Edited by Azizi Powell
My observation is that when African Americans post on YouTube comment threads and other blogs we often purposely "put on the Black". By "put on the Black" I mean that African Americans sometimes purposely use “downhome”[old Southern] words, or African American Hip-Hop vernacular, or some other form/s of African American vernacular English (AAVE) to signal to other posters that we are African American, and/or as a way of enjoying ourselves and basking in (taking great pleasure & satisfaction in) the company of other persons who are assumed to also be African American.
My contention is that African American Vernacular English exclamations such as "Lawd have mercy!" and "Sang it!" (Sing with a lot of soul) not only express one's approval in how a person sings (or someother action or aspect of what is observed or heard). Those types of African American vernacular expressions also have dramatic, even playful elements and they are used to show off one's Blackness-even among other Black folk. But phrases like "That man's a beast." (That man is superhuman, i.e. He's very very good at what he does.) and "He's bad" or "That's sick" (with both "bad" and "sick" in that context meaning "very good") are statement of opinions which don't have the dramatic, playful elements as the previous examples. However, while those descriptors may be used in "regular" conversation, the persons using them still may be purposely demonstrating that he or she is "hip" to the latest Black vernacular. Therefore, he or she is still "putting on the Black".
Readers who aren’t aware of these types of Black “languaging” activities may think that some these comments include grammatical errors and/or spelling errors. However, such comments are actually examples of code switching.*
Some examples of this vernacular content are African American originated Black words & phrases, the spelling of those words & phrases, vernacular grammar, and the use of “in-family” references such as “my brother” or “my sister”.
Of course, in spite of the fact that a few of the contributors to YouTube viewer comment threads have photograph icons that might indicate their race, there's no assured way of verifying the race of persons posting to those discussion threads regardless of how "Black" a person's comments may appear to be.
YouTube comment threads for African American religious music often offer prime examples of this type of languaging. To demonstrate & document this type of internet posting, I've compiled selected comments from the following YouTube video:
"Pastor Marvin Winans singing ole' hymn".
*By "code switching" I mean the purposeful use of one or more forms of African American vernacular English words & phrases and/or AAVE grammar instead of Standard American English words, phrases, and/or grammar.
I contend that the custom of "putting on the Black" is done by other Black people online, and off-line. One example of "putting on the Black" by Black West Indians is the use of the exclamation "Tune!" or "Chune!" - sometimes spelled with elongated letters such as "Tuuune!" or "Chuuune!" - to indicate that the record in question is very good. Of course, that usage may be an example of marking oneself as West Indian instead of "putting on the Black" since all West Indians aren't of Black African descent.
****
SHOWCASE VIDEO: Pastor Marvin Winans singing ole' hymn
alphaape1, Uploaded on May 9, 2009
-snip-
Bishop Marvin Winans briefly sings a combination of the Spiritual "I Want To Be Ready (Walk In Jeruslem Just Like John)and the Hymn "Never Grow Old" in order to give members of the congregation who brought their Bible to church a chance to find the Bible verse (Ezra 8] that he is basing his sermon on.
****
SELECTED COMMENTS from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLQN6ALwF28
These comments are presented in chronological order with the oldest dated comments posted first except for replies to comments that are dated in a subsequent year. With only three exceptions, these comments are presented without any editorial comment. I've numbered them for reference purposes only.
1. ArieElyse, 2010
lawd take us back to the Hymns of zion!!!! The annointed destroys the yolk...there is something to the old hymns of zion...young singers go get you a hymn book and learn some of the hymns
****
2. lasemcbride,2010
tHAT oRGANIST
****
3.Lu Phel, 2010
[in reply to lasemcbride]
i know right?
****
4. doublenickelzeta, 2010
Actually he sings two different songs here.
He begins with "I Want to Be Ready" and throws "Never Grow Old" right in the mix.
All I can say is "My, my, my, my, my!!!"
Those songs take me back, and I don't consider myself THAT old!! LOL
****
5. theJIMMYJAMM, 2011
Sho nuff Baptist Screamin' right now!
(N 1st Saprana'!)
YES SUH, THANK YA'!
YES SUH, THANK YA'!
YES SUH, THANK YA'!
(rubbin My legs!)
WOOO, THANK YA'!
(just rockin' right now)
****
6. DisTRAINbound4GLORY, 2011
[in reply to theJIMMYJAMM]
LOL u gave me visual wit the rubbin of the legs & rockin.. too funny!
****
7. Jeazy1977, 2011
[in reply to theJIMMYJAMM]
Now you know you bout to get fanned and taken out if you don't quit!
****
8. kimluvshoes1, 2012
[in reply to theJIMMYJAMM]
....Oh goodness, you out here just actin' like that in public! LOL! YES SUH, THANK YA!
****
9. Monica Jackson, 2011
Marvin Winans can just sang up something without even trying. The greatest gospel singer ever.
****
10. Talbatha Claridy, 2011
Lord Have Mercy ...This Man Is Just Blessed
****
11. toreymack , 2011
This man is off the chain
****
12. khalon, 2011
man my copastor sings this, and i love it. man i love these hyms....aint nothing like a hym
****
13. ada627, 2011
sang Pastor, I wanna be ready,,,,,,,,,
-snip-
Editor comment: “Sang” here means “Sings very well” and isn’t the past tense of the infinitive "to sing”.
****
14. ShareMyWorld28, 2011
Yes Lawd!
****
15. AQtePie, 2011
Bebe aint got nothin on his big brotha Marvin!
-snip-
"Bebe" is Marvin Winan’s younger biological brother (Gospel vocalist) Bebe Winan.
****
16. mikekeys91, 2011
Dude is killin the organ
****
17. Revolutionary36, 2011
[in reply to mikekeys91]
You ain't lyin homie.
****
18. RoddieKing, 2011
I miss ol time church like dis!!! Dis is wat we need now days songs wit meaning not just nice music behind a show!!!
****
19. Amber Rowl, 2011
MY God now that ole school right there
****
20. MrADT92, 2011
marvin is bad yall!!
****
21. vangoleft2, 2012
yes suh!!!! I love it. thk ya thk ya thk ya
****
21. lkernsjr , 2012
This is my dude! I used to hate that song until I heard this.
****
22. johnaism, 2012
organ is killin! feel the oil!! getting the house in order!
****
23. johnaism , 2012
that organ is killin it! something about that sound!!!! and marvin is a beast!
****
24. jacquita33, 2012
anyboy know the name of this song i bee lookin for it
****
25. lovewhitney02, 2012
I heard of a land on the far away strand,’Tis a beautiful home for the soul;
Built by Jesus on high, where we never shall die,
’Tis a land where we never grow old.
-snip-
Editor's comment: This is an excerpt of the song "Never Grow Old" that Bishop Winans sung.
****
26.Jabez Clark, 2013
[in reply to lovewhitney02]
you say a mouth full my sister
****
27. ministerzel, 2013
It's Sunday morning...I am playing and replaying this...gonna try to sing this in church today as Bro. Marvin Winans did. Can't sing it as well good he can - there is only one Rev. Winans - but Lord just put the anointing in my spirit and it will still touch somebody. In the name of Jesus.
****
28. jonathanchau111, 2013
Powerful, this always blesses my soul. Bless him lawd!!!!
****
RELATED LINKS
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/03/puttin-on-black-online-black-talk-code.html "Puttin On The Black - Online Black Talk & Code Switching"
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/11/cant-nobody-do-me-like-jesus-black-talk.html "Can't Nobody Do Me Like Jesus (Black talk in Gospel song & comments)"
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Thanks to composers of those songs & thanks to Bishop Marvin Winans for his musical legacy. Thanks also to all those whose comments are quoted in this post.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
The content of this post is presented for religious, folkloric, cultural, and aesthetic purposes.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Showing posts with label Black slang. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Black slang. Show all posts
Thursday, August 8, 2013
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
How Biggie Smalls "Killed It" On Supercat's "Dolly Me Baby" Remix
Edited by Azizi Powell
This is Part II of a two part series on the African American derived slang meanings & uses of the phrases "killing it" and "killed it".
Part II provides examples of "killing it"/"killed it" and its synonyms that are used in selected YouTube comments about Hip-Hop artist Notorious Big's (Biggie Smalls)' performance on Jamaican Dancehall Reggae artist Supercat's 1993 remix
of his song "Dolly Me Baby".
Part I provides definitions for the American slang phrases "killing it" and "killed it". Synonyms & antonyms are given for these phrases and and I share my speculations about why "killing it" and its synonyms came to be used that way.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/06/what-killing-it-means-how-it-got-those.html for Part I of this series.
****
The content of this post is presented for folkloric & cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Disclaimer- I'm not a linguist. Nevertheless, I'm interested in how words & phrases have different meanings among populations in the same country. I'm also interested in how the meanings of words & phrases may change over a period of time and how clusters of slang terms may have the same or similar meanings.
I welcome comments about the conclusions that I've presented in this post.
****
Part II
SUMMARY OF THE SLANG DEFINITION FOR "KILLING IT" (in the context of this post)
"Killing it"/"killed it" and its synonyms mean "to do something very very well."
****
NOTORIOUS BIG (BIGGIE SMALLS) -"I LOVE IT WHEN THEY CALL ME BIG POPPA" RAP*
i love it when you call me Big Poppa,
the show stoppa, the rhyme droppa
Supercat pass the glock, UH, I see you shivering
check the flavor Biggie Smalls is delivering
lyrical lyrics that's blowing lyrics out my larynx
chubby competitor, quick to kick a chump in the chest
yes, it's Bad Boy, hard to the core
LAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWD, me can't take it no more!
-transcribed by kimeBaksh, 2012 [from video link found below]
*This rap is not the same as the Biggie Smalls song "Big Poppa".
WARNING: Supercat's "Dolly Me Baby" and Biggie Smalls' "Big Poppa" contain language and references that may not be appropriate for children.
****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THE YOUTUBE VIDEO VIEWER COMMENT THREAD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-u5m_LfiXzM
Supercat - "Dolly Me Baby" remix
These reposted comments refer to Notorious Big [Biggie Smalls]' rap which begins at 3:18 of that video.
None of the comments posted in this post include any profanity.
However, a considerable amount of profanity is found on that YouTube comment thread.
I've refrained from adding any editorial comments about these postings, except for my comment below about "killed them" and
my comment about the difference between "ripped it" and "R.I.P.".
KILLED IT
biggie killed it."
-CJThaSavage, 2010
"Someone needs to edit Sean 'Dirty Dummy' out of this; Meth should have had a verse on this, he would have KILT it...yeah, KILT with a 'T'....
-Ghettoscott, 2010
**
"Biggie had only 30 seconds of flow but he killed it more than Puff or Super Cat"
-Markan269, 2011
**
"dis song was hot...everyone killed it except pUFF"
-TreRell71, 2011
**
"classic joint right here....puff, the other dude and biggie killed it...yes even puff, (i said it)"
-Monarch730, 2011
**
"too short for biggie smalls should of had more time
killed it tho"
-Sam Clue, 2012
**
"Biggie killz it!"
-flthomas33, 2012
**
"Biggies verse was short because he said "Lord me can't take it no more" he knew he killed it R.I.P. The Notorious B.I.G. best rapper ever p.s. diddys hat is pretty hot"
-adrian subia, 2012
****
KILLING THEM
"They should have just let biggie carry the rap portion on his own and diddy and the other guy shouldn't have said one word. biggie was killng them with his lyrics!!!"
-JDAVIS4LIFE, 2011
-snip-
"killing them = "besting his collaborators/competitors" because of the quality of his rap.
****
RIPPED IT
"Biggie ripped it"
-bobbgee1, 2010
**
na biggie ripped his verse lol.
-Walt Poitevien, 2010
**
"biggie ripped it as usual"
-royalnash1, 2011
**
"Big ripped it. There are no growing pains with his style or delivery. Hit the ground spittin' fire until he he was buried back in it."
-subtletiger. 2013
**
"BIG RIP IT"
-Tyrone Hill, 2011
-snip-
["RIP" = Rest In Peace [written in commemoration of someone who is deceaseed]. This is not the same as "ripped it" which means did so well he or she tore the performance up. Read more on "rip it" in Part I of this series.
****
MURDERS
"biggie smalls murders this beat. the best rapper ever!"
-nene12989, 2010
****
CRUSHED
"biggie crushed his verse"
****
WRECKED
"Puff Daddy was wack on this song and I thought he was garbage back then. Notorious BIG wrecked it once again! RIP to the great one!"
-patattacprod1, 2011
****
ASSAULTED
"big assaulted this track"
-Caveman1006, 2010
****
TWO RELATED SLANG TERMS
RAW
"Biggie's tiny verse was raw!"
-BabatundeW, 2011
****
BEAST
"BIGGIE, what a BEAST!!!"
-kostadino29, 2010
****
Thanks to all of the performers on this record. Special thanks to Notorious Big [Biggie Smalls].
Thanks to all the commenters who are quoted in this post.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This is Part II of a two part series on the African American derived slang meanings & uses of the phrases "killing it" and "killed it".
Part II provides examples of "killing it"/"killed it" and its synonyms that are used in selected YouTube comments about Hip-Hop artist Notorious Big's (Biggie Smalls)' performance on Jamaican Dancehall Reggae artist Supercat's 1993 remix
of his song "Dolly Me Baby".
Part I provides definitions for the American slang phrases "killing it" and "killed it". Synonyms & antonyms are given for these phrases and and I share my speculations about why "killing it" and its synonyms came to be used that way.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/06/what-killing-it-means-how-it-got-those.html for Part I of this series.
