The Meanings Of "Clock It" , "Clock That Tea" And Similar African American Slang Words/Phrases In The Context Of Stomp & Shake Cheerleading

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part III of a three part pancocojams series on the American vernacular (slang) phrase "clock It" and similar phrases.

This post presents information about the meaning of the slang phrase "clock it" and other "clock" phrases in the context of stomp & shake cheerleading. That post also presents examples of the word clock and current (2026) African American slang synonyms from the discussion thread of a 2026 YouTube stomp and shake cheerleading video.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/05/2025-article-excerpt-clock-it-how.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. That pancocojams post presents an excerpt from a 2025 online article written by Quispe López about the history and meanings of the vernacular (slang) phrase "clock it" and related words/phrases such as 'clock that tea" and "clocking".  Please read that entire article.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/05/some-online-examples-of-vernacular.html  for Part II of this pancocojams series. That post presents some online examples in 2025-2026 of the vernacular (slang) phrase "clock it" and similar "clock" slang words/phrases.

The content of this post is presented for linguistic, historical, and socio-cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are featured in the YouTube video that is embedded in this post and thanks to all those who are quoted in this pancocojams post.

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WHAT IS STOMP & SHAKE CHEERLEADING?
Stomp & shake cheerleading is a form of cheerleading that originated among African Americans in the 1970s. That cheerleading style is documented to have independently been created first at the Historically Black Greek letter university Virginia State University and shortly thereafter at the Historically Black Greek letter university Winston-Salem State University. However, before the 1970s Black American pre-university high schools and other community cheerleading squads included elements of stomp & shake cheerleading such as stomping alternating with hand clapping as well as planned or improvised cheers that included group bragging and dissing their opposition's athletic teams in their planned or spontaneously created group cheers.

Stomp & shake cheerleading squads are found on the middle school, high school, and university levels. Most stomp & shake cheerleading squads consist of Black females. Some stomp & shake cheerleading squads have had and/or currently have one or a few cheerleaders non-Black female cheerleaders.

Some stomp & shake cheerleading squads have had and/or currently have one or a few cheerleaders who are Black males. As of this date (in 2026) I have never come across any information or videos of male stomp & shake  cheerleaders who are non-Black. Male cheerleaders don't perform all of the movements or all of the movements the same way as female cheerleaders in their squads.

Stomp & shake cheerleading focuses on hyping up their athletic teams' fans at football games and at basketball games. However, these squads do so as show entertainment more than leading fan participation in their cheers.

Certain motions such as "high steps" (formerly referred to as "upstomps") and "double shakes" (formerly referred to as "jigga pops") distinguish stomp & shake cheerleading from traditional cheerleading routines or modified cheerleading routines that combine traditional & stomp & shake routines. Unlike traditional cheerleading, stomp & shake cheerleading routines rarely if ever include cheerleading stunts.

In 2026 stomp & shake cheerleading is mostly found on the Black pre-university and Black university levels in North Carolina (USA) and in Virginia (USA). However, those styles of cheerleading can now be found throughout many Black communities throughout the United States. That said, it's historically and currently incorrect to say that stomp & shake cheerleading is associated with every Historically Black College & University (HBCU). 

This pancocojams blog has multiple post about stomp & shake cheerleading. Here are links two of those posts:
"When Did Stomp & Shake Cheerleading Begin? (Online Comments & Website Statements)"
https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2015/06/when-did-stomp-shake-cheerleading-begin.html

and "Examples Of Stomp & Shake Cheerleading Cheers, Part I (A - H)" https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2017/06/examples-of-stomp-shake-cheerleading.html
[This is Part I of a three part pancocojams series that document some examples of stomp & shake cheerleading cheers. The links to the other posts in this series is found in each post in this series.  

Also, read this post that I wrote in 2011: "Race and the Changing Shape of Cheerleading"
https://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2011/07/21/race-and-the-changing-shape-of-cheerleading/

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WHAT "CLOCK IT" & OTHER CLOCK WORDS AND PHRASES MEAN WHEN USED IN COMMENTS BY STOMP & SHAKE CHEERLEADING FANS 

A. 
Here's an example of the slang (vernacular) use of the word "clock" that I happened upon in the discussion thread for this YouTube video:

@cavettaj, 2012
"@dizznikkak09 Nooo wat was said was they pick'd certain schools that were sufficient w/ their budget. But regardless of that, WEN THEY WERE OFFERED THE CHANCE TO GET ISHH POPPIN-they kept walkin. So it's not a "seem like" it reality. & that perception of "worried about them" is only bcuz of originality. If yall did ya own cheers or didnt bite off us & other squads...then ppl wouldnt CLOCK the imitation or we wouldnt b "worried about them" #FACT. But see'n is believin. hope yall "TRAVEL" this yr."
-snip-
This is part of a long and contentious exchange of comments between @cavettaj and @dizznikkak09 that is found in the discussion thread of a 2011 YouTube video about Winston-Salem State University's cheer "You Gets No Respect In Here" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkpOiVssR0s "WSSU CHEERLEADERS 2010-11 Basketball BATTLE" published by cavettaj, Jun 11, 2011.

