MUST SEE!! FAMILY PERFORMS BEYONCÉ “BEFORE I LET GO” AT PARENTS 40TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY PARTY 🎉❤️
L A, Feb 1, 2020 #beyonce #linedance #fun
Family is such a beautiful thing especially when it’s founded on love! We had a blast spending time together learning this line dance then performing at their “Lets Dance Italian Style to our 40th Wedding Anniversary” formal event in Atlanta, GA #linedance #beyonce #beforeiletgo #family #love #fun #happiness
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WtBe0XVWkk
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Edited by Azizi Powell
latest revision - June 28, 2026
This is Part III of a three part pancocojams series on the use of the adjective "smooth" as a high compliment for dancing, particularly African American originated dancing, that is done in a fluid, seemingly effortless manner.
This post presents brief definitions or explanations for a few African American Vernacular English (AAVE) words & phrases that are included in comments from the discussion thread for the 2020 YouTube video that is embedded in this post and Part II of this pancocojams series.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/06/the-complimentary-meanings-of-adjective.html for Part I of this pancocojams post. That pancocojams post presents some information about the complimentary slang meanings of the word "smooth" in the context of Black American social dancing.
The Addendum to this post presents information about the meaning of the word "smooth" in American Ballroom dancing.
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2026/06/a-2020-youtube-video-of-african.html__ for Part II of this pancocojams series. That post showcases a 2020 YouTube video of members of a Black American family doing a line dance at their family anniversary gathering.
This post includes some comments from that video's discussion thread which include the word "smooth" as complimentary descriptions of that dancing.
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The content of this post is presented for linguistic purpose.
Congratulations to this couple on what was then their 40th wedding anniversary. Thanks to all those who are featured in this video and thanks to all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks to the videographer and publisher of this video on YouTube.
-snip-
Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2024/02/the-history-of-african-american.html for a related 2024 pancocojams post entitled "The History Of The African American Vernacular English Slang Word "Cool" (excerpt of a 2014 online article)".
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THE MEANINGS OF CERTAIN AFRICAN AMERICAN VERNACULAR ENGLISH WORDS & PHRASES THAT ARE INCLUDED IN SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THE DISCUSSION THREAD FOR THIS EMBEDDED YOUTUBE VIDEO
The corresponding number(s) for those selected comment(s) that is (are) given after that brief definition/explanation are from Part II of this pancocojams series.
These meanings are given in the context of their use in these words/phrases.
In the case of words/phrases that have multiple AAVE definitions/explanations, this compilation only includes the meaning that fits that particular comment or comments.
Online citations are given for some of these definitions/explanations. When no citation is given, that definition/explanation is written by me from my own understanding of those words/phrases.
A, B
Back in the day = in the past; a long time ago
Example:
52. @anikluv7732
"Pops was definitely a steppa back in the day! Lol 💯"
**
Bro (and other abbreviations) = a shortened form of the word "brother" that has the same meaning as that word (in the context of that particular YouTube video's discussion thread)
Example:
48. @michelesaavedra1957
"The young bro in the back is getting it done. I agree with sister who said nothing like seeing a smooth black man dance."
**
Brother = a Black male (used by a Black person as a referent for another Black person)
Example:
26. @SammieBleu
"These brothers were everything 🥰🥰"
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C, D
Cool = hip, awesome,
Examples:
54. @allisonmorrell8734
"Gah 😩 My family is so not cool like that! How fun. And such good memories. We “might” get to 2 steppin at a wedding. Maybe."
39. @candide1954
"Happy Anniversary💃🏽🕺🏿🎉
There's a guy in the back holding a baby!!! He's preparing her for her wedding! "This is how we do, baby!" Even the kids are holding it down! You cannot pay to see such a funky, get down beautiful show of love! They are us!!! Don't EVER stop dancing people! From cool Pops to that 3rd generation down...keep holding it down for us all! God bless you and keep you!"
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E, F
Fam- a shortened form of the word "family"
**
Family - (in the context of this discussion thread), a referent for the familiar relationship that all Black people have with each other (i.e. see the entries for "brothers" and "sisters")
"Fam" is an African American originated contemporary abbreviation for "family".