****
The content of this post is presented for folkloric & cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Disclaimer- I'm not a linguist. Nevertheless, I'm interested in how words & phrases have different meanings among populations in the same country. I'm also interested in how the meanings of words & phrases may change over a period of time and how clusters of slang terms may have the same or similar meanings.
I welcome comments about the conclusions that I've presented in this post.
****
Part II
SUMMARY OF THE SLANG DEFINITION FOR "KILLING IT" (in the context of this post)
"Killing it"/"killed it" and its synonyms mean "to do something very very well."
****
NOTORIOUS BIG (BIGGIE SMALLS) -"I LOVE IT WHEN THEY CALL ME BIG POPPA" RAP*
i love it when you call me Big Poppa,
the show stoppa, the rhyme droppa
Supercat pass the glock, UH, I see you shivering
check the flavor Biggie Smalls is delivering
lyrical lyrics that's blowing lyrics out my larynx
chubby competitor, quick to kick a chump in the chest
yes, it's Bad Boy, hard to the core
LAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWD, me can't take it no more!
-transcribed by kimeBaksh, 2012 [from video link found below]
*This rap is not the same as the Biggie Smalls song "Big Poppa".
WARNING: Supercat's "Dolly Me Baby" and Biggie Smalls' "Big Poppa" contain language and references that may not be appropriate for children.
****
SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THE YOUTUBE VIDEO VIEWER COMMENT THREAD
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-u5m_LfiXzM
Supercat - "Dolly Me Baby" remix
These reposted comments refer to Notorious Big [Biggie Smalls]' rap which begins at 3:18 of that video.
None of the comments posted in this post include any profanity.
However, a considerable amount of profanity is found on that YouTube comment thread.
I've refrained from adding any editorial comments about these postings, except for my comment below about "killed them" and
my comment about the difference between "ripped it" and "R.I.P.".
KILLED IT
biggie killed it."
-CJThaSavage, 2010
"Someone needs to edit Sean 'Dirty Dummy' out of this; Meth should have had a verse on this, he would have KILT it...yeah, KILT with a 'T'....
-Ghettoscott, 2010
**
"Biggie had only 30 seconds of flow but he killed it more than Puff or Super Cat"
-Markan269, 2011
**
"dis song was hot...everyone killed it except pUFF"
-TreRell71, 2011
**
"classic joint right here....puff, the other dude and biggie killed it...yes even puff, (i said it)"
-Monarch730, 2011
**
"too short for biggie smalls should of had more time
killed it tho"
-Sam Clue, 2012
**
"Biggie killz it!"
-flthomas33, 2012
**
"Biggies verse was short because he said "Lord me can't take it no more" he knew he killed it R.I.P. The Notorious B.I.G. best rapper ever p.s. diddys hat is pretty hot"
-adrian subia, 2012
****
KILLING THEM
"They should have just let biggie carry the rap portion on his own and diddy and the other guy shouldn't have said one word. biggie was killng them with his lyrics!!!"
-JDAVIS4LIFE, 2011
-snip-
"killing them = "besting his collaborators/competitors" because of the quality of his rap.
****
RIPPED IT
"Biggie ripped it"
-bobbgee1, 2010
**
na biggie ripped his verse lol.
-Walt Poitevien, 2010
**
"biggie ripped it as usual"
-royalnash1, 2011
**
"Big ripped it. There are no growing pains with his style or delivery. Hit the ground spittin' fire until he he was buried back in it."
-subtletiger. 2013
**
"BIG RIP IT"
-Tyrone Hill, 2011
-snip-
["RIP" = Rest In Peace [written in commemoration of someone who is deceaseed]. This is not the same as "ripped it" which means did so well he or she tore the performance up. Read more on "rip it" in Part I of this series.
****
MURDERS
"biggie smalls murders this beat. the best rapper ever!"
-nene12989, 2010
****
CRUSHED
"biggie crushed his verse"
****
WRECKED
"Puff Daddy was wack on this song and I thought he was garbage back then. Notorious BIG wrecked it once again! RIP to the great one!"
-patattacprod1, 2011
****
ASSAULTED
"big assaulted this track"
-Caveman1006, 2010
****
TWO RELATED SLANG TERMS
RAW
"Biggie's tiny verse was raw!"
-BabatundeW, 2011
****
BEAST
"BIGGIE, what a BEAST!!!"
-kostadino29, 2010
****
Thanks to all of the performers on this record. Special thanks to Notorious Big [Biggie Smalls].
Thanks to all the commenters who are quoted in this post.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
African American Vernacular English: What "Killing It" Means & How It Got Those Slang Meanings
Edited by Azizi Powell
Latest Revision - June 28, 2019
This is Part I of a two part series on the African American derived slang meanings & uses of the phrases "killing it" and "killed it".
Part I provides definitions for the American slang phrases "killing it" and "killed it". Synonyms & antonyms are given for these phrases and I share my speculations about why "killing it" and its synonyms came to be used that way.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/06/how-biggie-smalls-killed-it-on.html for Part II.
Part II provides examples of "killing it"/"killed it" and its synonyms that are used in selected YouTube comments about Hip-Hop artist Notorious Big's (Biggie Smalls)' performance on Jamaican Dancehall Reggae artist Supercat's 1993 remix of his song "Dolly Me Baby".
Disclaimer- I'm not a linguist. Nevertheless, I'm interested in how words & phrases have different meanings among populations in the same country or in among different populations throughout the world during the same period of time. I'm also interested in how the meanings of words & phrases may change over a period of time and how clusters of slang terms may have the same or similar meanings.
The content of this post is presented for folkloric & cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
****
PART I
WHAT "KILLING IT" MEANS
"Killing it" = doing something very very well
****
SYNONYMS & ANTONYMS FOR THE SLANG MEANING OF "KILLED IT"
Synonyms = murdered [it], ripped [it], assaulted [it], crushed [it]
(as exemplified in selected YouTube comments that are found in Part II of this series).
Also, "tore it up", "nailed it", "aced it"
Antonyms = "ruined", "destroyed", "really messed up"
However, note that the antonym "destroyed" can also be used to convey that a person "killed it" (did something very very well).
****
ONLINE SOURCES FOR THIS DEFINITION OF "KILLING IT"
[Given in no preferential order]
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100108184342AApmSCm What does "killin it" mean?
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker
"it depends on what they're talking about. but it often means the are doing a good job. he's killling it means he's doing great."
Hamlet , 2010
**
"it means like he's beast at whatever he's doing"
- ooooooh SNAP! , 2010
****
http://onlineslangdictionary.com/meaning-definition-of/kill-it
“verb - to generally be high performing or do a task well.”
-snip-
The other definitions for "kill it" that are given on that page don't apply to the particular slang usage that is the focus of this post.
****
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=killin%20it
“verb: Killin it
1.to be doing something very good
john was killin it all day long in the competition"
byalexJul 16, 2004
-snip-
The other definitions for "kill it" that are given on that page don't apply to the particular slang usage that is the focus of this post.
****
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20101227122313AAuhDvd
Question: "What does "killed it" mean?
Like in youtube videos in the comments people would say "Lil' Wayne killed it" or "Drake killed this song". I wasnt sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing. Thanks so much!"
Emma, 2010
Responses:
1. "Definitley is a good thing :) Killed it, kinda like, Nailed it or did it perfectly.
Jennifer, 2010
**
2."I think it depends on the rest of the sentence before deciding if it's good or bad. Like for example, "I'm my opinion they killed the cartoons when they made the Avatar the last air bender movies." That would be a bad 'killed it'. I'm saying that they ruined the cartoon with the movie. But if I said, "Dude I totally killed that test!" That would be good, because I'm saying that I did great on the test or I think I killed it. Hope this helps!"
-SemiFrug, 2010
**
3. "It can mean 2 different meanings. One meaning is to have ruined something and the other means to have done something really well.
Example 1:
Person 1: Wow this song is sick!
Person 2: Yeah, the artist KILLED it!
Example 2:
Person 1: I did a cover for the song Beat It by Michael Jackson. Do you like it?
Person 2: Wow, …. You killed the song man...
?- 2010
-snip-
The word "sick" and the phrase "killed it" in example #1 use the positive, highly complimentary meaning of "killed it" which is the focus of this post. The word "killed" in example #2 may have a positive or a negative meaning.
*****
SYNONYMS FOR THE TERM "KILLED IT" [Updated: November 24, 2015]
From Standard American English:
PERFECTED IT - doing something flawlessly, impeccably
NAILED IT - same as above
**
From African American English
MURDERED IT:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=murder
"to completely destroy and embarrass someone lyrically in a freestyle battle or on a track."
Whyte Out murdered his competition on 106th and Park's Freestyle Fridays
by Nick D Jun 4, 2003
-snip-
However, it should be noted that in the YouTube video comments about Biggie Smalls' "I Love It When You Call Me Big Poppa" rap [which is the focus of Part II of this series, the lyrics & Biggie's performance are the subject of the infinitive phrase "killed it" and not Biggie's competitors or collaborators [the other persons who are heard in that remix].
It's almost as if that performance art [or that athletic task]
is anthropomorphized and challenges the performer or the athlete to "bring it" [do the best that he or she can in a competition to see who has what it takes to win out in the end.] When the performer or the athlete succeeds in wringing all he or she can from that performance or that athletic competition, he or she can be said to have "killed it" [with "it" being the performance or the athletic competition, or any other challenging task].
Perhaps, the word "murder" is also used because if something is done flawlessly, there's nothing left to do. The performer has taken that art to the highest level it can go. After that it explodes or implodes on itself, and then exist no more -or exist in another form or forms. In doing so, that performer can be said to have "murdered" or "killed" that performance.
**
RIPPED IT UP, RIPPED IT
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=rip%20it
1. "going all out during a party, so hard that you literally rip it."
-jimmy dean's eggs Dec 28, 2010
-snip-
This definition isn't clear since the word being defined is used.
The other definitions given on that page don't apply to the slang usage which is the focus of this page.
**
http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=13723
1. It's meaning is that everyone involved has done everything possible to guarantee that nothing goes wrong, but no one is completely sure what will happen and the only way to find out is to activate the process. There is always a measure of uncertainty prior to "let it rip."
There is a saw blade called a rip saw that is used to cut wood with the grain. Perhaps that is where the expression "let it rip" came from.
-Bruce, 3rd February 2005, 10:58 PM
**
"I Googled and apparently it has something to do with moving at such great speed that clothing becomes ripped". [link given is no longer viable].
-Kevin R, 23rd September 2007, 11:20 AM
-snip-
The word being defined is again used in the definition. However, I think it's clear that the meaning for the word "ripped" in that sentence is "torn".
The African American/Hip Hop slang phrase "ripped it" can refer to "ripping something into shreds" and in so doing "killing it". "Ripping a performance [into shreds]" could mean that you "broke it down" to its very core. Because that performance was taken apart [and put together] to its very essense, it can be said to be killed, and -at the same time-said to be at thee hight of its "aliveness". the most 0erbrokibeeIn so doing, you "killed" what you broke
It also occurs to me that "rip it" is an updated form of "let it rip". "Let it rip"/"rip it" carry the connotation of "going all out [going "hard"]. Because the performer "went hard", (was intense but cool & in control; put himself or herself at risk, put himself or herself wholely in that performance, he or she "nailed" ("killed") that performance.
-snip-
For what it's worth, I haven't found any uses of the term "ripped it" as a synonym to "killed it" in several 2015 YouTube video discussion threads in which numerous commenters use the term "killed it", a few commenters use the term "slayed it" and "murdered it" and a few commenters describe the person as "a beast".
**
SLAYED IT
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=slayed
slayed
a word used when you dominate or do really well on something. also used when you defeat an opponent.
-Dude, I slayed that history test!
-How'd you do in that Madden game against Gavin?
--I totally slayed him, it wasn't even close.
by chicken man1212 September 07, 2007
-snip-
The other definitions given on that page don't apply to the slang usage which is the focus of this page.
****
SAYING THAT SOMEONE IS A MONSTER OR A BEAST
Origin 1990s ? = a person who is exceptionally good at what he or she does; someone who "kills" [does a very good job] at what he or she does.
****
MY SPECULATIONS AS TO WHY THESE VIOLENT SLANG PHRASES MEAN "DOING SOMETHING VERY WELL"
[Revised 09/15/2017]
In the initial publication of this post I guessed that the vernacular use of the word "killed" to mean doing something very very well"* dates from the 1990s. However, I don't have any documentation for that guess.
It occurs to me that the meaning of the "killing it" idiom is very similar to meaning of "mic drop" - i.e. that someone does something so well that there is no need for anyone else to try to do better. The challenge or the competition is over because what was done can't be beat. In that sense, the word "it" refers to "the competition".
However, in the idiom "She's killing it", He murdered it", or "They nailed it", the word "it" refers to whatever action or performance that is being done or that was done so well.
I can't speculate on how this idiom started, but my guess is that the vernacular idioms that mean "did something very very well" such as "tore the house down"; "tore it up", "nailed it", and "aced it" were used before "killed it".
Over time, African Americans changed what vernacular terms were popular with us for conveying excellence. While we (African Americans) changed which vernacular superlatives were "in" with us, mainstream society (i.e. White folks) either just started using those old African American terms or continued using those old terms.
Although we changed the words that conveyed a particular meaning, we kept the same connotations: i.e. We went from something or someone being "hot", to "smokin", to "dynamite", to "the bomb", to "fire!" which is also represented by a flame icon on certain YouTube discussion threads. All these vernacular terms and images conveyed/convey excellence. I believe that all of these "hot"/"dynamite" terms greatly influenced the vernacular "killed it" ("murdered", "slayed") idioms.