In essence in the comment given above, @cavettaj responds to @dizznikkak09, a supporter of (the historically Black College & University) St. Augustine's "Blue Chips" cheerleaders, that the reason why Winston-Salem University's (WSSU) cheerleaders have a problem with St. Augustine's cheerleaders is that two years ago after a formal CIAA league competition ,WSSU cheerleaders challenged St. Augustine's cheerleaders to a cheer battle (then called "a cheer off". However, St. Augustine's cheerleaders made no response, but kept walking past WSSUs cheerleaders without even looking back. @cavettaj also indicated that she and other people believe St. Augustine's cheerleaders didn't want to battle with WSSU cheerleaders because their (St Augustine's) cheers and cheer routines are copies of WSSU cheers and routines. If  St. Augustine's cheerleaders had battled with WSSU, then people would have noticed and verified this (clocked it) with their own eyes and ears.  

This slang meaning of "clock" derives from its 1960s African American/Latinx Gay ballroom roots and means "to notice, observe, or aggressively point out something about a person, particularly something they were trying to hide"... 
from an AI Overview write-up about the origin of the slang term "clock it".

@cavettaj's comment that is given above is the only pre 2026 example of the slang use of "clock" and its related words/phrases that I have found thus far in the context of stomp & shake cheerleading.           

Please share any other online or off-line examples in the comment section below of "clock" and its related words/phrases that you have come across or that you remember before 2026. Thanks in advance!

B1.- Explanations of Words & Phrases 
This section presents examples of "clock it" (and related "clock" words and phrases from the discussion thread for a 2026 YouTube video of the stomp & shake cheer "All Y' All Cheers Are Boring". Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/05/comments-about-copying-stealing-stomp.html  for the pancocojams post entitled "All Y' All Cheers Are Boring" Stomp & Shake Cheerleading Cheer (Discussion Thread Comments: Compliments & Criticisms)" . This video features high school level stomp and shake cheerleaders.

In those discussion thread comments the phase "clock it" and its related "clock" words/phrases (such as "clocked that tea", "clocked that t", and "clocking") are highly complimentary exclamations that are synonymous with the African American originated slang meanings for the exclamations "slay" , "killed it", and "ate' (including "ate it", "ate it up", "ate and left no crumbs, and "ate down")

As of the publication of this pancocojams post (May 23, 2026) I have only come across two YouTube video stomp & shake cheers' discussion threads whose comments include "clock it" or other "clock" words or phrases.* Both of those 2026 videos are for the "All Y' All  Cheers Are Boring" cheers.  Comments from those two discussion threads are found in the B2 section of this pancocojams post. 

*The 2012 comment that includes "Clock" that is given in Section "A" of this pancocojams post is an exception to this statement.

That doesn't mean that there are no such comments, particularly from 2025 and 2026. If you know of such comments, please share them in the discussion thread below. Thanks in advance.

The African American Vernacular English word "ate" and its related "ate" words and phrases are FAR MORE frequently found in stomp & shake cheerleading cheer discussion threads than the "clock it" word/phrases that were written around the 2020 and on. The "slay" words/phrases follows that of the "ate" words/phrases in that same time period in their use in those stomp & shake cheerleading discussion threads. 

The slang words "slay" (and its earlier and still used comparable vernacular phrase "killed it") and the slang meaning word "ate" and its related slang "ate" phrases mean that something (or someone/ some group) was/were great, did an exceptional job. These same meanings are given or implied in "clock it" in stomp & shake cheerleading fans' comments. The exhortations to "Slay!" and/or to "Clock it!" mean "to continue to do a great job". These "Clock It!"  exhortations are synonymous with the exclamations "Get it!, "Do it!" and "Work it!"

However, on a deeper level, the slang words "slay", "killed it", "ate", and "clock it" - when used by people in the context of stomp & shake cheerleading- almost always* also mean "to totally demolish", "to utterly destroy", or "to totally weaken" a cheerleading squad so that they are unable to continue competing.

*I included the words "almost always" because of the 2012 example that I found that is shared in B1 of this pancocojams post. 

I believe that the use of the phrase "clock it" and other high complimentary African American Vernacular English words and phrases usually refers to the entire cheer performance including the words of the cheer and how they are delivered and not just the cheer routine (the movements). That said, certain movements throughout the cheer and not just the entire stomp & shake cheer. An example of this is at the end of the cheer "All Y' All Cheers Are Boring" when the cheerleaders collapsed as if sleeping on their gym bleachers.

I haven't found the word "clock it" or any other "clock" words or phrases in any discussion thread for the stomp & shake cheer "You Make Us Go To Sleep" that was composed and first performed in 2023 by Sparkman High School cheerleaders (Harvest, Alabama). However, the unexpected ending of that cheer when the cheerleaders fell down sleeping on their gym bleachers and covered themselves with a small blanket evoked comments of "Slay!" and "Ate!" (and their similar sayings).

Judging from those comments and from other comments in various stomp & shake cheerleading discussion threads that include or don't include those slang words/phrases, the reason why those cheers and particularly those endings for those cheer routines evoked such audiences responses are because the cheers are creative, original (unique), and were performed very well.

