something, and not the way that you step (move).

Two contemporary African American Vernacular English (AAVE) that are the opposite of "half steppin(g) are to do something "to the max" and to "go all out". Both of these idioms mean to do something thoroughly and to the best of your ability.

Another contemporary AAVE antonym (opposite) for "half stepping" is to be "on point" (to do something exactly as it is meant to be done).
-snip-
* Here's some information about the meaning of the term "sucker MC"
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sucker_M.C.%27s
"Sucker M.C.'s" (also known as "Krush-Groove 1" or "Sucker M.C.'s (Krush-Groove 1)" and sometimes spelled as "Sucker MCs", "Sucker MC's" or "Sucker M.C.s") is a song by American hip hop group Run–D.M.C. It was first released in 1983 on a cassette as B-side to "It's like That". The two-sided release marked the start of Run-D.M.C.'s career as their first single.

An MC or M.C. is an abbreviation for Master of Ceremonies, a reference to rappers who controlled the microphones. Sucker is a derogatory street term for someone who believes he has skills, but who does not. It is derived from the common slang term sucker, relating to one who is gullible."...

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7. "Word" - an affirmative phrase that was widely used among certain African Americans, and later, by non-African Americans in the 1980s and 1990s. "Word" meant "Yeah. I agree [with what you just said]. Two other forms of this affirmative saying that had the same meaning were "Word up" and "Word to the mother".
-snip-
Read the information below for #25 "Word to the mother".

8. "Rappers steppin to me" = Rappers (MCs) coming up to me (in a confrontational manner)
9. "yo" = This usage may be the equivalent of the interjection "Hey".
11. " They can't get with me" = They can bother me.
12. "a BC date" = BC= before Christ, referring to a date from long long ago
17. "Hobbs" - I think this is a generic referent for "man", "dude"; It's not the same character as Hobbs in the contemporary movie series The Fast And The Furious which began in 2001.
17. "dope" = in this line means "illegal drugs"
20. "dope" = in this line means "very good"
23. "Asiatic" = Moorish Science Temple of America referent for Black Americans
From http://msta1913.org/MoorishHistory.html
"Prophet Noble Drew Ali taught the people termed ''Negroes'' in the United States are ''Asiatic'' and specifically that they are Moorish whose forefathers inhabited Northwest and Southwest Africa before they were enslaved in North America."

25. "cause they can't hang" = They can't keep up with me (in terms of actions and/or accomplishments)
25. "word to the mother" - an affirmative phrase used in the 1980s, 1990s that was an extension of the affirmative phrase "Word". "Word up" was another form of this affirmative saying.

Although "mother" in this saying may have been "mother Africa", I don't think that most people who used that saying got that "deep" into its meaning. Instead, I believe that "Word To The Mother" was used the same way and had the same meaning as the contemporary phrases "I know I'm right" and/or "You got that right".

However, here's an online comment about the phrase "word to the mother" and the corrupted [perhaps folk etymology] form of that phrase "word to your mother"]

From https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=word+to+your+mother
"Word to your mother"
"An anachronistic corruption of the phrase "word to the mother", which was a popular reference to Africa or "The Motherland" during the late 1980s Afrocentric movement. While the replacement of "the" with "your" effectively obliterated the term's Afrocentric roots, it continued to be used in the same manner, that is, to express agreement. Alternatively, the "your" could take on sinister connotations, implying that speaker was sexually intimate with the listener's mother, as in "say hi to your mom for me", or, in keeping with the whack terminology, "props to your mom, she's da bomb". Finally, the phrase might mean nothing at all, and be used to ineptly feign street cred, in the style of Vanilla Ice.
Jeff - "Given the uncertainty of today's market, I'm strongly considering increasing my portfolio's share of treasury bills."

Greg - "Word to your mother."
#word#word to your moms#mutha#mother#word up
by bluedevil July 20, 2006
-snip-

27. "when I roll on you rappers" = when I confront you; when I challenge you
31. "front" = pretend to be something you're not [in the context of this track, pretend to be a real MC]
32/33. "basing" = [in the context of this track] trying to act stupid like [?]
-snip-
Here's an urban dictionary.com entry that might fit this usage:

From https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=basin
Basin
A crackhead, also someone who does stupid things
1: hey have you seen that aaron kid? hes pretty basin
2: what'd he do?
3: he ran naked down the street!
#basin#crackhead#cokehead#coke#crack
by Anon1865 October 31, 2011
-snip-

33. "Friday the 13th/Jason; a very popular American horror movie/movie series that began in 1980; "Jason" is the main character who stalks and kills other people in those movies.
38. "walking papers" = papers notifying people that they have been fired from their employment; by extension, a saying that means that you are being giving notice that a relationship is ending (you are being "let go")
39. "take a walk" = [a command to] leave
43. "so dope" = so very good
46./.49 "emceeing"; "emcee" = "MC"; rapping; rapping
47. "my field in court" = in my league; as good as me ["court" here refers to a "basketball court"]
52. "perpetrator"= [in the context of this track], someone who pretends to be an MC, someone who pretends to be "down with" [a part of] Hip Hop culture
53. "fess"= confess
60. "ill" = great, excellent (the same highly complementary vernacular meaning as "sick")
68. "you can scalp my Cameo" = in the context of this track, "Cameo" means "hair".
-snip-
Read this excerpt from a comment exchange from that embedded video's discussion thread which explains that use of "Cameo" to mean "a high top fade", a particular type of hair style in the 1980s [and 1990s?] which was mostly worn by [Black American] males

2002Socal, 2016
"that high top fade tho... east coast katz was rockin them joints back in the day."

**
Reply
TheEdub1, 2016
"Hell yeah we was rockin the high top fades all day. But really it comes from the dude from the group Cameo."

**
TheEdub1, 2016
"+MISSDD Kane wasn't first it was Larry Blackmon of Cameo. The high top fade used to be called Cameo cut because of him. Kane even says in this song "You can cut my Cameo and I'll still have strength"."
-snip-

87. "def" rhyme = in the context of this track, a very good rhyme
93. "Letter Man" = my guess is that "Letter Man" refers to "The Adventures of Letterman was an animated skit that was a regular feature on the 1971–1977 PBS television series The Electric Company.
Created by Mike Thaler, this super hero spoof debuted during The Electric Company's second season, and quickly became one of the show's most popular segments. There were 60 Letterman segments produced from 1972 to 1976." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Adventures_of_Letterman

95. "dare you to base"= act stupid [?] [Read #33 above]
103. "Play like Roy Rogers" and slooow doown" = "Roy Rogers (born Leonard Franklin Slye, November 5, 1911 – July 6, 1998) was an American singer and actor who was one of the most popular Western stars of his era. Known as the "King of the Cowboys", he appeared in over 100 films and numerous radio and television episodes of The Roy Rogers Show". https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roy_Rogers

-snip-
I vaguely recall watching the "Roy Rogers" show on television, but don't remember if he was known for saying "Go slow".

110) Hold up the peace sign- from https://emojipedia.org/victory-hand/ ✌️ Victory Hand
"Most commonly known as a ✌️ Peace Sign, but traditionally called as a Victory Hand. Two fingers held up on one hand making a V sign."

111) "As Salaam Alaikum!" - Arabic greeting and farewell saying [English translation: "Peace be unto you".

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/02/the-egyptian-word-hotep-its-various.html for a pancocojams post about how this Arabic greeting/farewell was used by Muslim and non-Muslim African Americans in the 1980s and 1990s and was later changed to "Peace" and "Peace out".

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