-snip-
Here's some thoughts that I had on this subject which were written for the initial 2013 publication of this post:
1. The United States is a violent nation.
Given the nature of this nation, the complimentary use of violent terms shouldn't be unexpected.
2. Being "hard" (tough, cool but in control) and being a risk taker (adventurer, high stakes gambler) are highly valued in African American/Caribbean originated Hip-Hop Culture and in American culture in general.
Given the high value that is placed on "being hard", it's not surprising that there is a preference in those cultures for violent terminology and terminology that praises success which is achieved during high stakes, risky circumstances.
3. African American Vernacular English has a tradition of applying counter-culture (opposite) definitions for certain standard English words (such as the word "bad" meaning "very good).
"Sick" or "ill" are two other examples from Hip Hop culture of two standard English words that have been given counter culture definitions. Since at least the 1990s, something that is very good is "sick". The word "ill" seems to be used now more frequently than "sick" but carries that same counter cultural meaning.
Something or someone who is "ill" can die. However, "killed", "murdered", "assaulted", "crushed" refer to willful acts and not something that happens naturally. People have to exert themselves to kill, and the use of that term & similar terms as high compliments imply that the person whose performance "killed" ("murdered"; "assaulted") (or who killed his performance) didn't do so without exerting some effort to "nail" (perfect) that performance, even though it might have looked easy to do.
4. "Killing it" may be a progression that comes from the African American English meanings given to "dynamite" and "the bomb".
The slang meaning of both of those terms -something is "dynamite" or "the bomb" - refers to something that is very good. However, in standard English, dynamite & a bomb can kill.
5. The use of the words "monster" and "beast" as referents for people who go beyond what ordinary humans do (such as people who excel in their artistic or athletic performances.
There are very clear connections between a monster or beast & killing something or someone.
****
This completes Part I of this series.
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Latest Revision - June 28, 2019
This is Part I of a two part series on the African American derived slang meanings & uses of the phrases "killing it" and "killed it".
Part I provides definitions for the American slang phrases "killing it" and "killed it". Synonyms & antonyms are given for these phrases and I share my speculations about why "killing it" and its synonyms came to be used that way.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/06/how-biggie-smalls-killed-it-on.html for Part II.
Part II provides examples of "killing it"/"killed it" and its synonyms that are used in selected YouTube comments about Hip-Hop artist Notorious Big's (Biggie Smalls)' performance on Jamaican Dancehall Reggae artist Supercat's 1993 remix of his song "Dolly Me Baby".
Disclaimer- I'm not a linguist. Nevertheless, I'm interested in how words & phrases have different meanings among populations in the same country or in among different populations throughout the world during the same period of time. I'm also interested in how the meanings of words & phrases may change over a period of time and how clusters of slang terms may have the same or similar meanings.
The content of this post is presented for folkloric & cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
****
PART I
WHAT "KILLING IT" MEANS
"Killing it" = doing something very very well
****
SYNONYMS & ANTONYMS FOR THE SLANG MEANING OF "KILLED IT"
Synonyms = murdered [it], ripped [it], assaulted [it], crushed [it]
(as exemplified in selected YouTube comments that are found in Part II of this series).
Also, "tore it up", "nailed it", "aced it"
Antonyms = "ruined", "destroyed", "really messed up"
However, note that the antonym "destroyed" can also be used to convey that a person "killed it" (did something very very well).
****
ONLINE SOURCES FOR THIS DEFINITION OF "KILLING IT"
[Given in no preferential order]
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20100108184342AApmSCm What does "killin it" mean?
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker
"it depends on what they're talking about. but it often means the are doing a good job. he's killling it means he's doing great."
Hamlet , 2010
**
"it means like he's beast at whatever he's doing"
- ooooooh SNAP! , 2010
****
http://onlineslangdictionary.com/meaning-definition-of/kill-it
“verb - to generally be high performing or do a task well.”
-snip-
The other definitions for "kill it" that are given on that page don't apply to the particular slang usage that is the focus of this post.
****
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=killin%20it
“verb: Killin it
1.to be doing something very good
john was killin it all day long in the competition"
byalexJul 16, 2004
-snip-
The other definitions for "kill it" that are given on that page don't apply to the particular slang usage that is the focus of this post.
****
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20101227122313AAuhDvd
Question: "What does "killed it" mean?
Like in youtube videos in the comments people would say "Lil' Wayne killed it" or "Drake killed this song". I wasnt sure if it was a good thing or a bad thing. Thanks so much!"
Emma, 2010
Responses:
1. "Definitley is a good thing :) Killed it, kinda like, Nailed it or did it perfectly.
Jennifer, 2010
**
2."I think it depends on the rest of the sentence before deciding if it's good or bad. Like for example, "I'm my opinion they killed the cartoons when they made the Avatar the last air bender movies." That would be a bad 'killed it'. I'm saying that they ruined the cartoon with the movie. But if I said, "Dude I totally killed that test!" That would be good, because I'm saying that I did great on the test or I think I killed it. Hope this helps!"
-SemiFrug, 2010
**
3. "It can mean 2 different meanings. One meaning is to have ruined something and the other means to have done something really well.
Example 1:
Person 1: Wow this song is sick!
Person 2: Yeah, the artist KILLED it!
Example 2:
Person 1: I did a cover for the song Beat It by Michael Jackson. Do you like it?
Person 2: Wow, …. You killed the song man...
?- 2010
-snip-
The word "sick" and the phrase "killed it" in example #1 use the positive, highly complimentary meaning of "killed it" which is the focus of this post. The word "killed" in example #2 may have a positive or a negative meaning.
*****
SYNONYMS FOR THE TERM "KILLED IT" [Updated: November 24, 2015]
From Standard American English:
PERFECTED IT - doing something flawlessly, impeccably
NAILED IT - same as above
**
From African American English
MURDERED IT:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=murder
"to completely destroy and embarrass someone lyrically in a freestyle battle or on a track."
Whyte Out murdered his competition on 106th and Park's Freestyle Fridays
by Nick D Jun 4, 2003
-snip-
However, it should be noted that in the YouTube video comments about Biggie Smalls' "I Love It When You Call Me Big Poppa" rap [which is the focus of Part II of this series, the lyrics & Biggie's performance are the subject of the infinitive phrase "killed it" and not Biggie's competitors or collaborators [the other persons who are heard in that remix].
It's almost as if that performance art [or that athletic task]
is anthropomorphized and challenges the performer or the athlete to "bring it" [do the best that he or she can in a competition to see who has what it takes to win out in the end.] When the performer or the athlete succeeds in wringing all he or she can from that performance or that athletic competition, he or she can be said to have "killed it" [with "it" being the performance or the athletic competition, or any other challenging task].
Perhaps, the word "murder" is also used because if something is done flawlessly, there's nothing left to do. The performer has taken that art to the highest level it can go. After that it explodes or implodes on itself, and then exist no more -or exist in another form or forms. In doing so, that performer can be said to have "murdered" or "killed" that performance.
**
RIPPED IT UP, RIPPED IT
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=rip%20it
1. "going all out during a party, so hard that you literally rip it."
-jimmy dean's eggs Dec 28, 2010
-snip-
This definition isn't clear since the word being defined is used.
The other definitions given on that page don't apply to the slang usage which is the focus of this page.
**
http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=13723
1. It's meaning is that everyone involved has done everything possible to guarantee that nothing goes wrong, but no one is completely sure what will happen and the only way to find out is to activate the process. There is always a measure of uncertainty prior to "let it rip."
There is a saw blade called a rip saw that is used to cut wood with the grain. Perhaps that is where the expression "let it rip" came from.
-Bruce, 3rd February 2005, 10:58 PM
**
"I Googled and apparently it has something to do with moving at such great speed that clothing becomes ripped". [link given is no longer viable].
-Kevin R, 23rd September 2007, 11:20 AM
-snip-
The word being defined is again used in the definition. However, I think it's clear that the meaning for the word "ripped" in that sentence is "torn".
The African American/Hip Hop slang phrase "ripped it" can refer to "ripping something into shreds" and in so doing "killing it". "Ripping a performance [into shreds]" could mean that you "broke it down" to its very core. Because that performance was taken apart [and put together] to its very essense, it can be said to be killed, and -at the same time-said to be at thee hight of its "aliveness". the most 0erbrokibeeIn so doing, you "killed" what you broke
It also occurs to me that "rip it" is an updated form of "let it rip". "Let it rip"/"rip it" carry the connotation of "going all out [going "hard"]. Because the performer "went hard", (was intense but cool & in control; put himself or herself at risk, put himself or herself wholely in that performance, he or she "nailed" ("killed") that performance.
-snip-
For what it's worth, I haven't found any uses of the term "ripped it" as a synonym to "killed it" in several 2015 YouTube video discussion threads in which numerous commenters use the term "killed it", a few commenters use the term "slayed it" and "murdered it" and a few commenters describe the person as "a beast".
**
SLAYED IT
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=slayed
slayed
a word used when you dominate or do really well on something. also used when you defeat an opponent.
-Dude, I slayed that history test!
-How'd you do in that Madden game against Gavin?
--I totally slayed him, it wasn't even close.
by chicken man1212 September 07, 2007
-snip-
The other definitions given on that page don't apply to the slang usage which is the focus of this page.
****
SAYING THAT SOMEONE IS A MONSTER OR A BEAST
Origin 1990s ? = a person who is exceptionally good at what he or she does; someone who "kills" [does a very good job] at what he or she does.
****
MY SPECULATIONS AS TO WHY THESE VIOLENT SLANG PHRASES MEAN "DOING SOMETHING VERY WELL"
[Revised 09/15/2017]
In the initial publication of this post I guessed that the vernacular use of the word "killed" to mean doing something very very well"* dates from the 1990s. However, I don't have any documentation for that guess.
It occurs to me that the meaning of the "killing it" idiom is very similar to meaning of "mic drop" - i.e. that someone does something so well that there is no need for anyone else to try to do better. The challenge or the competition is over because what was done can't be beat. In that sense, the word "it" refers to "the competition".
However, in the idiom "She's killing it", He murdered it", or "They nailed it", the word "it" refers to whatever action or performance that is being done or that was done so well.
I can't speculate on how this idiom started, but my guess is that the vernacular idioms that mean "did something very very well" such as "tore the house down"; "tore it up", "nailed it", and "aced it" were used before "killed it".
Over time, African Americans changed what vernacular terms were popular with us for conveying excellence. While we (African Americans) changed which vernacular superlatives were "in" with us, mainstream society (i.e. White folks) either just started using those old African American terms or continued using those old terms.
Although we changed the words that conveyed a particular meaning, we kept the same connotations: i.e. We went from something or someone being "hot", to "smokin", to "dynamite", to "the bomb", to "fire!" which is also represented by a flame icon on certain YouTube discussion threads. All these vernacular terms and images conveyed/convey excellence. I believe that all of these "hot"/"dynamite" terms greatly influenced the vernacular "killed it" ("murdered", "slayed") idioms.
-snip-
Here's some thoughts that I had on this subject which were written for the initial 2013 publication of this post:
1. The United States is a violent nation.
Given the nature of this nation, the complimentary use of violent terms shouldn't be unexpected.
2. Being "hard" (tough, cool but in control) and being a risk taker (adventurer, high stakes gambler) are highly valued in African American/Caribbean originated Hip-Hop Culture and in American culture in general.
Given the high value that is placed on "being hard", it's not surprising that there is a preference in those cultures for violent terminology and terminology that praises success which is achieved during high stakes, risky circumstances.
3. African American Vernacular English has a tradition of applying counter-culture (opposite) definitions for certain standard English words (such as the word "bad" meaning "very good).
"Sick" or "ill" are two other examples from Hip Hop culture of two standard English words that have been given counter culture definitions. Since at least the 1990s, something that is very good is "sick". The word "ill" seems to be used now more frequently than "sick" but carries that same counter cultural meaning.
Something or someone who is "ill" can die. However, "killed", "murdered", "assaulted", "crushed" refer to willful acts and not something that happens naturally. People have to exert themselves to kill, and the use of that term & similar terms as high compliments imply that the person whose performance "killed" ("murdered"; "assaulted") (or who killed his performance) didn't do so without exerting some effort to "nail" (perfect) that performance, even though it might have looked easy to do.
4. "Killing it" may be a progression that comes from the African American English meanings given to "dynamite" and "the bomb".
The slang meaning of both of those terms -something is "dynamite" or "the bomb" - refers to something that is very good. However, in standard English, dynamite & a bomb can kill.
5. The use of the words "monster" and "beast" as referents for people who go beyond what ordinary humans do (such as people who excel in their artistic or athletic performances.
There are very clear connections between a monster or beast & killing something or someone.
****
This completes Part I of this series.
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Friday, June 14, 2013
Erykah Badu - Bag Lady (video, lyrics, & comments)
Edited by Azizi Powell
This post showcases the song "Bag Lady" by Erykah Badu and includes comments about the African American Vernacular English meanings for the word "bag".