Also, those cheers exemplify the African American traditions of and cultural appreciation of bragging and dissing rhymes, chants, cheers, and songs. Furthermore, the words and particularly the ending routine of those two middle school or high school stomp & shake cheers exemplify the contemporary element of "being petty". using something small and seemingly insignificant to insult another person or group".  A pancocojams post on stomp & shake comments positively highlighting cheers being petty" will be published ASAP and its link will be added to this post. 

 Additions and corrections to these meanings & my conclusions are welcome. 

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B2 -Examples Of "Clock It" and other "Clock" words & phrases, & Examples of "Ate" Or "Slay" Words & Phrases from the discussion thread of this YouTube video:

1. https://youtube.com/shorts/pJJ84sqMjAg?si=wRrcUXkSGT-pTs3W "All Y'All Cheers Are Boring", published by @westernguiflordmiddlecheer ; @SAGINAWDANCESHOW, January 23, 2026

Western Guilford Middle School is located in Greensboro, North Carolina.

These are all of the "clock" examples that I found in this discussion thread as of May 23, 2026 at 9:35 AM EDT. I only included some of the other examples of these showcased African American Vernacular English words/phrases that were found in that discussion thread as of that date and time. 

These comments are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.

All of these comments were published in 2026.  

1 @arisleydis100
"You clocked that tea sis!😁"

**
2.@FroggyLobby-v7s
"Ate and left no crumbs✨✨"

**
3. @Synquis
"Clock that T. Period.❤️❤️😂"

**
4. @BipashnaChettri-c4v
"Nadia ( the one who called the cheer ) ATEEEEEE with the iconic BORINGG 💅💅"

**
5. @Idontknowyoubruh0
"THEY ATEEEE 😛😛😛"

 **
6. @RickMoynes
"Clock it girl  💅"

**
7. @Malina-w9j
"They ate and left no crumbs 😮"

**
8. @hikittyys
"SLAY QUEENSS❤️"

**
9. @Synquis
"Clock that T. Period.❤️❤️😂"

**
10. @Marley-c6e
"Yes you guys slayed PERIOD !!!!❤️❤️❤️"

**
11. @smg6_editz
"Clocking"

**
12. @HarmonyTausili-f1h
"ATE!❤️❤️"

**
13. @90414
"Girl clockkkkk itttttt 💅💅💅"

**
14.@aspeflores
"THEY ATE THAT UP 😝😝😝😝😝"

**
15. @AbrielleOtchere
"Cheers SLAY"

**
16. @WaltonBrown-z7p
"Clock it i wish I was one of them ❤️🎉"

**
17. @SandyHunter-z4s
"Clock it! Yall ate!"

**
18. @shark1this
"YOU GUYS SLAYEDDDD🤚🏽🤚🏽"

**
19. @Aldrichxie
"Killin' it gurl 👑"

**
20. @EmmaHamriel-o4l
"They all slayed that"

**
21. @MiasCollection
"slay QUEEEEEENS!!!!!"
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9h9x_PYh1Xo "All y'all Cheers are boring" by Saginaw Dance Show, Mar 30, 2026
-snip-
This example of the "All Y'All Cheers Are Boring" cheer appears was performed by a group of Black American girls who are middle school age and younger as part of a floor performance and not during a competitive basketball or football game. I believe that @SaginawDanceShow wrote that this group is located in Michigan.  

These are all of the "clock" examples that I found in this discussion thread as of May 23, 2026 at 9:35 AM EDT. I only included some of the other examples of these showcased African American Vernacular English words/phrases that were found in that discussion thread as of that date and time. 

 These comments are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.

All of these comments were published in 2026.  

1. @janeshagully7019
"Y’all ate that up yes girlyyyyyyy"

**
2. @Ms.Magic94
"Clock it"

**
3. @SenabMohamedAli
"Ateeee"

**
4. @beyenealemayehu5136
"It clocking but y’all copied a school so 😅"

**
5. @user-fv5nk2nw4g
"The girl in the front clocked that fell so good like just clocked slay"

**
6. @hichamkaou3090
"Slayy girls go lions"

**
7. @MikaylaHolton-f8e4s
"Did not eat stop stealing cheers"

**
8. @JalesiaAnderson-j7k
"Y'all ate that I see yall"

**
9. @swagdaphne4831
"ATE!!"

**
10. @KrystalKnootenda
"Slay baddies 🎉🎉"

**
11. @narimanmekha5061
"They did good but a high-school cheer team did the same exact thing as them but they clocked it"

**
12. @SenabMohamedAli
"Ateeee"

**
13. @Higuys-v6x
"Yall ate this down 🤏🏾🤏🏾🤏🏾"

**
14. @JalesiaAnderson-j7k
"Y'all ate that I see yall"

**
15. @mahreenakhtar5089
"Someone else school did this chair they did not eat as much as they did clock it"

**
16. @playtimew.emarijones5957
"Girl, my cheers is not boring, but y’all did good clock it"

**
17. @gtmirdy8882
"Slayed period😂"
**
18. @lashundanicholson9380
"Clock it kids"

**
19. @JomyrahDavis
"Clock it"

**
20. @RahilaSafi-e1b
"Clock it"

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21. @Ms.Magic94
"Clock it"

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22. @beyenealemayehu5136
"It clocking but y’all copied a school so 😅"

**
23. @colleenshange8791
"Y'all ate but you're are just coping"

 **
24. @narimanmekha5061
"They did good but a high-school cheer team did the same exact thing as them but they clocked it"

**
24. @KasandraMahoney
"Slayyy clock it❤️❤️"

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This concludes Part III of this three part pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome. 

