Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest revision - August 24, 2023
This is Part I of a two part pancocojams series on the African American Vernacular English (AAVE) slang meanings of the phrase "in the house" ("in da house").
This post provides AAVE definitions of the phrase "in the house" ("in da house"). The AAVE phrase "in the building" has the same AAVE slang meanings as "in the house" ("in da house").
In African American Vernacular English, "in the house" means "present"; (is) here". However, it's not so much what that phrase means, but the connotations that it has in the contexts that it is used.*
A few examples of how this AAVE originated phrase are used are included in this post.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2023/08/a-chronological-list-of-hip-hop-records.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. Part II presents a chronological list of mostly Hip Hop American records that include the words "in the house" or "In da house".
Excerpts of the lyrics for some of the records that are listed are also included in this post.
The content of this post is presented for cultural and linguistic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to those who are featured in this video and thanks to the publisher of this video on YouTube.
-snip-
*In African American Vernacular English, the meaning of "in the house" (and its equivalent phrase "in the building") is "present" / "(is) here". However, it's not so much what "in the house" means, but the connotations that it has based on when it is used and who uses it.
For example, someone who thinks highly of himself and/or someone who knows that other people think highly of him, can announce that he is "in the house" (i.e "just arrived at that event"). Another way "in the house" is used is when a Master of Ceremony of an event gives a "shout out" to (publicly recognizes) a notable person by announcing that that person is "in the house" (is in attendance at that event).
-snip-
This post contains some content that was included in a now deleted pancocojams post.
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WHAT ARE THE AAVE SLANG MEANINGS OF "IN THE HOUSE" ("IN DA HOUSE")?
1.. A person can announce that he or she is "in the house" as a form of self-promotion ("giving a shout out" to himself or herself) when he or she arrives at a location.
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2 a. Another person can announce that a person or group is in the house as a way of "giving a shout out" (publicly recognizing and giving props to) that person or giving props to that group (that he or she doesn't belong to) or that location that he or she may or may not be from.
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2b. A person writing online may write that they are in the house, including their nation, state, city etc. That commenter may or may not also command that others to share theirs. In both cases, that initial comment may result in multiple "in the house"/"in the building" responses.
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2c. A person writing on YouTube discussion threads may share their location (by writing something like "Kenyan in the house" and then ask other people from that same nation to "like" that comment (click the "like" icon on that page). That initial comment may results in multiple replies. Some of those replies may come from nations other than the one the commenter indicated.
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3. A host or DJ at a public event may ask "Is [a specific location] in the house? That question may not be asked to find out that answer since the person may already know that answer. Instead that question may be asked at a public event to raise the enthusiasm of the attendees who respond by making short affirmative statements and/or by naming the part of that geographic area that they are from.
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These question or command categories follow a formulaic call and response pattern with the "question" or "command" being the call and the replies being the responses.
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EXAMPLES OF THE SLANG MEANING OF "IN THE HOUSE" ("IN DA HOUSE", "IN THE BUILDING")
These examples follow the order that was given in the "Slang meanings" section above.
1. "In the house" as a form of self-promotion
Jerome's got a new tune....Jerome's in the house.
toydrone, Sep 17, 2014
Martin-Jerome's got a new tune/song.
-snip-
"Jerome" is a recurring character in the Martin (American sitcom television series). Click https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_(TV_series) for information about that series.
Here's my summary of that brief scene that is showcased above:
Jerome struts (“pimp walks”), entering
the outdoor area where Pam and Gina are standing. Jerome sings:
"Switch it.
Jerome's got a new tune.
These days I'm scratching and sampling*
I say jerome...I say jerome rome rome.
Jerome's in da house
I say jerome's In da house
Watch your mouth
Without a doubt."
-snip-
*"Switching and sampling" refers to the moves that a Hip Hop DJ makes on a turntable. While singing those specific words, Jerome imitates a Hip
Hop DJ at a turntable.
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2 a. From https://genius.com/A-tribe-called-quest-verses-from-the-abstract-lyrics
…Phife is in the house (oohh, you know you got going on)
Uncle Mike is in the house (this ain't a R&B song)
Bob Power is in the house (you got it going on)
Tim Latham is in the house (and on and on and on)
Wise Men is in the house
The Brand Nubes is in the house
The J Beez, they in the house
And De La, they in the house”…
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2b
Example #1.
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JcckztwxdTY "Flavour - Chimamanda [Official Video]" [from Nigeria]
shanitah kim wisdom kadeeya, 2017
"Ugandans here we are mr. Flavour #chimamanda in da
bulding , bigup mr flavor"
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Example #2
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YqecbxSr4A "Afro B - Drogba (Joanna) Prod by Team Salut [Official Music Video] (London UK artist)
1. George Chima, 2019
"If this song don't wanna make u dance u ve got no soul I swear....Nigeria in the house"
**
Reply
2. Blaise Bah, 2019
"Ivory Coast in the house 🇨🇮"
**
Reply
3. G G. 2019
"Venezuela in the house 🇻🇪 ✌🏽 ❤️"
**
Reply
4. Google User, 2019
"Worcester MA in da building🔥🔥🔥🔥"
**
Reply
5. Dave jones, 2019
"Here in Los Angeles we banging this one out much love and ✌ Latino in da 🏠"
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2c
Eample #1
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VrWaED18_g
"STARBOY - SOCO ft. TERRI X SPOTLESS X CEEZA MILLI X
WIZKID (OFFICIAL VIDEO)", published byStarboy TV, March 26, 2018
1. Wiara, 2018
"kenyans leave a like if you're in the building"
**
Reply
2. Leon Ndekei, 2018
"Wiara Ndani Ndani Ndaaani!!"
**
Reply
3. Ciku Jay, 2018
"Ndani ndani ndani.... Socco!!!!"