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
****
LYRICS - BAG LADY
Bag lady you gone hurt your back
Dragging all them bags like that
I guess nobody ever told you
All you must hold on to
Is you, is you, is you
One day all them bags gone get in your way
One day all them bags gone get in your way
I said one day all them bags gone get in your way
One Day all them bags gone get in your way
So pack light
Pack light
Pack light
Ooh ooh
Bag lady you gone miss your bus
You can't hurry up
Cause you got too much stuff
When they see you comin
N***gas take off runnin
From you it's true oh yes they do
One day he gone say you crowdin my space
One day he gone say you crowdin my space
I said one day he gone say you crowdin my space
One day he gone say you crowdin my space
So pack light
Pack light
Pack light
Ooh ooh
Girl I know sometimes it's hard
And we can't let go
Oh when someone hurts you oh so bad inside
You can't deny it you can't stop crying
So oh, oh, oh
If you start breathin
Then you won't believe it
You'll feel so much better
(So much better baby)
Bag lady
Let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go
Ooh, ooh
Girl you don't need it
I betcha love can make it better
Betcha love can make it better
Betcha love can make it better
(Need someone to love you right)
Betcha love can make it better
(I betcha love, betcha love)
Betcha love can make it better
Betcha love can make it better
Betcha love can make it better
Betcha love can make it better
(I betcha love, betcha love)
Betcha love can make it better
(I betcha love, I betcha love, oh)
Betcha love can make it better
Betcha love can make it better
(Oh...)
Betcha love can make it better...
Bag lady, hmm
Let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go
Girl you don't need that, hmm
Source: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/erykahbadu/baglady.html
Note: The "n word" is fully spelled out in those lyrics.
****
FEATURED VIDEO
ErykahBaduVEVO, Uploaded on Jun 16, 2009
Music video by Erykah Badu performing Bag Lady. (C) 2000 Motown Records
****
COMMENTS
From http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqN0jsSeqPo
"Is this about materialism?"
-s99bf0c8, 2013
**
"No - the song (in my opinion) is about women and how we should grow up and mature. It is about handling our issues (baggage) that can ultimately destroy our relationships, health, well-being, families, and even how we relate to the world. Our baggage is what keeps us (women) from realizing our full potential and purpose and life. The scene with the babies receiving their bags says it all. We ladies start filling our bags from birth but it is up to us to face our issues and deal with them.
-Blckberi, 2013
**
"the word bags in the song means your personal issues whether issues of past relationship, self esteem issues etc. Wen she says pack light she means dont carry your problems into new relationships or new chapters in your life.. hope dat helped"
-nikababy90, 2013
**
"baggage, can be Mental as well. so She is saying let all that
"baggage go" "
-ShikaNakamura, 2013
**
"Love this song, leave all your access baggage (issues) in the past"
-pnuttink, 2013
**
"I love this song for many reasons mainly because its the truth baggage keeps you from hurrying up and obtaining all that is for you on your life path. Instead of pointing teh finger check yo bags and get rid of some stuff and mr right, that good job, and happiness and more could be right there stay positive"
-Janet PrincessNaija, 2013
****
RELATED LINK
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/06/african-american-vernacular-english-in.html for a post that includes a number of African American Vernacular terms from the mid 1960s.
****
Thanks to Erykah Badu for her musical legacy. Thanks also to those who composed this song, and all others who I quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publisher of this video on youtube.
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor commeents are welcome.
This post showcases the song "Bag Lady" by Erykah Badu and includes comments about the African American Vernacular English meanings for the word "bag".
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
****
LYRICS - BAG LADY
Bag lady you gone hurt your back
Dragging all them bags like that
I guess nobody ever told you
All you must hold on to
Is you, is you, is you
One day all them bags gone get in your way
One day all them bags gone get in your way
I said one day all them bags gone get in your way
One Day all them bags gone get in your way
So pack light
Pack light
Pack light
Ooh ooh
Bag lady you gone miss your bus
You can't hurry up
Cause you got too much stuff
When they see you comin
N***gas take off runnin
From you it's true oh yes they do
One day he gone say you crowdin my space
One day he gone say you crowdin my space
I said one day he gone say you crowdin my space
One day he gone say you crowdin my space
So pack light
Pack light
Pack light
Ooh ooh
Girl I know sometimes it's hard
And we can't let go
Oh when someone hurts you oh so bad inside
You can't deny it you can't stop crying
So oh, oh, oh
If you start breathin
Then you won't believe it
You'll feel so much better
(So much better baby)
Bag lady
Let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go
Ooh, ooh
Girl you don't need it
I betcha love can make it better
Betcha love can make it better
Betcha love can make it better
(Need someone to love you right)
Betcha love can make it better
(I betcha love, betcha love)
Betcha love can make it better
Betcha love can make it better
Betcha love can make it better
Betcha love can make it better
(I betcha love, betcha love)
Betcha love can make it better
(I betcha love, I betcha love, oh)
Betcha love can make it better
Betcha love can make it better
(Oh...)
Betcha love can make it better...
Bag lady, hmm
Let it go, let it go, let it go, let it go
Girl you don't need that, hmm
Source: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/erykahbadu/baglady.html
Note: The "n word" is fully spelled out in those lyrics.
****
FEATURED VIDEO
ErykahBaduVEVO, Uploaded on Jun 16, 2009
Music video by Erykah Badu performing Bag Lady. (C) 2000 Motown Records
****
COMMENTS
From http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqN0jsSeqPo
"Is this about materialism?"
-s99bf0c8, 2013
**
"No - the song (in my opinion) is about women and how we should grow up and mature. It is about handling our issues (baggage) that can ultimately destroy our relationships, health, well-being, families, and even how we relate to the world. Our baggage is what keeps us (women) from realizing our full potential and purpose and life. The scene with the babies receiving their bags says it all. We ladies start filling our bags from birth but it is up to us to face our issues and deal with them.
-Blckberi, 2013
**
"the word bags in the song means your personal issues whether issues of past relationship, self esteem issues etc. Wen she says pack light she means dont carry your problems into new relationships or new chapters in your life.. hope dat helped"
-nikababy90, 2013
**
"baggage, can be Mental as well. so She is saying let all that
"baggage go" "
-ShikaNakamura, 2013
**
"Love this song, leave all your access baggage (issues) in the past"
-pnuttink, 2013
**
"I love this song for many reasons mainly because its the truth baggage keeps you from hurrying up and obtaining all that is for you on your life path. Instead of pointing teh finger check yo bags and get rid of some stuff and mr right, that good job, and happiness and more could be right there stay positive"
-Janet PrincessNaija, 2013
****
RELATED LINK
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/06/african-american-vernacular-english-in.html for a post that includes a number of African American Vernacular terms from the mid 1960s.
****
Thanks to Erykah Badu for her musical legacy. Thanks also to those who composed this song, and all others who I quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publisher of this video on youtube.
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor commeents are welcome.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
What "Grittin On Someone" Means (in African American Vernacular English)
Edited by Azizi Powell
This post provides definitions of the African American English derived phrase "grittin on [someone]". This post also provides a definition of the word "grittin" as it is used in historically Black Greek leettered organizations.
Examples of the "grittin on someone" facial expression are found in three videos of historically Black Greek lettered fraternities.
The content of this post is presented for sociological and cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
[Latest revision- August 4, 2016.
****
DEFINITION OF THE PHRASE "GRITTIN[G] ON [SOMEONE]
grittin - to stare at someone for a long period of time with a disdainful and/or mean, evil, or angry look on your face
The work "grittin[g]" comes from the word "grit", meaning "small, loose particles of stone or sand". Three synonyms from African American Vernacular English terms for "grittin[g] are "having a "dirty look [on your face]", "mean muggin[g]", and "ugly muggin[g]". However, a person grittin on someone doesn't have to look mean. That person may just stare disdainfully at another person, daring that person to look away. In any event, grittin on a person is an act of disrespect.
When a Black children grit on their parents, they are likely to be told that they better "fix their face or else." "Fixing your face" means to take that disdainful and/or mean, evil, angry look off of your face. "Or else" means some punishments will be levied on the children because of that act of disrespect.
****
"GRITTIN" IN HISTORICALLY BLACK GREEK LETTER FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES (BGLOs)
In historically Black Greek letter organizations, "grittin" is also called "mean mugging". That term refers to a "hard", mean facial expression that members of many of those organizations (particularly fraternities) may wear on certain occasions. This look is meant to convey their determination*, the seriousness of their commitment to the organization, their aggressiveness, and their "hardness" (in the street sense of that word).
*In the context of those who are striving to join a BGLO, "determination" means their commitment to persevere until they become full members of that organization.
A "grit face" or a "mean mug" expression may also be worn during step shows or fraternity or sorority stroll by persons who are full members of a historically Black Greek lettered organization (BGLO) to convey the seriousness of those members' commitment to that organization, and to convey their aggressiveness toward any obstacle or any adversary - including other fraternity step teams that they competing against in that step show.
While a "grit face" looks very much like scowling fiercely or snarling, grit faces aren't meant to convey anger. Instead, a "grit face" shows how "hard" [in street terms] members of that organization are.
In my opinion, putting on a grit face is associated with the image of historically Black Greek lettered fraternities much more than historically Black Greek lettered sororities. And the vernacular that is associated with those fraternities may be linked to the act of putting on a grit face. For instance, when men associated with Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. are "grittin", they are said to put on a "dog face" as their informal symbol is a bull dog, and their signature call is a dog's bark. In that sense, the fierceness of a bull dog and the grit face both convey the same "hard" message. Also, members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. may put on a grit face to show how fiercely cold [blooded] they are. That members of that organization are "cold" when it comes to taking care of serious business is reflected in the words of one of their signature chants: "ice, ice, baby/ too cold/too cold/ice ice baby/ the black & gold".
In contrast, while pledges and full members of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Inc, the sorority which is closely associated with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. believe their sorority is "a serious matter"*, putting on an ugly, aggressive grit face would be in opposition to that sorority's tradition of being "pretty girls".
I'm not saying that putting on a grit face doesn't occur among pledges or full members of that sorority or other historically Black Greek lettered sororities. However, it seems to me that "grit face" is much more associated with historically Black Greek lettered fraternities than sororities.
*It's a serious matter" is an Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority signature chant.
****
COMMENTS ABOUT "GRITTIN" AND STANDARD DEFINITIONS OF "GRITTING ONE'S TEETH" AND "SHOWING TRUE GRIT".
As used in historically Black Greek lettered organizations, the facial expression of "grittin" isn't the same as "gritting one's teeth" since people don't show their teeth when they are grittin. Gritting one's teeth means to steel oneself to endure something that is difficult or uncomfortable. While "grittin[g] on someone" has a different meaning than "gritting one's teeth", the BGLO definition of "grittin" is quite similar to that later definition of "steeling onself to endure", particularly in the case of old time pledges to historically Black Greek lettered fraternities.
Furthermore, I believe that the psychological meaning of the word "grit" -as in "showing true grit" is exactly what the word "grittin" means in the context of historically Black Greek lettered organizations. Here's an excerpt from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grit_(personality_trait)
"Grit in psychology is a positive, non-cognitive trait, based on an individual’s passion for a particular long-term goal or endstate coupled with a powerful motivation to achieve their respective objective. This perseverance of effort promotes the overcoming of obstacles or challenges that lie within a gritty individual’s path to accomplishment and serves as a driving force in achievement realization. Commonly associated concepts within the field of psychology include "perseverance," "hardiness," "resilience,” “ambition,” “need for achievement” and conscientiousness."
****
FEATURED VIDEOS
These videos are presented in chronological order with the videos with the oldest date given first.
Example #1: Omega Psi Phi Que Doggs
mrchangeurlife, Uploaded on Jul 18, 2008
Gamma Sig Ques Settin' It Out 75th Conclave 2008
****
Example #2: Omega Psi Phi Stepping on the Steve Harvey Show
KingUdobot,Uploaded on Mar 26, 2009
Here's a comment from that video's viewer comment thread:
"They KILLED it love this grit faces"
-lmanley11, 2009
-snip-
"Killed it" means to do something very well.
****
Example #3: Alpha Phi Alpha On the campus of Clark Atlanta Univ -CAU
Teresa Dowell-Vest, Published on Apr 9, 2012
I was on the campus of Clark Atlanta University taking pics for the Harlem YMCA students visiting Spelman, Morehouse, and CAU and these guys broke OUT!
****
UPDATE: August 3, 2013 - Video of females grittin
Spelman Freshman Step Team Alum Battle
LookOut504, Uploaded on Oct 11, 2008
The former freshman step team members of some of Morehouse and Spelmans finest teams have some fun. CAU was in attendance but we missed their performance
-snip-
Here's a comment from this video's viewer comment thread http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsTdYfDKmNs that was posted in response to a number of comments critizing the faces made by the step team in the beginning of this video:
"- Ok , let's diminish the ignorance a little. The faces they are making are called "GRIT FACES". When stepping many organizations put on "GRIT FACES" to show how serious & how hard they go for their org. Lol it's a SOUTHERN thing. #DirtySouth
-Minelly Deme, 2013
****
RELATED LINK
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/06/what-getting-up-in-someones-face-means_6.html
****
Thanks to all those featured in these videos. Thanks to the producers of these videos & their publishers on YouTube.
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This post provides definitions of the African American English derived phrase "grittin on [someone]". This post also provides a definition of the word "grittin" as it is used in historically Black Greek leettered organizations.
Examples of the "grittin on someone" facial expression are found in three videos of historically Black Greek lettered fraternities.
The content of this post is presented for sociological and cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
[Latest revision- August 4, 2016.
****
DEFINITION OF THE PHRASE "GRITTIN[G] ON [SOMEONE]
grittin - to stare at someone for a long period of time with a disdainful and/or mean, evil, or angry look on your face
The work "grittin[g]" comes from the word "grit", meaning "small, loose particles of stone or sand". Three synonyms from African American Vernacular English terms for "grittin[g] are "having a "dirty look [on your face]", "mean muggin[g]", and "ugly muggin[g]". However, a person grittin on someone doesn't have to look mean. That person may just stare disdainfully at another person, daring that person to look away. In any event, grittin on a person is an act of disrespect.