 

Some Online Examples Of The Vernacular Phrase "Clock It" & Similar Words/Phrases Such As "Clocking" And "Clock That Tea"

'Clock It' Trend Explained 🤏 | What the Hand Sign REALLY Means

Spm Buzz, Sep 17, 2025  #ClockIt #TikTokTrend #Explained

TikTok can’t stop debating the “Clock It” hand sign 👆🏽. Is it the index finger and thumb? Or the middle finger and thumb that looks like an 8? And what’s the difference between clock it and ate anyway? 🤔

In this video, we break it all down:

⏰ What Clock It actually means

🍴 Why the middle finger sign is linked to Ate

👆🏽 Examples of how people use both terms on TikTok

🔥 The index vs middle finger debate explained

By the end, you’ll have fully clocked the meaning. 😉

****
Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision - May 22, 2026 

This is Part II of a three part pancocojams series on the American vernacular (slang) phrase "clock It" and similar phrases.

This post presents some online examples in 2025-2026.of the vernacular (slang) phrase "clock it" and similar "clock" slang words/phrases.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/05/2025-article-excerpt-clock-it-how.html for Part I of this pancocojams series. That pancocojams post presents an excerpt from a 2025 online article written by Quispe López about the history and meanings of the vernacular (slang) phrase "clock it" and related words/phrases such as 'clock that tea" and "clocking".  Please read that entire article.

Click  https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/05/the-meanings-of-clock-clock-it-clock.html  for Part III of this pancocojams series. That post presents information about the meaning of the slang word "clock" , "clock it" and other "clock" phrases in the context of stomp & shake cheerleading. That post also presents examples of the word "clock" and its current (2026) African American slang synonyms ("ate" and "slay") from the discussion thread of two YouTube videos of stomp and shake cheerleading.

The content of this post is presented for linguistic, historical, and socio-cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this pancocojams post and thanks to the publishers of these embedded videos.

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SOME ONLINE SOURCES FOR EXAMPLES OF THE VERNACULAR PHRASE "CLOCK IT" AND SIMILAR WORDS/PHRASES

These online sources examples are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only.

SOURCE #1
AI Overview [This write-up is the result of my query on May 21, 2026: What is the history of the vernacular phrase "clock it"?]

"The viral "clock it" trend and its accompanying hand gesture (tapping the thumb and middle finger together) originate from Black and Latinx ballroom culture in 1960s and 1970s New York City.

The history of the trend and its evolution:

Original Ballroom Meaning:

In the ballroom scene, "to clock someone" meant to notice or spot something they were trying to hide. It was heavily tied to "reading" and "shading" someone by making a sharp, sometimes playful observation about their look or behavior.

Evolution of the Slang: Over the decades, the term filtered into mainstream pop culture through drag. Today, it has evolved to mean recognizing the truth, agreeing with a sharp observation, or pointing out that someone "nailed" a point.

The Hand Gesture: The accompanying pinched-finger tap functions as a "silent applause" of approval. It was brought to mainstream social platforms (like TikTok and Instagram) by Gen Z and Gen Alpha creators."

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SOURCE #2:
AI Overview [This write-up is the result of my statement/query on May 21, 2026: " "Clock It" origin]
"The slang phrase "clock it" (often paired with a pinched-finger hand gesture) traces its true origins back to the 1960s Black and Latinx LGBTQ+ ballroom scene in New York City.

Here is how the term originated and evolved:
1.The Ballroom & Drag Roots
In ballroom culture, to "clock" someone meant to notice, observe, or aggressively point out something about a person, particularly something they were trying to hide (such as a flaw in their drag, an inconsistent story, or an unconvincing appearance). It was often used in a "read," which is a playful but cutting remark.

2. The Pop Culture Boom
  For decades, this term remained highly localized within the queer community until it was popularized for the mainstream by reality shows like RuPaul's Drag Race. On the show, judges and contestants would use the term to "call out" specific fashion choices, behaviors, or tea (gossip).3. The Internet & Gen Z Era

By 2025, the phrase migrated to TikTok, Instagram, and other social media platforms. It evolved from a slightly shady or confrontational term into something much broader. Today, Gen Z and Gen Alpha use it to mean:Noticing a detail: To recognize, observe, or point out something clever.Validating a statement: Expressing strong agreement, or acknowledging a truth (e.g., "Truth, you nailed it")

While internet writers and content creators sometimes misattribute the term's sudden popularity entirely to modern teens or TikTok memes, its soul and etymology belong to ballroom culture."