-snip-
Although "brother" and "sister" can refer to any Black male or female, the terms "Dad", Pops" in this discussion refers to a man who is a father (or a middle age or older man) and doesn't have a family connotation for the person writing those comments.
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G, H
“Getting it” – dancing very well
Example:
@The8976marcell
"I love that red. They was getting it"
-snip-
"Red" in this comment refers to the color red that was worn by the dancers.
"They was getting it"= They were dancing very well.
**
Giving us the business - a compliment meaning "showing others how something is done, in this case "showing how well you excell in the dancing that you are doing"
This slang meaning may have come from the idiom "doing an outstanding job" and is probably related to the contemporary AAVE term "working it"
72. @sharonmontgomery1073
"DAD was giving us the business, he's a smooth operator.. FO SHO! So happy everyone was there and enjoying themselves.. FAMILY FUN NIGHT always works.. Thanks for sharing your time together with us."
**
Go ___ go! - an exhortation that encourages a person or persons to continue doing what they are doing well
Example:
35. @jacquelyngibson1708
"Go FAMILY Go!"
**
(the) Groove
[having the groove, being in the groove, getting the groove)
from AI Overview
"Being in the "groove" means operating in a state of smooth, effortless focus, where your tasks or activities feel easy, natural, and highly successful. When you are in this state, you are completely "in the zone," acting instinctively without overthinking."
Example:
65. @mafloremprese645
"Young or old doesn't matter they just have the groooove love it"
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I, J
****
K, L
Killed it =- doing something very well
Killing it = doing something very well
Examples
17. @clayc9272
"Dad killed it!! Smooth operator!
33. @takiyshabarber
"The older man in the red blazer killed it, so smooth and confident. 🥰"
66. @patsywilliams.2823
"The lady in the front in the black jacket was killing it"
**
King and Queen -royalty titles conferred on any Black man or Black woman
Example:
29. @roddyreed4598
"Ours Kings&Queens Smooth&Swag Beautiful🙏🏾❤💯🔥"
****
M, N
New school- music, dance, fashion, etc. from the present time or close to the present time;
Read the entry for "old school" immediately below.
Example: Comment Exchange:
5. @evonza4858
"Congrats to the family they look wonderful but make sure you give credit to whom credit is due the title should have read "Beyonce's version of Maze and Frankie Beverly's song before I let go"🥰❤️🖤💚😊#it's all black excellence"
**
Reply
6.
"They look like they’re having so much fun!🤩. BTW Beyoncé covered this song, actually the ORIGINAL is by Frankie Beverley and Maize. Just saying."
**
Reply
7. @janicehunter1399
"It didn't have to say that we already know that.plz"
**
Reply
8. @evonza4858
"@janicehunter1399 some people don't know especially the "new" school 😊❤️🖤💚have a nice day"
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O, P
Old school - something characteristic of an earlier period of time; "Old school" may be used positively or negatively as a contrast to "new school" - something that is characteristic of the present or close to the present time (such as present day music)"
Read the comments for new school directly above.
Example:
"Go u guys. I just love line dancing since 1958. I'm a old school girl from east coast and just love dancing."
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Q, R
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S, T
Sista (Sis) - an abbreviated form of the word "sister" that has the same meaning as that word
**
Sister -a referent for a Black female (used by a Black person as a referent for a Black female)
**
Smooth
Meanings [given in no particular order]
1.From AI Overview
"In African American vernacular and social dance, smoothness highlights a dancer's ability to seamlessly transition between complex, rhythmic movements while maintaining an appearance of relaxed ease"
**
2. From https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=smooth by Mack C March 6, 2007
"Completing a task with such grace and fluidity that the onlooker will lose appreciation for how difficult a task it really was."
Examples (among multiple comments in that discussion thread)
32. @deloreskeys4545
"That's the Theme Song Right there.They are some Smooth Dancers."
56. @sylviashabazz3662
"My husband is one smooth dancer. I am still trying to keep up with him."
**
Smooth as all get out = really smooth
**
Smooth groove
Example:
45. @lornajoseph5206
"Is the groom the gentleman with the 'smooth groove' at the front in the red jacket? Super, super, super."
**
Smooth like butter
General Meaning- very smooth
Meaning From AI Overview
"The idiom "smooth as butter" (or "buttery
smooth") is a popular simile used to describe something exceptionally
seamless, effortless, or free of friction. It can refer to physical textures
(like a perfect cake) or operations (like a flawlessly functioning software or
a vehicle ride).