When a Black children grit on their parents, they are likely to be told that they better "fix their face or else." "Fixing your face" means to take that disdainful and/or mean, evil, angry look off of your face. "Or else" means some punishments will be levied on the children because of that act of disrespect.
****
"GRITTIN" IN HISTORICALLY BLACK GREEK LETTER FRATERNITIES AND SORORITIES (BGLOs)
In historically Black Greek letter organizations, "grittin" is also called "mean mugging". That term refers to a "hard", mean facial expression that members of many of those organizations (particularly fraternities) may wear on certain occasions. This look is meant to convey their determination*, the seriousness of their commitment to the organization, their aggressiveness, and their "hardness" (in the street sense of that word).
*In the context of those who are striving to join a BGLO, "determination" means their commitment to persevere until they become full members of that organization.
A "grit face" or a "mean mug" expression may also be worn during step shows or fraternity or sorority stroll by persons who are full members of a historically Black Greek lettered organization (BGLO) to convey the seriousness of those members' commitment to that organization, and to convey their aggressiveness toward any obstacle or any adversary - including other fraternity step teams that they competing against in that step show.
While a "grit face" looks very much like scowling fiercely or snarling, grit faces aren't meant to convey anger. Instead, a "grit face" shows how "hard" [in street terms] members of that organization are.
In my opinion, putting on a grit face is associated with the image of historically Black Greek lettered fraternities much more than historically Black Greek lettered sororities. And the vernacular that is associated with those fraternities may be linked to the act of putting on a grit face. For instance, when men associated with Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. are "grittin", they are said to put on a "dog face" as their informal symbol is a bull dog, and their signature call is a dog's bark. In that sense, the fierceness of a bull dog and the grit face both convey the same "hard" message. Also, members of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. may put on a grit face to show how fiercely cold [blooded] they are. That members of that organization are "cold" when it comes to taking care of serious business is reflected in the words of one of their signature chants: "ice, ice, baby/ too cold/too cold/ice ice baby/ the black & gold".
In contrast, while pledges and full members of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Inc, the sorority which is closely associated with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. believe their sorority is "a serious matter"*, putting on an ugly, aggressive grit face would be in opposition to that sorority's tradition of being "pretty girls".
I'm not saying that putting on a grit face doesn't occur among pledges or full members of that sorority or other historically Black Greek lettered sororities. However, it seems to me that "grit face" is much more associated with historically Black Greek lettered fraternities than sororities.
*It's a serious matter" is an Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority signature chant.
****
COMMENTS ABOUT "GRITTIN" AND STANDARD DEFINITIONS OF "GRITTING ONE'S TEETH" AND "SHOWING TRUE GRIT".
As used in historically Black Greek lettered organizations, the facial expression of "grittin" isn't the same as "gritting one's teeth" since people don't show their teeth when they are grittin. Gritting one's teeth means to steel oneself to endure something that is difficult or uncomfortable. While "grittin[g] on someone" has a different meaning than "gritting one's teeth", the BGLO definition of "grittin" is quite similar to that later definition of "steeling onself to endure", particularly in the case of old time pledges to historically Black Greek lettered fraternities.
Furthermore, I believe that the psychological meaning of the word "grit" -as in "showing true grit" is exactly what the word "grittin" means in the context of historically Black Greek lettered organizations. Here's an excerpt from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grit_(personality_trait)
"Grit in psychology is a positive, non-cognitive trait, based on an individual’s passion for a particular long-term goal or endstate coupled with a powerful motivation to achieve their respective objective. This perseverance of effort promotes the overcoming of obstacles or challenges that lie within a gritty individual’s path to accomplishment and serves as a driving force in achievement realization. Commonly associated concepts within the field of psychology include "perseverance," "hardiness," "resilience,” “ambition,” “need for achievement” and conscientiousness."
****
FEATURED VIDEOS
These videos are presented in chronological order with the videos with the oldest date given first.
Example #1: Omega Psi Phi Que Doggs
mrchangeurlife, Uploaded on Jul 18, 2008
Gamma Sig Ques Settin' It Out 75th Conclave 2008
****
Example #2: Omega Psi Phi Stepping on the Steve Harvey Show
KingUdobot,Uploaded on Mar 26, 2009
Here's a comment from that video's viewer comment thread:
"They KILLED it love this grit faces"
-lmanley11, 2009
-snip-
"Killed it" means to do something very well.
****
Example #3: Alpha Phi Alpha On the campus of Clark Atlanta Univ -CAU
Teresa Dowell-Vest, Published on Apr 9, 2012
I was on the campus of Clark Atlanta University taking pics for the Harlem YMCA students visiting Spelman, Morehouse, and CAU and these guys broke OUT!
****
UPDATE: August 3, 2013 - Video of females grittin
Spelman Freshman Step Team Alum Battle
LookOut504, Uploaded on Oct 11, 2008
The former freshman step team members of some of Morehouse and Spelmans finest teams have some fun. CAU was in attendance but we missed their performance
-snip-
Here's a comment from this video's viewer comment thread http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsTdYfDKmNs that was posted in response to a number of comments critizing the faces made by the step team in the beginning of this video:
"- Ok , let's diminish the ignorance a little. The faces they are making are called "GRIT FACES". When stepping many organizations put on "GRIT FACES" to show how serious & how hard they go for their org. Lol it's a SOUTHERN thing. #DirtySouth
-Minelly Deme, 2013
****
RELATED LINK
http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/06/what-getting-up-in-someones-face-means_6.html
****
Thanks to all those featured in these videos. Thanks to the producers of these videos & their publishers on YouTube.
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Friday, April 5, 2013
Soulful Struts (Definition & Examples Of Strutting)
Edited by Azizi Powell
This pancocojams post provides definitions of the word "strut" and four video examples of different ways that Black people strut their stuff.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
DEFINITIONS OF "STRUT" & "STRUTTIN" (strutting)
From http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strut
"strut – to walk with a proud gait"
-snip-
Additional definitions of "struttin'"
walking with attitude [self-confidence, pride]
**
walking with lots of "swag" [swagger], walking like you just KNOW you bad [with "bad" here meaning “very good”]
**
a type of hip-hop dance
-snip-
The phrase "strut your stuff" usually refers to walking with a swaying gait so that your butt shakes.
The phrase "struttin down the alley" is found in the Black children's singing games "Zoodio" and "Strut Miss Lucy" (also known as "Thisa Way Valerie"). In both of those games, at a certain part of the song, a person or a couple are supposed to strut down (later, dance down) the aisle made by people standing facing each other in two lines. Because of its popularity on that television dance show, this formation is now commonly known in the United States as a "Soul Train line". Click http://zumalayah.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-stroll-model-for-soul-train-line.html for a post on my zumalayah blog that provides a video example of Zoodio and a video of an early Soul Train line formation on the television show of that name.
**
FEATURED VIDEOS
Example #1: Uncle Tom's Cabin - Cakewalk - 1903 Edison Version
uncletomscabindvd, From Uncle Tom's Cabin Reconsidered - http://www.uncletomscabindvd.com
****
Example #2: Jsu exit again! MSU 2009
Patrick Pettaway, Uploaded on Sep 15, 2009
The whole vid
-snip-
This video shows the JSU band (Jackson State University (located in Jackson, Mississippi) exiting the stadium area after their team played a football game with MSU (Mississippi State University).
****
Example #3: Joint Usher Board Anniversary Pt 1
smartvids09, Uploaded on Sep 30, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010 TheFBCD Washington DC
-snip-
I'm not sure what the letters "FBCD" stands for. I think the "FBC" stands for "First Baptist Church", but I don't know what the "D" stands for.
This video shows the ushers struttin (marching) into their "Ushers Day" anniversary with a single person in the lead. It's likely that another type of church processional would be used for an actual church services.
Click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gu_LdVjIPjk for Part 2 of this video.
Click http://zumalayah.blogspot.com/2013/03/african-american-church-processionals.html for a post on my zumalayah blog that features more Black church processions.
****
Example #4: Roots New Years Day Junkanoo 2010 [Bahamas]
Uploaded by hugomanager on Jan 6, 2010
****
Example #5: Strutting | Popping Basics
grygorenko1, Uploaded on Nov 9, 2011
Проводится набор в школу танцев
DANCE PROJECT TRICK!
****
BONUS SOUND FILE - Soulful Strut/Young-Holt Unlimited [1968]
oldies55, Uploaded on Aug 22, 2008
put your soul in a groove
****
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to all those who are featured in this post. My thanks also to the producers and the publishers on YouTube of these videos and this sound file.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This pancocojams post provides definitions of the word "strut" and four video examples of different ways that Black people strut their stuff.
The content of this post is presented for cultural, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
DEFINITIONS OF "STRUT" & "STRUTTIN" (strutting)
From http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/strut
"strut – to walk with a proud gait"
-snip-
Additional definitions of "struttin'"
walking with attitude [self-confidence, pride]
**
walking with lots of "swag" [swagger], walking like you just KNOW you bad [with "bad" here meaning “very good”]
**
a type of hip-hop dance
-snip-
The phrase "strut your stuff" usually refers to walking with a swaying gait so that your butt shakes.
The phrase "struttin down the alley" is found in the Black children's singing games "Zoodio" and "Strut Miss Lucy" (also known as "Thisa Way Valerie"). In both of those games, at a certain part of the song, a person or a couple are supposed to strut down (later, dance down) the aisle made by people standing facing each other in two lines. Because of its popularity on that television dance show, this formation is now commonly known in the United States as a "Soul Train line". Click http://zumalayah.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-stroll-model-for-soul-train-line.html for a post on my zumalayah blog that provides a video example of Zoodio and a video of an early Soul Train line formation on the television show of that name.
**
FEATURED VIDEOS
Example #1: Uncle Tom's Cabin - Cakewalk - 1903 Edison Version
uncletomscabindvd, From Uncle Tom's Cabin Reconsidered - http://www.uncletomscabindvd.com
****
Example #2: Jsu exit again! MSU 2009
Patrick Pettaway, Uploaded on Sep 15, 2009
The whole vid
-snip-
This video shows the JSU band (Jackson State University (located in Jackson, Mississippi) exiting the stadium area after their team played a football game with MSU (Mississippi State University).
****
Example #3: Joint Usher Board Anniversary Pt 1
smartvids09, Uploaded on Sep 30, 2010
Sunday, September 19, 2010 TheFBCD Washington DC
-snip-
I'm not sure what the letters "FBCD" stands for. I think the "FBC" stands for "First Baptist Church", but I don't know what the "D" stands for.
This video shows the ushers struttin (marching) into their "Ushers Day" anniversary with a single person in the lead. It's likely that another type of church processional would be used for an actual church services.
Click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gu_LdVjIPjk for Part 2 of this video.
Click http://zumalayah.blogspot.com/2013/03/african-american-church-processionals.html for a post on my zumalayah blog that features more Black church processions.
****
Example #4: Roots New Years Day Junkanoo 2010 [Bahamas]
Uploaded by hugomanager on Jan 6, 2010
****
Example #5: Strutting | Popping Basics
grygorenko1, Uploaded on Nov 9, 2011
Проводится набор в школу танцев
DANCE PROJECT TRICK!
****
BONUS SOUND FILE - Soulful Strut/Young-Holt Unlimited [1968]
oldies55, Uploaded on Aug 22, 2008
put your soul in a groove
****
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to all those who are featured in this post. My thanks also to the producers and the publishers on YouTube of these videos and this sound file.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Friday, March 29, 2013
Lil Mama - G-Slide (Tour Bus) (Video & Lyrics)
Edited by Azizi Powell
This post showcases a video of and lyrics to the 2007 hip hop song "G-Slide (Tour Bus)" by Lil Mama.
This isn't the same record as the 2006 Gospel line song "Gospel Slide" which is also sometimes called "g slide". Click http://zumalala.blogspot.com/2013/03/dana-divine-gospel-slide-video-lyrics.html for a post on that song.
The content of this post is presented for entertainment and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
INFORMATION ABOUT LIL MAMA
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lil_Mama
"Niatia Jessica Kirkland (born October 4, 1989), professionally known as Lil Mama, is an American rapper and singer-songwriter. She was the judge on America's Best Dance Crew…
In 2006, Kirkland signed a recording contract with Jive Records. Her first studio album VYP (Voice of the Young People) was released in late April 2008. The album spawned four singles: "Lip Gloss", "G-Slide (Tour Bus)", "Shawty Get Loose" and "What It Is (Strike a Pose)". The album sold 19,000 copies in the first week, debuting at number 25 on the Billboard 200."...
Lil Mama - G-Slide (Tour Bus)
LilMamaVEVO, Uploaded on Nov 15, 2009
Music video by Lil Mama performing G-Slide (Tour Bus). (C) 2007 Zomba Recording, LLC
-snip-
Like many other Hip-Hop songs, the lyrics to this song are self-bragging, and some what confontational. However, there is less insulting others in this song than in many other Hip Hop songs. And there is no profanity or violence.
G-Slide (Tour Bus) has the same tune as the children's songs "The Wheels On The Bus (Go Round And Round) and "This Is The Way We Wash Our Clothes."
LYRICS
G-Slide (Tour Bus)"
If my sister tour bus, ride through your town
You're gonna have a problem, tell um Lil' Mama.
Uh uh, no way, you can show me how [x2]
Uh uh, no way, you can show me how
You can show me how
To G-slide
Lil' Mama tour bus might ride through your town
take her time, show you how
To do the G-slide, let me show you how
To G-slide
Let's Go!