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SOURCE #3 
Pancocojams Editor's Note: As ofMay 21, 2026 urbandictionary.com has three pages of viewer submitted definitions for the English language phrase "clock it!".

"Clock it!" has several different slang definitions. Here are three definitions that I believe fit the past or current (2026) African American vernacular use of "clock it":

These comments are presented in this pancocojams post in chronological order and are numbered for referencing purposes only

These numbers don't coincide with the rankings that are given to definitions on urbandictionary.com by its viewers.

1."Clock It

Another way of saying “spill” or otherwise agreeing with someone else’s statement.

Typically used on Stan Twitter.

Person 1: Cardi B is washed and needs to retire!

Person 2: Clock it! I’ve been saying the same thing!

Clock It by GVTT3D January 8, 2024, https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Clock+it

**

2. Clock it

Another way of praising someone, similar to 'slay' or 'good job' but cooler.

Kid: "I just won a fight"

Friend: "Clock it!"

OR

Boy: "Ur built like a bus driver"

Girl: "You're built like the bus"

Friend: "Ooh she clocked your tea!!"

Clock it by darealcece September 13, 2025, https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Clock%20it&page=2
-snip-
This is the definition that is used by commenters in discussion threads of stomp & shake videos. Click Part III for some examples of those comments. 

**
3.  "Clock it

1. to notice, observe, or call out a hidden truth, motive, or something significant, often playfully

Body tea, body matter.

Clock it🤏

Clock it by PonasJonas October 26, 2025, https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Clock%20it&page=2
-snip-
This definition is close to the Gay Ballroom definition, except its use in that culture wasn't playful. 

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SOURCE #4- - MS NOW PRESENTS: "Clock It,: "Clock It," a new podcast posted at the intersection of culture and politics from Symone Sanders Townsend and Eugene Daniels.

@msnow Feb 5, 2026

Their new show is an invitation to their groupchat, the liveliest—and most informative—out there. Whether it’s ICE getting dispatched to the Super Bowl, or Nicolás Maduro’s Nike Tech fit, or Michael B. Jordan’s sole Oscar nomination despite playing three roles in Sinners, there is no collision between culture and politics that this show won’t document and decipher.

Symone and Eugene see exactly what’s going on—and they want you to clock it, too."
-snip-
Here are a few comments from that YouTube video short's discussion thread (with numbers added for referencing purposes only:
1.@SharenCarter, March 2026
"Keep clocking it real talk❤"

**
2. @chrismurray-ez4bt, March 2026
"Great Team!  Speaking Truth to POWER!  Love it! 🥰"

**
3. @TimMcConnell-k3r, April 2026
"Love to see you both clocking it! Hey guys check Maxwell Chickumbutso front africa. His car that uses no fuel or need to plug in. I'll wait to see you talk about it."

**
4. @euclidespardo9987, May 2026
"Y'all be telling it"

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SOURCE #5- AI OVERVIEW WRITE UP
(This write-up is the result of my May 21, 2026 query "Why is MS NOW podcast called "Clock It"? and is that podcast successful?"]

"AI Overview

The podcast by MS NOW (formerly MSNBC) is called "Clock It with Symone & Eugene," which was highly anticipated as an extension of the network's broader rebrand.

Why they chose the name:

The title refers to the slang phrase "clock it," meaning to take notice, observe closely, or call out what is happening. Hosts Symone Sanders Townsend and Eugene Daniels chose the name because the show focuses on the intersection of politics and pop culture, inviting listeners into an insider group chat to decode how culture shapes political figures and movements.

Its success:

Debuting with strong backing from the newly independent MS NOW, the show has quickly built a dedicated following across platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify. It is widely viewed as a successful, engaging strategy for decoding the "war of ideas and memes," capturing a younger, culturally tuned-in demographic that follows the hosts' signature off-the-cuff style. You can check out all episodes on the official MS NOW Podcasts page."

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SOURCE #6 - "Clock it" - The New Gen Z Gesture Taking Over! What Does It Really Mean?

@clautienews, Feb 25, 2026

Gen Z is shaking things up with a mysterious new gesture called "clock it" that's meant to show support. But here's the twist - even the people using it can't agree on its exact meaning! Some say it's a vibe you just have to feel. The gesture involves snapping your fingers using either your index + thumb or middle + thumb. No official standard yet! Would you "clock it" to show support? Let us know in the comments! #GenZ #NewTrends #SocialMedia #YouthCulture #Gestures #Support #Vibes #TrendingNow
-snip-
Here are the only two comments from that video's discussion thread as of May 21, 2026 at 9:21 AM EDT (Numbers added for referencing purposes only.)
1. @datguy7360, April 2026
"Clock it comes from Queer ballroom culture, Gen Z didn't invent NOTHING! ...."

**
Reply
2. @Pl8kcx, April 2026
"And they copied from black women like usually 🙄"

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SOURCE #7- Redditt.com Discussion Thread
[Pancocojams Editor's Note: These selected comments are presented in chronological order with numbers added for referencing purposes only.]