-snip-
Google translate from Swahili to English: “ndani” = inside
[In the context of this response “inside” probably means the same thing as the
African American Vernacular Slang phrase “We’re in the house”; i.e. "We’re
here”]
Reply
4. Fatima Andrade, 2018
"Portugal in the house 🇵🇹"
**
Reply
5. Chance Kendre, 2019
"Kenya in the building follow me @sashadreamz"
**
Reply
6. TGRGMNG, 2018
"Black American in the house."
**
Reply
7. Rhonda Humphrey, 2019
"Long Beach California in the house!!! BIG UP❤"
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2c.
Example #1
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YqecbxSr4A "Afro B - Drogba (Joanna) Prod by Team Salut [Official Music Video] (London UK artist)
1. George Chima, 2019
"If this song don't wanna make u dance u ve got no soul I swear....Nigeria in the house"
**
Reply
2. Blaise Bah, 2019
"Ivory Coast in the house 🇨🇮"
**
Reply
3. G G. 2019
"Venezuela in the house 🇻🇪 ✌🏽 ❤️"
**
Reply
4. Google User, 2019
"Worcester MA in da building🔥🔥🔥🔥"
**
Reply
5. Dave jones, 2019
"Here in Los Angeles we banging this one out much love and ✌ Latino in da 🏠"
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Example #2
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2n3lBHiZRs "Yemi Alade - Bum Bum (Official Music Video)", Yemi Alade, Mar
13, 2018
1. Wiara, 2018
"KENYANS like if you're in the building"
**
Reply
2. Nancy Wamuyu, 2018
"Wiara we are here mehn"
**
Reply
3. Kamsy Heaven, 2018
"I liked am American tho ✌🏾 tryna be nice"
**
Reply
4. aska nyasimi, 2018
"Yesss I'm Kenyan!!!! 🇰🇪🇰🇪"
**
Reply
5. jack ndung'u, 2018
"Wiara we are in the building yoo...#yemi alade my
musician"
**
Reply
6. Chichi, 2018
"I'm not Kenyan but I've lived there for 5 years"
**
Reply
7. Logan, 2018
"i am from kenya and got raised in norway
**
Reply
8. Najma Farah, 2018
"Any Somalis here"
9. Naomi White, 2018
"ndani here in Novosibirsk Russia"
**
Reply
10. Hanif Jones,2018
"I'm a jamaican. That better be ok."
**
Reply
11. Sumy Kweka, 2018
"I m 4rom Tanzania but really i love yemi aladeee"
**
Reply
12. MyTwell, 2018
"Way my Caribbean ppl at.😏"
**
Reply
13. Michelle Williams, 2018
"Trinidad in the house"
**
Reply
14. Ingrid Lavina, 2018
"MyTwell right here"
**
Reply
15. Lachell Beaton, 2018
"MyTwell Guyanese over here !!!"
Reply
16.
"MyTwell 🇭🇹🇭🇹✊🏿"
**
Reply
17. Tee Baidoo, 2019
"🇹🇹🇯🇲
wi deh yah"
**
Reply
18. Victoria Bernard, 2019
"HAITI 🇭🇹 is here....the
following will arrive
Jamaica 🇯🇲
And etc"
**
Reply
19. F. D. Natalie Andújar Rodríguez, 2019
"🇵🇷🇵🇷🇵🇷"
**
Reply
20. Simply Chy, 2019
"Barbados 🇧🇧"
**
Reply
21, texyedo Miami, 2018
"Wow yemi 🙌🙌..Nigerians
like if you are in the building 👆"
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3
Example #1:
Cut Master D.C. - "Brooklyn’s In The House" [1986 Hip Hop record]
From https://genius.com/Cut-master-dc-brooklyns-in-the-house-lyrics
[Hook x2]
Brooklyn, Brooklyn, funk funky fresh
Brooklyn, Brooklyn, funk funky fresh
Brooklyn, Brooklyn, always funky fresh
Brooklyn's in the house
[…]
So throw your hands in the air
And wave 'em like you just don't care
And if you're from Brooklyn, at the top of your voice
Party people, tell me where
Is it Bed-Stuy? (Yeah!!)
Is it Brownsville? (Yeah!!)
What about East New York? (Yeah!!)
What about Flatbush? (Yeah!!)
What is it? Say it loud!
What is it? Say it loud!
Brooklyn's in the house"
-snip-
Brooklyn is one of five boroughs of New York City. The names that are mentioned in this excerpt are different neighborhoods of Brooklyn.
Example #2
DJ Kool “20 minute workout” (1994 Hip Hop/D.C. Go Go music)
Pancocojams Editor's note- This is my transcription of a portion of that record that begins at
2:34 of this YouTube sound file: ______
"DJ Kool - Is DC in the house
Audience response from people from Washington D. C. -Hell Yes
DJ Kool -Is DC in the house?. Say it now.
Audience response from people from Washington D. C. -Hell Yes
DJ Kool - Oh, where they at, where they at.
Audience response from people from Washington D.C. - "Right here. Right here. Right here"
Dj Kool- Is DC in the house"
Audience response from people from Washington D.C.- "Hell yes".
DJ Kool\-Is DC in the house?. Say it now.
Response- Hell Yes
DJ Kool - I say it again. Where they at
Audience response from people from Washington D.C-indecipherable yelling.
DJ Kool - Where they at
Audience response from people from Washington D.C.- Right here.
DJ Kool -I can’t hear you.
Audience response from people from Washington D. C. - RIGHT HERE."
-snip-
The record continues with DJ Kool following the same pattern with people from New York and then with people from Virginia. He then asks "Where you from?" and the audience response is muffled so that listeners to this record can imagine that they heard their city being named.
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This concludes Part I of this pancocojams series.
Visitor comments are welcome.
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