Lil' Mama get it poppin' puttin' work
G-slide for me (Hey)
G-slide with me (Hey)
G-slide with me (Hey)
Lil' Mama get it poppin' puttin' work
G-slide for me (Hey)
G-slide with me (Hey)
G-slide with me (Hey)
When I bump up on the track it's like
(Whoop, there's it is)
From the block parties to house parties
I gets it in
I'm a bump Bee's a knees
And that's exactly what I meant
Young beast from the East
So you know I put it in
I'm that ghetto gorgeous gangster girl
With the fly G slide international (is wretch you know)
By the way that I'm bounce on the track (you Know)
You ain't never see a girl like this before (Oh no)
My heart seems fly high
We run until we die
Run into dudes who
Yapping and always trying to get by
But I don't hear
It goes in one ear and out the other
Told him how to G-slide and he told his mother
Get get down big Mama'
I can dig it, you got it
But when my block starts the G
A stampede slidin'
Lil' Mama tour bus might ride through your town
take our time, show you how
To do the G-slide, let me show you how
To G-slide
Let's Go!
Lil' Mama get it poppin' puttin' work (I put it work) [x3]
Lil' Mama get it poppin' puttin' work (Hey!)
New shirt (New shirt)
New kicks (New kicks)
New Pants
G-slide the new dance
No auto maw
We live in the new times
Lil' ma must've artist for me
Is the new grime
More money, more money
More shine
She the princess of the city
I'm her son boy shine
Top the dime
Shorty got cake like uh
Duncan Hines, come on G-slide
they be callin' me T in the hood
'cause I bring the Pain daddy
And when the time is going down
Make you ring daddy
That mean you got to feel me
'cause I'm might make you fly
And if your G-slide slow
You better pick it up
G-slide with me
Be shy do it
See shorty lookin' over from the side viewin'
I'm 'bout to hook him up
And show him how to do it
Slide right, slide left
Hit time
Lil' Mama tour bus might ride through your town
take her time, show you how
To do the G-slide, let me show you how
To G-slide
Let's Go!
Lil' mama get it popping
Stand on the streets so the people yell
Just lookin' at me like
No fair, I'm here, no fair
And my heart gonna nip you girls
I bet you gonna live no losses
I switch verses like sauces
That prego sauce be poppin
She so hot
When I go bring them down to popping
Now you tip and try to touch
May end up with red spots
When it's hot, then it's hot
If it's ain't, then it's not
Wait, you walk over
There's no room up on the spot
'cause I spot little creatures trying to turn beast (turn beast)
Go feast
They better turn because I'm red meat (meat)
And it's wait wait to see me
while I do it for TV
In the hood
In the hood
Is probably where I must be
Lil' Mama tour bus might ride through your town
take her time, show you how
To do the G-slide, let me show you how
To G-slide
-snip-
From http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/lilmama/gslidetourbus.html
"Thanks to Nadia for adding these lyrics.
Thanks to jaleadancer, muzic2miiears, shautythikthyz correcting these lyrics."
TRANSLATION OF BLACK SLANG IN THE LYRICS TO THIS SONG
Lill Mama - Little Mama, a referent for a young girl or young woman (and not necessarily a female who has a child)
**
g = ganster
**
slide - a dance
**
tour bus - a bus used by recording artists and other celebrities that is used when they are on tour to different cities. The tour bus usually includes a painting of the artist & her or his name on the's name on the sides of the bus
**
get it poppin - starts things happening (this term is probably from kernal corn popping as it cooks)
**
Get get down big Mama' - Exclamation of approval directed to an older female ("Big Mama" does not necessarily refer to a person's weight)
**
When I bump up on the track it's like - when I come unto the scene (when I arrive at a location), here's what they say
**
Whoop, there's it is - a line from a popular 1990s Bass music which, in the context of this G Slide song, means that someone enthusiastically recognizes that Lil Mama is here.
I gets in it - I really put my all into what I do (in this case, dancing)
**
I'm a bump Bee's a knees - I'm the best there is (probably from the archaic saying "she (or he) is the bee's knees", though I don't know how that saying came to mean that a person is the best there is
**
New kicks - new shoes
**
Shorty got cake like uh Duncan Hines - Duncan Hines is a brand name for cake mix. However, in the context of this song "cake" means "butt" (from butt cakes).
**
I'm her son boy shine - I'm a young man who she accepts in her crew who also gets some of the spotlight (the shine)
Top the dime - I'm the best
**
they be callin' me T in the hood/ 'cause I bring the Pain daddy -
a reference to the rapper T-Pain & also used as a bragging statement that the person rapping in this song can also cause T pain [testicular pain) if someone messes with him.
**
shorty - a young person (used without any reference to height except that young people are generally shorter than older people (adults)
**
hook him up - in this context, means help him
**
Hit time - time to really show off how well you can dance
**
"switch verses like sauces
That prego sauce be poppin
She so hot
When I go bring them down to popping
Now you tip and try to touch
May end up with red spots
When it's hot, then it's hot"
In this portion of the song the singer brags on herself and says she is as hot as Prego sauce (a brand of Spagetti sauce). The first use of the word poppin in this portion refers to how sauce pops & bubbles up when it's hot. The second use of "poppin" refers to the Hip Hop dance movements called "poppin". The red spots means that she will "burn" (out dance; dance better than) other people who try to challenge her dancing
**
"creatures trying to turn beast" - people trying to get inhumanly negative
**
I'm red meat - I'm in my prime (I'm at the top of my game)
=snip-
Additions and corrections to this slang "translation" are welcome.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to the composers of this song, and thanks to the Lil Mama and the other vocalists, musicians, and dancers who are featured in this videos My thanks also to the producer of this video and the publisher of this video.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This post showcases a video of and lyrics to the 2007 hip hop song "G-Slide (Tour Bus)" by Lil Mama.
This isn't the same record as the 2006 Gospel line song "Gospel Slide" which is also sometimes called "g slide". Click http://zumalala.blogspot.com/2013/03/dana-divine-gospel-slide-video-lyrics.html for a post on that song.
The content of this post is presented for entertainment and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
INFORMATION ABOUT LIL MAMA
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lil_Mama
"Niatia Jessica Kirkland (born October 4, 1989), professionally known as Lil Mama, is an American rapper and singer-songwriter. She was the judge on America's Best Dance Crew…
In 2006, Kirkland signed a recording contract with Jive Records. Her first studio album VYP (Voice of the Young People) was released in late April 2008. The album spawned four singles: "Lip Gloss", "G-Slide (Tour Bus)", "Shawty Get Loose" and "What It Is (Strike a Pose)". The album sold 19,000 copies in the first week, debuting at number 25 on the Billboard 200."...
Lil Mama - G-Slide (Tour Bus)
LilMamaVEVO, Uploaded on Nov 15, 2009
Music video by Lil Mama performing G-Slide (Tour Bus). (C) 2007 Zomba Recording, LLC
-snip-
Like many other Hip-Hop songs, the lyrics to this song are self-bragging, and some what confontational. However, there is less insulting others in this song than in many other Hip Hop songs. And there is no profanity or violence.
G-Slide (Tour Bus) has the same tune as the children's songs "The Wheels On The Bus (Go Round And Round) and "This Is The Way We Wash Our Clothes."
LYRICS
G-Slide (Tour Bus)"
If my sister tour bus, ride through your town
You're gonna have a problem, tell um Lil' Mama.
Uh uh, no way, you can show me how [x2]
Uh uh, no way, you can show me how
You can show me how
To G-slide
Lil' Mama tour bus might ride through your town
take her time, show you how
To do the G-slide, let me show you how
To G-slide
Let's Go!
Lil' Mama get it poppin' puttin' work
G-slide for me (Hey)
G-slide with me (Hey)
G-slide with me (Hey)
Lil' Mama get it poppin' puttin' work
G-slide for me (Hey)
G-slide with me (Hey)
G-slide with me (Hey)
When I bump up on the track it's like
(Whoop, there's it is)
From the block parties to house parties
I gets it in
I'm a bump Bee's a knees
And that's exactly what I meant
Young beast from the East
So you know I put it in
I'm that ghetto gorgeous gangster girl
With the fly G slide international (is wretch you know)
By the way that I'm bounce on the track (you Know)
You ain't never see a girl like this before (Oh no)
My heart seems fly high
We run until we die
Run into dudes who
Yapping and always trying to get by
But I don't hear
It goes in one ear and out the other
Told him how to G-slide and he told his mother
Get get down big Mama'
I can dig it, you got it
But when my block starts the G
A stampede slidin'
Lil' Mama tour bus might ride through your town
take our time, show you how
To do the G-slide, let me show you how
To G-slide
Let's Go!
Lil' Mama get it poppin' puttin' work (I put it work) [x3]
Lil' Mama get it poppin' puttin' work (Hey!)
New shirt (New shirt)
New kicks (New kicks)
New Pants
G-slide the new dance
No auto maw
We live in the new times
Lil' ma must've artist for me
Is the new grime
More money, more money
More shine
She the princess of the city
I'm her son boy shine
Top the dime
Shorty got cake like uh
Duncan Hines, come on G-slide
they be callin' me T in the hood
'cause I bring the Pain daddy
And when the time is going down
Make you ring daddy
That mean you got to feel me
'cause I'm might make you fly
And if your G-slide slow
You better pick it up
G-slide with me
Be shy do it
See shorty lookin' over from the side viewin'
I'm 'bout to hook him up
And show him how to do it
Slide right, slide left
Hit time
Lil' Mama tour bus might ride through your town
take her time, show you how
To do the G-slide, let me show you how
To G-slide
Let's Go!
Lil' mama get it popping
Stand on the streets so the people yell
Just lookin' at me like
No fair, I'm here, no fair
And my heart gonna nip you girls
I bet you gonna live no losses
I switch verses like sauces
That prego sauce be poppin
She so hot
When I go bring them down to popping
Now you tip and try to touch
May end up with red spots
When it's hot, then it's hot
If it's ain't, then it's not
Wait, you walk over
There's no room up on the spot
'cause I spot little creatures trying to turn beast (turn beast)
Go feast
They better turn because I'm red meat (meat)
And it's wait wait to see me
while I do it for TV
In the hood
In the hood
Is probably where I must be
Lil' Mama tour bus might ride through your town
take her time, show you how
To do the G-slide, let me show you how
To G-slide
-snip-
From http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/lilmama/gslidetourbus.html
"Thanks to Nadia for adding these lyrics.
Thanks to jaleadancer, muzic2miiears, shautythikthyz correcting these lyrics."
TRANSLATION OF BLACK SLANG IN THE LYRICS TO THIS SONG
Lill Mama - Little Mama, a referent for a young girl or young woman (and not necessarily a female who has a child)
**
g = ganster
**
slide - a dance
**
tour bus - a bus used by recording artists and other celebrities that is used when they are on tour to different cities. The tour bus usually includes a painting of the artist & her or his name on the's name on the sides of the bus
**
get it poppin - starts things happening (this term is probably from kernal corn popping as it cooks)
**
Get get down big Mama' - Exclamation of approval directed to an older female ("Big Mama" does not necessarily refer to a person's weight)
**
When I bump up on the track it's like - when I come unto the scene (when I arrive at a location), here's what they say
**
Whoop, there's it is - a line from a popular 1990s Bass music which, in the context of this G Slide song, means that someone enthusiastically recognizes that Lil Mama is here.
I gets in it - I really put my all into what I do (in this case, dancing)
**
I'm a bump Bee's a knees - I'm the best there is (probably from the archaic saying "she (or he) is the bee's knees", though I don't know how that saying came to mean that a person is the best there is
**
New kicks - new shoes
**
Shorty got cake like uh Duncan Hines - Duncan Hines is a brand name for cake mix. However, in the context of this song "cake" means "butt" (from butt cakes).
**
I'm her son boy shine - I'm a young man who she accepts in her crew who also gets some of the spotlight (the shine)
Top the dime - I'm the best
**
they be callin' me T in the hood/ 'cause I bring the Pain daddy -
a reference to the rapper T-Pain & also used as a bragging statement that the person rapping in this song can also cause T pain [testicular pain) if someone messes with him.
**
shorty - a young person (used without any reference to height except that young people are generally shorter than older people (adults)
**
hook him up - in this context, means help him
**
Hit time - time to really show off how well you can dance
**
"switch verses like sauces
That prego sauce be poppin
She so hot
When I go bring them down to popping
Now you tip and try to touch
May end up with red spots
When it's hot, then it's hot"
In this portion of the song the singer brags on herself and says she is as hot as Prego sauce (a brand of Spagetti sauce). The first use of the word poppin in this portion refers to how sauce pops & bubbles up when it's hot. The second use of "poppin" refers to the Hip Hop dance movements called "poppin". The red spots means that she will "burn" (out dance; dance better than) other people who try to challenge her dancing
**
"creatures trying to turn beast" - people trying to get inhumanly negative
**
I'm red meat - I'm in my prime (I'm at the top of my game)
=snip-
Additions and corrections to this slang "translation" are welcome.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to the composers of this song, and thanks to the Lil Mama and the other vocalists, musicians, and dancers who are featured in this videos My thanks also to the producer of this video and the publisher of this video.
Thanks for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Biz Markie - "Just A Friend" (with video intro script & rap lyrics)
Biz Markie - Just A Friend (Official Video)
RhinoEntertainment,Uploaded on Aug 3, 2010
Watch the official video for Biz Markie's "Just A Friend", his most successful Pop single, reaching the #9 position on the Billboard charts. The song inserts the 1968 hit "You Got What I Need" by Freddie Scott.