From https://www.reddit.com/r/LostRedditor/comments/1h7oizm/what_does_clock_it_mean_in_slang/ Lost Redditor: "What does clock it mean?"

[Pancocojams Editor's Note: These selected comments are presented in chronological order with numbers added for referencing purposes only. The numbers for these comments don't necessarily correspond to their numbers in that discussion thread.]

1. Vanillabean322, 2025
"what does clock it! mean in slang

i've been seeing it but idk what it means and all the pages i've gone to sound like they were written by gen x."

**
Reply
2. Nuclearmullets420, 2025
"It’s a response to someone saying something that is very true. Per google search of gen z slang clock it."

**
Reply
3. Enne105_7, 2005
"Its actually AAVE not gen z slang."

**
Reply
4. Mindless_Sea_1485, 2025
"It’s not AAVE, it’s ballroom culture"

**
Reply
5. EngineeringNo5714, 2025
"It’s black ballroom culture. So still within AAVE."

**
Reply
6. Mindless_Sea_1485, 2025
"Ballroom culture wasn’t only black queens tho, other words like slay and period are AAVE but clock it was started in ballroom culture not AAVE"

**
Reply
7. ananatawa, 2026
"Stop it. We all know black queens invented this slang. Do not deny them their history"

**
8. Mission-Gas9996, 2025
"Crazy to find that it’s actually black gay slang from the 90s,"

**
9. Budget_Raspberry_856, 2025
"Most white girl slang comes from black and gay culture"

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This concludes Part II of this pancocojams series.

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Visitor comments are welcome.

2025 Article Excerpt: "Clock It! How Ballroom Coined the Internet’s “New” Catchphrase" By Quispe López

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest revision - May 22, 2026

This is Part I of a three part pancocojams series on the American vernacular (slang) phrase "clock It" and similar phrases.

This pancocojams post presents an excerpt from a 2025 online article written by Quispe López about the history and meanings of the vernacular (slang) phrase "clock it" and similar phrases such as 'clock that tea" and "clocking". Please read that entire article.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/05/some-online-examples-of-vernacular.html  for Part II of this pancocojams series. That post presents some online examples in 2025-2026 of the vernacular (slang) phrase "clock it" and similar "clock" slang words/phrases.

Click  https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/05/the-meanings-of-clock-clock-it-clock.html  for Part III of this pancocojams series. That post presents information about the meaning of the slang word "clock" , "clock it" and other "clock" phrases in the context of stomp & shake cheerleading. That post also presents examples of the word "clock" and its current (2026) African American slang synonyms ("ate" and "slay") from the discussion thread of two YouTube videos of stomp and shake cheerleading.

The content of this post is presented for linguistic, historical, and socio-cultural purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Quispe López and Leiomy Maldonado and thanks to all those who are quoted in this pancocojams post. 

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ARTICLE EXCERPT
From https://www.them.us/story/clock-it-how-ballroom-coined-the-internets-new-catchphrase "Clock It! How Ballroom Coined the Internet’s “New” Catchphrase : Ballroom icon Leiomy Maldonado breaks down the history of the phrase." By Quispe López, November 17, 2025

If you’ve been on the internet this year, around teens, or tuned in to the disastrous latest season of Love Island USA, you’ve likely heard the phrase, “clock it.” Perhaps it was even accompanied by a gesture: a small clap made with someone’s thumb and middle finger.

“Clock it” basically means calling something out, noticing something, or figuring something out. Unfortunately, the online game of telephone by which it spread, so to speak, has divorced the phrase from its roots, leading many people to misunderstand what it means. That’s why, before we dive further into the nuances of what exactly “clock it” means, it’s important to have a basic understanding of where it comes from.

As with many phrases rocketed into the mainstream zeitgeist by the internet, writers and cultural commentators have been quick to misattribute “clock it” to Gen Z/Gen Alpha slang or even RuPaul’s Drag Race. In actuality, “clock it” isn’t a new expression; it’s one that’s existed for decades in the ballroom scene, a culture born in 1960s New York City out of a need for Black and Latinx queer and trans people to have a space for creative freedom, performance, and self-expression.

But the trajectory “clock it” has taken also isn’t new; it’s a pipeline queer people — particularly Black and brown queer people in the ballroom community — have come to expect over decades of mainstream media taking and misusing phrases. From voguing to “tea” and “it’s giving” to fashion aesthetics created in the scene, popular culture has long borrowed from ballroom without honoring the figures who coined them, like Crystal LaBeija, Dorian Corey, and Angie Xtravaganza.

[…]

We spoke to Maldonado about what the phrase actually means, how the finger clap came to be, and where the two originate from.

What does “clock it” mean?

At its simplest definition, “clock it” means figuring something out, noticing, or coming to an understanding about something. For example, if someone is suggesting places to hang out close to where their ex lives and a friend points that out, someone might say “clock it” in response. While in popular slang it’s used to refer to any situation where someone is noticing or realizing something, in ballroom, “clock” was often used in specific contexts, like noticing someone’s gender or sexuality.

“In the ballroom scene, when you ‘clock’ something — or more so, you're clocking someone — that means [knowing] their business,” Maldonado says. “If it refers to someone who's trans, being clocked means that someone knows your tea, like your gender, or they can clock your sexuality.”