History & Origins
Biblical Roots: The phrase can be traced
all the way back to the King James Bible. Psalm 55:21 reads: "The words of
his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart..."
-snip-
A person who dances "smooth like butter" is moving from step to step fluidly, gracefully, and seemingly effortlessly without any hitches
Examples:
11. @babakgosi5152
"Pops was smooth as butter! Happy Anniversary"
"I love US and this family togetherness! Dad is smoooooth as butter!"
**
Smooth operator = (In
the context that it is used in this discussion thread) - a person (usually a male) who dances very well
-snip-
The referent "smooth operator" was popularized by Black British singer Sade's 1984 hit song with that title. In that song "smooth operator" has a negative meaning. However, that referent has a positive meaning in the examples in this showcased discussion thread.
Read the example given above in the "giving us the business" entry
Read the example given above in the "killed it" entry.
**
Smooth with it = doing something in a smooth manner
-snip-
The word "it" in this phrase refers to "dancing".
Example:
22. @sherrymelton3391
"Dad was smooth with it"
41. @GoddessBB
"Daddy in the front in the red jacket is so smooth with it."
**
Too smooth = very smooth (This is usually a compliment. Also, [__] is too much." is also usually a complimen.
Example
49. @sharonrapley6608
"I couldn't take my eyes off the man in the red jacket.He was to smooth!"
**
Steppa (Stepper) = a person who is steppin(g)
-snip-
Read the definition for steppin' immediately below.
Example:
52. @anikluv7732
"Pops was definitely a steppa back in the day! Lol 💯"
**
Steppin = (probably refers to Chicago steppin or other urban "steppin" fast couple dances similar to the Philly Bop that was shown on the television dance show "American Bandstand" television dance series. Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/05/an-overview-of-black-greek-letter.html "An Overview Of Black Greek Letter Organization Steppin & Step Cheers".
In the discussion thread about African American (soul) line dancing that is showcased in this 2026 pancocojams series, "steppin" isn't a referent for the synchronized choreographed group performance movement that are done by members of historically Black Greek letter fraternities and sororities
Example:
Read the example given in the definition for "cool" above.
**
Swag
From AI Overview (among other meanings) "Originally
derived from the word "swagger," this definition describes a cool,
trendy, and charismatic demeanor. It is commonly used in music and youth
culture to describe someone who carries themselves with a magnetic, effortless
style."
Examples
19. "Love it, love it, love it!!!! That was so enjoyable just too short!!! Dad was definitely killing it!!! I love how they were all bringing their own swag to it! Beautiful family & not to mention y’all wore that Red Black!!! Looking good…. Kudos to you all! Thx for sharing! 🙏🏾👏🏾🙌🏾💞"
64. @AllthingsERM
"Daddy got that swag"
**
Throwin down = doing something very well (in the context of this discussion thread, dancing very well)
-snip-
I believe that "throwin down may be more frequently given as "gettin down".
Examples:
58. @joanoneal3712
"Them men be throwing down, I'm not saying the women are good to, but them men be so smooth"
63. @Flossy2012
"Pops, son, and baby sis was throwing down. Pops said.... let me show you how its done. 🤣🙂"
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U, V
Understood the assignment = Successfully grasped what was expected and delivered as
required.
Did an outstanding job, exceeding expectations.
A slang term used to praise someone for impressive
execution."
-Source: https://www.theidioms.com/understood-the-assignment/heidioms.com
Example-
36. @ALS-qu4sd
"Pops understood the assignment!"
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W, X
Work it! = an exhortation for "Continue to do what you are doing well".
Example:
69. @jdouglas2334
"Well alright now! Work it! Thank you for uplifting my day!!!"
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Y, Z
Y'll did that = You did that very well. (What you did was outstanding); in the context of this discussion thread, "Your dancing was outstanding."
"Y'll did that" is also given as "Y'all really did that."
Example:
42. @kenyattacollins5242
"LOVE THIS. YALL DID THAT"
**
You got that right = I definitely agree with you. (You definitely told the truth about what you just said.)
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This concludes Part III of this three part pancocojams series.
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