RhinoEntertainment,Uploaded on Aug 3, 2010
Watch the official video for Biz Markie's "Just A Friend", his most successful Pop single, reaching the #9 position on the Billboard charts. The song inserts the 1968 hit "You Got What I Need" by Freddie Scott.
-snip-
Statistics as of January 4, 2022 at 9:11 AM EDT
total # of views - 76,402,400
total # of likes -885K
total # of dislikes [This feature is no longer active on YouTube]
total # of comments -43,974
Statistics as of January 4, 2022 at 9:11 AM EDT
total # of views - 76,402,400
total # of likes -885K
total # of dislikes [This feature is no longer active on YouTube]
total # of comments -43,974
****
Edited by Azizi Powell
Edited by Azizi Powell
[lATEST UPDATE: jANUARY 4, 2022]
This pancocojams post showcases a video of & lyrics for Biz Markie's hit pop rap "Just A Friend".
My unofficial transcription of the beginning scene in this song's official video is also including in this post. In addition, this post includes an explanation of some of the African American slang used in this rap, as well as some biographical information about Biz Markie.
The content of this post is presented for historical, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Biz Markie for chis musical legacy. RIP. Thanks also to transcriber of the song lyrics, and the uploader of this featured video.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT BIZ MARKIE
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biz_Markie [retrieved on January 5, 2022]
"Marcel Theo Hall (April 8, 1964 – July 16, 2021),[3] known professionally as Biz Markie, was an American rapper, DJ, and record producer. Markie was best known for his 1989 single "Just a Friend", which became a top 40 hit in several countries. In 2008, "Just a Friend" made No. 100 on VH1's list of the 100 greatest hip hop songs of all time.[4] Markie was sometimes referred to as the "Clown Prince of Hip Hop".[5][6][7]
****
SUMMARY OF THE VIDEO SCENE BEFORE THE RAP BEGINS
[unofficial transcript by Azizi Powell]
The content of this post is presented for historical, entertainment, and aesthetic purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
Thanks to Biz Markie for chis musical legacy. RIP. Thanks also to transcriber of the song lyrics, and the uploader of this featured video.
****
INFORMATION ABOUT BIZ MARKIE
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biz_Markie [retrieved on January 5, 2022]
"Marcel Theo Hall (April 8, 1964 – July 16, 2021),[3] known professionally as Biz Markie, was an American rapper, DJ, and record producer. Markie was best known for his 1989 single "Just a Friend", which became a top 40 hit in several countries. In 2008, "Just a Friend" made No. 100 on VH1's list of the 100 greatest hip hop songs of all time.[4] Markie was sometimes referred to as the "Clown Prince of Hip Hop".[5][6][7]
****
SUMMARY OF THE VIDEO SCENE BEFORE THE RAP BEGINS
[unofficial transcript by Azizi Powell]
A group of Black young men are seated on a park bench telling “your mama” jokes. (This is a friendly exchange and not a real rippin [insult] contest).
Biz Markie –“Yo, your moms is so poor that she went to McDonalds and put a shake on layaway.”
[laughter]
2nd man- “Well, your mother is so old that she knew Central Park when it was a plant.”
[laughter]
3rd man – Your mom’s hair so nappy that she needs to take pain killers to comb it.”
[laughter]
Two attractive young womens strut toward the park bench.
One of the men says: “Oh, yo, yo. Look at that, man.” The men make other admiring comments about the women who stop at the park bench. One of the comments is “Ooh, You got what I need”.
The women leave, and one of the men says “Oh, it’s all of that baby? More comments are made, but Biz Markie says “Yo, yo, forget about them girls. A couple of the men say “Why? What’s up?
Biz Markie says, “I got a little story to tell you”
And then begins his rap.
****
LYRICS - JUST A FRIEND
Songwriters: IBRAHIM, CAIREL ADRIN BIN/ISHAK, JOHAN BIN/HALL, MARCEL THEO PKA BIZ MARKIE/LIZAARD, LEAF
Have you ever met a girl that you tried to date
But a year to make love she wanted you to wait
Let me tell ya a story of my situation
I was talkin' to this girl from the U.S. nation
The way that I met her was on tour at a concert
She had long hair and a short miniskirt
I just got onstage drippin', pourin' with sweat
I was walkin' through the crowd and guess who I met
I whispered in her ear, "Come to the picture booth
So I can ask you some questions to see if you are a hundred proof"
I asked her her name, she said blah-blah-blah
She had 9/10 pants and a very big bra
I took a couple of flicks and she was enthused
I said, "How do you like the show?"
She said, "I was very amused"
I started throwin' bass, she started throwin' back mid-range
But when I sprung the question, she acted kind of strange
Then when I asked, "Do ya have a man," she tried to pretend
She said, "No I don't, I only have a friend"
Come on, I'm not even goin' for it
This is what I'm goin' sing
You, you got what I need but you say he's just a friend
And you say he's just a friend, oh baby
You, you got what I need but you say he's just a friend
But you say he's just a friend, oh baby
You, you got what I need but you say he's just a friend
But you say he's just a friend
So I took blah-blah's word for it at this time
I thought just havin' a friend couldn't be no crime
'Cause I have friends and that's a fact
Like Agnes, Agatha, Germaine, and Jacq
Forget about that, let's go into the story
About a girl named blah-blah-blah that adored me
So we started talkin', getttin' familiar
Spendin' a lot of time so we can build up
A relationship or some understanding
How it's gonna be in the future we was plannin'
Everything sounded so dandy and sweet
I had no idea I was in for a treat
After this was established, everything was cool
The tour was over and she went back to school
I called every day to see how she was doin'
Everytime that I called her it seemed somethin' was brewin'
I called her and a guy picked up, and then I called again
I said, "Yo, who was that?" "Oh, he's just a friend"
Don't gimme that, don't ever gimme that
Jus' bust this
You, you got what I need but you say he's just a friend
And you say he's just a friend, oh baby
You, you got what I need but you say he's just a friend
But you say he's just a friend, oh baby
You, you got what I need but you say he's just a friend
But you say he's just a friend
So I came to her college on a surprise visit
To see my girl that was so exquisite
It was a school day, I knew she was there
The first semester of the school year
I went to a gate to ask where was her dorm
This guy made me fill out a visitor's form
He told me where it was and I as on my way
To see my baby doll, I was happy to say
I arrrived in front of the dormitory
Yo, could you tell me where is door three?
They showed me where it was for the moment
I didn't know I was in for such an event
So I came to her room and opened the door
Oh, snap! Guess what I saw?
A fella tongue-kissin' my girl in the mouth,
I was so in shock my heart went down south
So please listen to the message that I say
Don't ever talk to a girl who says she just has a friend
Just A Friend lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., CAK MUSIC PUBLISHING, INC
-snip-
http://www.lyricsfreak.com/b/biz+markie/just+a+friend_20018799.html
[Note: I corrected three very minor typos in this transcription: the word "correct", the word "guess", and the word "understanding".)
****
EXPLANATION OF SOME OF THE SLANG FOUND IN THIS RAP
"[ask you some questions] "to see if you are a hundred proof"=
to see if you're for real
"I asked her her name, she said blah-blah-blah"= "Blah-blah-blah" is a substitute for the girl's name which Biz Markie isn't sharing.
"She had 9/10 pants" = She wore pants that were a size 9/10.
"I took a couple of flicks" = I took a couple of pictures (with a camera).
"I started throwin' bass, she started throwin' back mid-range" = Biz Markie and the girl started singing together.
"it seemed somethin' was brewin' = "it seemed like something was going on in the background".
"Yo, who was that?" = "Yo" here [as well as in the introductory video scene] means "Hey".
Jus' bust this = [in the context of this rap], means "let's continue with this rap".
"Oh, snap!" = in Standard American English, this is the equivalent of "Oh shucks!", but the word "snap" substitutes for another word that means "crap" (manure).
-snip-
Additions & corrections to these slang explanations and are welcome.
****
ADDENDUM #1
This rap is about a guy "being played" by a girl. "Being played" means "to be taken advantaged of". In this context, a girl only pretending to be seriously interested in a man and acting as though she is only seeing him, but actually cheating on him with another man.
But notice how CLEAN this rap is compared to the type of Hip-Hip records that are promoted nowadays.
Yes, one of the Your mama rips in the beginning of the video talked bad about nappy hair, but there wasn't anything vulgar about those rips. And the closest that that rap got to anything sexual was "tongue kissing". Also check out the fact that the girl who was playin Biz Markie was in college, and not baby's mama.
Times change, and not always for the best.
***
ADDENDUM #2
From https://www.watchtheyard.com/kappas/throwback-check-80s-nupes-biz-markies-just-friend-video/ Black Greek Throwback: 1980s Nupes Twirling in Biz Markie’s ‘Just a Friend’ Video
[complete article; no author or date cited]
"You’ve heard the Biz Markie’s “Just A Friend,” but did you ever realize that the music video features members of Kappa Alpha Psi?
“Just A Friend” was Biz Markie’s most successful single that reached the #9 position on the Billboard charts in 1989. The music video follows Biz as he falls in love with a girl and finds out she is cheating on him with a man on a nearby college campus. Biz goes to surprise the girl at her university and walks in on what he describes “A fella tongue kissin’ my girl on her mouth” in her dorm room.
As Biz is walking through the campus there is a whole scene at the 3:40 mark with a bunch of Kappas doing cane routines around him on the yard. They are rocking peak late 80s style and holding it down for their brothers with their Kappa Kanes!"
****Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Viewer comments are welcome.
Friday, March 15, 2013
The Meanings Of Lyrics To "Hey Little Mama" (Funky Y2C), Part III
Edited by Azizi Powell
This post is Part III in a three part series about the 1994 song "Hey Little Mama" (Funky Y2C).
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/03/funky-y2c-african-american-vernacular.html for Part I of this series.
Part I provides examples of African American Vernacular English from the comment thread of a YouTube video of "Funky Y2C".
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-real-lyrics-to-hey-little-mama.html for Part II of this series.
Part II provides my transcription of the lyrics for the song "Funky Y2c".
The content of this post is presented for folkloric and cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
****
FEATURED VIDEO: dj nadinho funk the puppies hey lil mama funky y2c
nadinho vieiraPublished on Feb 5, 2013
-snip-
Information about this group from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Puppies
"The Puppies is a child hip hop duo composed of brother and sister Calvin "Big Boy" Mills and Tamara "Dee" Mills.
Specializing in Miami bass music, the duo released two albums and scored one Top 40 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, 'Funky Y-2-C'."
****
THE MEANINGS OF CERTAIN LINES FROM THE SONG "FUNKY Y2C (HEY LITTLE MAMA WHY YOU DANCE SO FUNKY)"
"Ooh you so funky and hot!"
Basically means "You look real good in a fly girl [urban sexy] kind of way."
**
"Hey little mama, why you dance so funky?"
-snip-
"Little mama" is commonly used by some African Americans as a referent for girls as young as toddlers. It seems to me that the referent "little mama" emphasizes what those who use it consider to be the main role of females - to be a mother.
"dancing funky" - basically means "dancing exceptionally well", with the added connotation that the person's dancing style is provocative.
**
"funky Y2C" - I think that the word "funky" in this song's title means that this song is spicy, exciting and not straightlaced or bland. And/or the word "funky" could mean that this is a Funk era version of the old R&B "Watusi" record as the "Y2C" in the "Hey Little Mama" song title is a nod to the 1962 R&B song "Watusi" by the Orlons. In both those songs "Watusi" (Y2C) refers to the Watutsi (Tutsi) people of Central Africa. However, neither the song nor the dance movements have anything to do with the Tutsi ethnic group.
Click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OU_Ppxgs9Q for an instructional video on how to do the R&B dance called the "Watusi". That early 1960s dance is different than the dances that are done in the 1994 Funky Y2C video. Besides the term "popping", I'm not sure what the dance/s shown in that video are called.
**
"Get on the floor and shake it like a donkey." - This is a witty way of saying "Shake your ass" since another term for "donkey" is "ass" and that word also means "butt".
**
"Now break it down, to the ground" - In the context of this song, "break it down" means to do your best dance moves.
**
"Get real funky and don't you break it." - "Get real funky" probably means "to do you most provocative dance moves."
"Shake it/Don't break it" is a commonly found rhyming verse. It means what it says, with the "it" being your butt, your hips, other parts of your body, or your body in general.
**
“break it down to the ground” – move lower while you dance.
**
"Sweat me. sweat me, you little sucker." - In the context of this song "Sweat me" is a challenge. (Check out the video to notice how Tamara acts when she says this line.) "Sweat me" - to get real close to me [in this context] to test me & see how well I can dance.
Another way that "sweating someone" is used [although not in this song] is to closely following a person because you like her or him.
When you "sweat a person" you are so close to her or him that you can see the other person's sweat.
"sucker" is an insulting referent that has a similar negative meaning as calling someone "a loser".
**
"Don't you know they call me Tamara?" - In this line Tamara is saying that her "rep" [reputation] is that she is a really good funky dancer, her reputation is intricately tied to her name, and anyone who knows her name, knows her rep.
**
While all them boys out there say – “What!” - "What!" isn't a question. It's a clip of the phrase "Say what!" In the context of this song, both "Say What" and "What" are expressions of admiration for Tamara's dancing skills. In that sense, both of these exclamations can be interpreted as "Wow!".
**
"Don’t you know I’m down with the pup pound?"- "To be down" with a group or with someone means that you are in agreement with, and/or you are closely associated with, and/or you are accepted by that person or group. You can also be down with an idea or an action in that you are in agreement with that idea or action, or you fully understand it.