There’s commonplace usage for it as well: A policeman might have “clocked” your speed on radar. The general meaning is the same.

[...] 

What does the finger clap mean?

While “clock it” often comes accompanied by a finger clap of the middle finger and thumb, the two are not inherently connected and don’t mean the same thing. Maldonado says that the finger clap also comes from ballroom, which she helped popularize as a judge on the HBO Max competition show Legendary. The finger clap does not mean clock it; instead, it’s a silent nod of approval. It is, in effect, miniature applause. You might finger clap after someone puts on a good performance or says something you agree with.

Aside from incorrectly conflating it with “clock it,” people unaware of the finger claps origins are also often doing the gesture incorrectly. In order to do it correctly, you have to use your middle finger with your thumb. Using your index finger with your thumb doesn’t mean anything.

What is the origin of "clock it" and the finger clap?

Maldonado entered the ballroom scene in the early 2000s, where she was introduced to the phrase “clock it.” She suspects, as with many popular phrases, such as “tea,” that it existed long before her time.

Where wires became crossed between “clock it” and the finger clap is murky. Maldonado used the finger clap on Legendary as early as 2020. That series ran for three seasons. In 2022, TikTok influencer and musician Queen Opp went viral for repeatedly saying, “clock that tea,” a phrase she often used during TikTok lives. In the background of one video, Opp’s friend at the time, Michelle, was also seen saying, “clock it” while doing the finger clap — though it’s with the wrong fingers. Since then, things have snowballed.

Maldonado’s usage was turned into GIFs, while various iterations of Opp’s interpretation spread as TikTok audio sound bites and other social media memes. The final push that really drove “clock it” as well as the finger clap into the mainstream hit this summer was Love Island USA star Ace Greene’s viral diss track about his experience on the show, which included both in the chorus. Since then, the two have been inextricably linked in the popular lexicon.

“[The figure clap] just paired with ‘clock it’ because people saw it, and then they basically appropriated it,” Maldonado says. “People do that. It has happened with ballroom terms and even with voguing on RuPaul's Drag Race. People have adapted to something but renamed it or used it as a different thing that they think it is.”

For Maldonado, who can and should use “clock it,” isn’t a battle. Rather, people outside of ballroom who use the phrase should consider and honor where it comes from, rather than trying to change the meaning or erase its history."...

****
This concludes Part I of this pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Erykah Badu - 1997 Song "Next Lifetime" (video, information, & lyrics)

 

 Erykah Badu - Next Lifetime (Official Music Video)

 Erykah Badu, February 18, 2022

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07uSAIcXFmg

-snip-
Statistics as of May 20, 2026 at 7:44 AM EDT
Total # of views-24,243,797
Total # of Comments -3,214

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post showcases singer, composer, actress Erykah Badu's 1997 hit song "Next Lifetime".

Information about Erykah Badu is also included in this post. 

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

This video is presented as a continuation of a previous pancocojams post that focuses on African American females' headwraps.*

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Erykah Badu for her musical and cultural legacy. Thanks to all those who are associated with this embedded video and thanks to all those who are quoted in this pancocojams post.
-snip-
* Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/05/six-videos-of-black-american-female.html for the related pancocojams post entitled "Six Videos Of Black American Female Singers Wearing A Headwrap"

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INFORMATION ABOUT ERYKAH BADU
from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erykah_Badu
"Erica Abi Wright (born February 26, 1971),[2] known professionally as Erykah Badu, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Influenced by R&B, soul, and hip-hop,[2] Badu rose to prominence in the late 1990s when her debut studio album Baduizm (1997), placed her at the forefront of the neo soul movement, earning her the nickname "Queen of Neo Soul" by music critics.

Badu's career began after opening a show for D'Angelo in 1994 in Fort Worth, which led to record label executive Kedar Massenburg signing her to Kedar Entertainment.[2] Badu's first album, Baduizm, was released in February 11, 1997.[3] It spawned four singles: "On & On", "Appletree", "Next Lifetime" and "Otherside of the Game". The album was certified triple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[4] Badu's first live album, Live, was released in November 1997, and contained her signature song "Tyrone" and was subsequently certified double platinum by the RIAA.[4]

Badu's second studio album, Mama's Gun, was released in 2000.[5] It spawned three singles: "Bag Lady", which became her first top 10 single on the Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number 6, "Didn't Cha Know?" and "Cleva". The album was certified platinum by the RIAA.[4] Badu's third album, Worldwide Underground, was released in 2003.[6] It generated three singles: "Love of My Life (An Ode to Hip-Hop)", "Danger" and "Back in the Day (Puff)", with the first becoming her second song to reach the top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number 9. The album was certified gold by the RIAA.[4] Badu's fourth album, New Amerykah Part One, was released in 2008.[7] It spawned two singles: "Honey" and "Soldier". New Amerykah Part Two was released in 2010 and fared well both critically and commercially. It contained the album's lead single "Window Seat", whose music video sparked controversy.

Badu's voice has been compared to jazz singer Billie Holiday.[8][9][10] Early in her career, Badu was recognizable for her style, which often included wearing very large and colorful headwraps. She was a core member of the Soulquarians. As an actress, she has played a number of supporting roles in movies including Blues Brothers 2000, The Cider House Rules and House of D. She also has appeared in the documentaries Before the Music Dies and The Black Power Mixtape 1967-1975."....

****
LYRICS - NEXT LIFETIME
(composed by Erykah Badu)
 
[Spoken Intro]
Erykah, we've been known each other for a while and
You know, I'm into you
Just wanna know what I gotta do, you know, to get closer to you
Wait a minute now, you know I'm in a situation, why you even—
Don't do this, why you trippin' like that?
Well, I understand that, but you, your whole vibe is, you know
I see myself being with you forever
Ah, that is, you know, that's really beautiful and
I kinda dig you too, you know that, we
But we're friends and I'm in a situation
I, I'm in a relationship and you know what that means
Well, whatever I gotta do, I'll do it for you
Hm, you sure put me in an awkward situation

[Chorus]

Now what am I supposed to do

When I want you in my world (Want you in my world)

But how can I want you for myself (Oh)

When I'm already someone's girl (Mm)

What am I supposed to do

When I want you in my world (Want you in my world; Baby)

But how can I want you for myself

When I'm already someone's girl

 

[Verse 1]

First time that I saw you, boy

It was a warm and sunny day

All I know is I wanted you

I really hoped you'd look my way

When you smiled at me so warm and sweet (You smiled)

I could not speak

You make me feel like a little bitty girl

What do you do to me?

[Chorus]

Now what am I supposed to do (What you want me to do?)

When I want you in my world (Want you in my world; Oh)

But how can I want you for myself (Oh)

When I'm already someone's girl

 

[Post-Chorus]

I guess I'll see you next lifetime

No hard feelings

I guess I'll see you next lifetime

I'm gon' be there (Mm)

 

[Verse 2]

Your energy

Feels so damn good to me

It picks me up, don't wanna come down

You got me spinning all around, yeah (No)

You need to know

I've got somebody

But you're beautiful, sure

But still, it ain't that type of party now

 

[Chorus]

Now what am I supposed to do (What you want me to do?)

When I want you in my world (Want you in my world)

But how can I want you for myself (I can't help my feelings)

When I'm already someone's girl (Oh no)

Now what am I supposed to do

When I want you in my world (I know, I know I'm selfish, but I; Want you in my world)

But how can I want you for myself (Oh, oh)

When I'm already someone's girl (Wait a minute)

[Post-Chorus]

I guess I'll see you next lifetime

Maybe we'll be butterflies

I guess I'll see you next lifetime

That sounds so divine

I guess I'll see you next lifetime

I guess I will now

I guess I'll see you next lifetime

Wait, wait a little while

 

[Verse 3]

Listen (Mm)

See, it ain't nothing wrong with dreaming

But, boy, don't get me wrong

'Cause every time I see you (Every time, every single time)

It lets me know just how strong (Every single time)

That my love is for my baby

But emotions just don't lie

Well, I know I'm a lotta woman

But not enough to divide the pie, ooh

 

[Chorus]

Now what am I supposed to do (Well, well, well)

When I want you in my world (No; Want you in my world)

But how can I want you for myself (Oh)

When I'm already someone's girl (Oh)

[Post-Chorus]

I guess I'll see you next lifetime

You know I wanna stay around

I guess I'll see you next lifetime

I'm so confused now (Mm)

 

[Chorus]

Now what am I supposed to do (What you want me to do, babe?)

When I want you in my world (Want you in my world)

But how can I want you for myself

When I'm already someone's girl (No, no, no, no, no)

 

[Post-Chorus]

I guess I'll see you next lifetime

I'm already, I'm gon' be there

I guess I'll see you next lifetime

I'm gon' look for you (Mm)

 

[Chorus]

Now what am I supposed to do (Oh, babe)

When I want you in my world (I got somebody back there; Want you in my world)

But how can I want you for myself (Ah, ah)

When I'm already someone's girl (Oh)

 

[Post-Chorus]

I guess I'll see you next lifetime

Oh, baby, oh, babe

I guess I'll see you next lifetime (Oh, baby, baby)

I'm here (Mm)

 

[Chorus]

Now what am I supposed to do (What you want me to do?)

When I want you in my world (Want you in my world)

But how can I want you for myself (I can't hide my feelings)

When I'm already someone's girl (Don't worry, baby)

 

[Post-Chorus]

I guess I'll see you next lifetime

'Cause what we got is so defying

I guess I'll see you next lifetime

Next time, I'll make you mine (Mm)

Ooh"
-snip-
About this song:
" “Next Lifetime” is the second single from Baduizm and talks about a woman that is in a relationship but has feelings for another man. The music video features cameos from her boyfriend at the time, Andre 3000, as well as rapper Method Man and rapper/producer Pete Rock. The single topped the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart and reached the Top 40 in New Zealand and the UK."

online source- https://genius.com/Erykah-badu-next-lifetime-lyrics

****
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