In the context of this song, Tamara saying that she's down with the pup pound is rather witty since the name of her duo is "The Puppies". [I'll share my thoughts about the meaning of that duo name later.]
**
"Pup pound crew is shakin again." - This is another reference to the duo's name "The Puppies". A "crew" are people that you "hang with" (spend social time with). Your crew are your "running partners".
**
Now that's the way to do it, dog!” - “Dog” is a relatively common African American reference for a man. In most contexts, the referent "dog" is neutral as it means the same thing as “dude”. However, “dog” as a male referent may also have the complimentary sexual connotation of a man who is able to get any woman he wants (for sex).
There are many examples of the use of "dog" names & references in Hip Hop culture, including rapper Snoop Dog (formerly Snoop Doggy Dog) and rapper/actor Bow Wow (forming Lil' Bow Wow.) One example outside of Hip-Hop culture of the use of "dog" as a referent for males, is the informal custom of members of the historically Black Greek lettered fraternity Omega Psi Phi, Inc. calling each other "Q dogs" or "dogs". Brothers [bruhs] of that fraternity are probably called “Q dogs” because of their reputations with the ladies. Also, the signature call for the Qs is the sound of dogs barking.
With regard to the brother & sister duo that recorded "Funky Y2C", I find it interesting that the duo's name is "The Puppies", because I don't know of any other example in African American culture where a female is positively referred to as a dog. Yet, I still believe that the duo's name "Puppy" is a nod to the street meaning of referent "dogs" as a puppy is a young dog.
-snip-
Comments by Azizi Powell. Additions & correction are welcome.
And that's the way I give my interpretation of certain lines from "Funky Y2C" song, brothers and sisters.
****
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to the Puppies for their recording of "Funky Y2C". Thanks also to the composer of this song, the producer of that video, and all those who are featured in that video. Thanks also to the uploader of this video.
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
This post is Part III in a three part series about the 1994 song "Hey Little Mama" (Funky Y2C).
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/03/funky-y2c-african-american-vernacular.html for Part I of this series.
Part I provides examples of African American Vernacular English from the comment thread of a YouTube video of "Funky Y2C".
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-real-lyrics-to-hey-little-mama.html for Part II of this series.
Part II provides my transcription of the lyrics for the song "Funky Y2c".
The content of this post is presented for folkloric and cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
****
FEATURED VIDEO: dj nadinho funk the puppies hey lil mama funky y2c
nadinho vieiraPublished on Feb 5, 2013
-snip-
Information about this group from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Puppies
"The Puppies is a child hip hop duo composed of brother and sister Calvin "Big Boy" Mills and Tamara "Dee" Mills.
Specializing in Miami bass music, the duo released two albums and scored one Top 40 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, 'Funky Y-2-C'."
****
THE MEANINGS OF CERTAIN LINES FROM THE SONG "FUNKY Y2C (HEY LITTLE MAMA WHY YOU DANCE SO FUNKY)"
"Ooh you so funky and hot!"
Basically means "You look real good in a fly girl [urban sexy] kind of way."
**
"Hey little mama, why you dance so funky?"
-snip-
"Little mama" is commonly used by some African Americans as a referent for girls as young as toddlers. It seems to me that the referent "little mama" emphasizes what those who use it consider to be the main role of females - to be a mother.
"dancing funky" - basically means "dancing exceptionally well", with the added connotation that the person's dancing style is provocative.
**
"funky Y2C" - I think that the word "funky" in this song's title means that this song is spicy, exciting and not straightlaced or bland. And/or the word "funky" could mean that this is a Funk era version of the old R&B "Watusi" record as the "Y2C" in the "Hey Little Mama" song title is a nod to the 1962 R&B song "Watusi" by the Orlons. In both those songs "Watusi" (Y2C) refers to the Watutsi (Tutsi) people of Central Africa. However, neither the song nor the dance movements have anything to do with the Tutsi ethnic group.
Click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OU_Ppxgs9Q for an instructional video on how to do the R&B dance called the "Watusi". That early 1960s dance is different than the dances that are done in the 1994 Funky Y2C video. Besides the term "popping", I'm not sure what the dance/s shown in that video are called.
**
"Get on the floor and shake it like a donkey." - This is a witty way of saying "Shake your ass" since another term for "donkey" is "ass" and that word also means "butt".
**
"Now break it down, to the ground" - In the context of this song, "break it down" means to do your best dance moves.
**
"Get real funky and don't you break it." - "Get real funky" probably means "to do you most provocative dance moves."
"Shake it/Don't break it" is a commonly found rhyming verse. It means what it says, with the "it" being your butt, your hips, other parts of your body, or your body in general.
**
“break it down to the ground” – move lower while you dance.
**
"Sweat me. sweat me, you little sucker." - In the context of this song "Sweat me" is a challenge. (Check out the video to notice how Tamara acts when she says this line.) "Sweat me" - to get real close to me [in this context] to test me & see how well I can dance.
Another way that "sweating someone" is used [although not in this song] is to closely following a person because you like her or him.
When you "sweat a person" you are so close to her or him that you can see the other person's sweat.
"sucker" is an insulting referent that has a similar negative meaning as calling someone "a loser".
**
"Don't you know they call me Tamara?" - In this line Tamara is saying that her "rep" [reputation] is that she is a really good funky dancer, her reputation is intricately tied to her name, and anyone who knows her name, knows her rep.
**
While all them boys out there say – “What!” - "What!" isn't a question. It's a clip of the phrase "Say what!" In the context of this song, both "Say What" and "What" are expressions of admiration for Tamara's dancing skills. In that sense, both of these exclamations can be interpreted as "Wow!".
**
"Don’t you know I’m down with the pup pound?"- "To be down" with a group or with someone means that you are in agreement with, and/or you are closely associated with, and/or you are accepted by that person or group. You can also be down with an idea or an action in that you are in agreement with that idea or action, or you fully understand it.
In the context of this song, Tamara saying that she's down with the pup pound is rather witty since the name of her duo is "The Puppies". [I'll share my thoughts about the meaning of that duo name later.]
**
"Pup pound crew is shakin again." - This is another reference to the duo's name "The Puppies". A "crew" are people that you "hang with" (spend social time with). Your crew are your "running partners".
**
Now that's the way to do it, dog!” - “Dog” is a relatively common African American reference for a man. In most contexts, the referent "dog" is neutral as it means the same thing as “dude”. However, “dog” as a male referent may also have the complimentary sexual connotation of a man who is able to get any woman he wants (for sex).
There are many examples of the use of "dog" names & references in Hip Hop culture, including rapper Snoop Dog (formerly Snoop Doggy Dog) and rapper/actor Bow Wow (forming Lil' Bow Wow.) One example outside of Hip-Hop culture of the use of "dog" as a referent for males, is the informal custom of members of the historically Black Greek lettered fraternity Omega Psi Phi, Inc. calling each other "Q dogs" or "dogs". Brothers [bruhs] of that fraternity are probably called “Q dogs” because of their reputations with the ladies. Also, the signature call for the Qs is the sound of dogs barking.
With regard to the brother & sister duo that recorded "Funky Y2C", I find it interesting that the duo's name is "The Puppies", because I don't know of any other example in African American culture where a female is positively referred to as a dog. Yet, I still believe that the duo's name "Puppy" is a nod to the street meaning of referent "dogs" as a puppy is a young dog.
-snip-
Comments by Azizi Powell. Additions & correction are welcome.
And that's the way I give my interpretation of certain lines from "Funky Y2C" song, brothers and sisters.
****
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to the Puppies for their recording of "Funky Y2C". Thanks also to the composer of this song, the producer of that video, and all those who are featured in that video. Thanks also to the uploader of this video.
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
The REAL Lyrics to Hey Little Mama (Funky Y2C)
Edited by Azizi Powell
Have you ever looked up the lyrics to a song online, and realized that not only were those lyrics wrong on one site, but that every other lyric website had copied those same wrong lyrics for that song? That's the way it is with the lyrics to the 1994 children's Hip-Hop/Maimi Bass song Funky Y2C (Hey Little Mama, Why You Dance So Funky).
How do I know that the lyrics to that song were copied from the same source? Because the exact same INCORRECT transcriptions for certain words are found in each & every one of those websites. It's not that incorrect transcriptions can't happen to the best of us - and I'm not patting myself on the back with that statement). But, come on son, when each of the lyric websites have the SAME typo, spelling error, or transcription of a possibly misheard word, that tells me that somebody copied off of somebody - which wouldn't be so bad if the transcription was right, but it's not.
For an example, check out how these two lines from that song are found on all the lyrics sites:
"Dont you know how to pup with the pup down?
UP, pop pup is shaking it agian..come on do that funky dance"
-snip-
Um, what do those lines even mean. They make no sense.
Here's my transcription of those lines:
"Don’t you know I’m down with the pup pound?"
Pup pound crew is shakin again.
Come on do that funky dance.
-snip-
Now I'm not sayin that my transcription of "Funky Y2C" is absolutely right. For instance, I'm not always sure who is rapping certain lines, and I don't know how to transribe those sounds toward the end of the song. As always, I welcome additions & corrections to my transcription.
By the way, this is Part II of a three Part series. Part I presents some examples of African American Vernacular English that is found in selected viewer comments from this video's viewer comment threads. Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/03/funky-y2c-african-american-vernacular.html for that post. [It probably would have made sense for that post to be the third one in this series, but that's what got me interested in this song.]
Here's that video, followed by my transcription of those lyrics.
dj nadinho funk the puppies hey lil mama funky y2c
nadinho vieiraPublished on Feb 5, 2013
-snip-
Information about this group from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Puppies
"The Puppies is a child hip hop duo composed of brother and sister Calvin "Big Boy" Mills and Tamara "Dee" Mills.
Specializing in Miami bass music, the duo released two albums and scored one Top 40 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, 'Funky Y-2-C'."
****
LYRICS - FUNKY Y2C (HEY LITTLE MAMA WHY YOU DANCE SO FUNKY)
Girl from Crowd –Ooh you so funky and hot!
Crowd of Children- Oooh! Ooooh!
[Chorus]
Big Boy - Hey little mama, why you dance so funky?
Crowd - (Hey little mama, why you dance so funky?)
Yeah, that the funky, it’s the funky Y2C!
(Yeah, that the funky, that’s the funky Y2C!)
[repeat]
Big Boy - Hey little mama, why you dance so funky?
Get on the floor and shake it like a donkey.
Shake it to the left, shake to the right.
Do the funky dance. Shake it all night.
Shake that thing. You know you got it on.
Girl from Crowd [?]- Now look at me. I’m shakin my big butt.
Big Boy - Just do it baby. Jump up and down.
Now break it down, to the ground.
Shake it. shake it, shake it, shake it.
Get real funky and don't you break it.
Yeah, that's right you doin it baby.
Looks so funky. You drive me crazy.
Yeah , it's the Big Boy once again.
Let that butt go out and in.
Now do the funky dance in place.
You look so funky, I wanna say
Chorus
Tamara - Funky, funky, yeah that's me.
I'm dancing funky to the beat
I really want the crowd to say
Crowd -(Hey little mama)
Tamara -Shakin it, shakin it, that's what I'm doing
Got all the boys up in here just ooh-in.
Just because I'm young, not old,
I know you think that I am bold.
Bold enough to show this butt.
But tonight you got me messed up.
I am young, but I have rights.
I can do the funky dance all night
Sweat me. sweat me, you little sucker.
Don't you know they call me Tamara?
Feast your eyes on this funky butt
While all them boys out there say – “What!”
Chorus
Big Boy -Oooh! You so hot!
(Hey little mama)
Girl, you need to stop!
(Hey little mama)
Tamara - Hey ladies come, on do it now!
(Funky Y2C)
Fellas come on, get it now!
(Funky Y2C)
Little boy from the crowd -I wanna learn that dance...
Little girl from the crowd - Me too!
Tamara -So, watch how I do it then.
Crowd - (Go, go, go, go)
(Hey little mama)
Girl from the crowd - My mama taught me how to do this.
(Hey little mama)
Someone from the crowd -Oooh, she do it good.
Big Boy -“Yeah, it's that funky dance, that funky Y2c!”
(Go, go, go, go, funky Y2C!)
[insert some sounds]
Big Boy – Hey little mama, do you like that sound?
Tamara - Don’t you know I’m down with the pup pound?
Big Boy – Pup pound crew is shakin again.
Come on, do that funky dance
Get funky, funky, funky, baby.
Go to the ground. Get crazy.
Yah, that's right.
Hey Tamara.
I'm telling you to shake that...
Tamara- What!
Chorus
Big Boy–Now that's the way to do it, dog!”
-snip-
Transcription by Azizi Powell. Additions & correction are welcome. I don't know the name of the composer of this song. If you know, please live that information as a comment or contact me at cocojams17@yahoo.com
As a reminder, Part III of this post presents my interpretation of certain lines from this song. Part III will be published ASAP.
ADDENDUM
In the opening scene of this video, two sets of girls are shown and heard doing a partner handclap routine to a long form version of the playground rhyme "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky". It should be noted that the two girls in the front are doing a really atypical form of a partner handclap routine. They actually look like they are doing some kind of wild fighting instead of doing a handclap. The usual way for people to do partner handclaps is to stand in place much closer to your partner than the distance those girls were standing.
I can't figure out why the director of this video shoot had the girls do that, but then again, the entire scene wasn't realistic. In the real world, girls in that playground crowd would have been giving that girl the eye & wouldn't be publicly praising her whether or not they liked how she looked or how she danced. And, in the real world, boys those ages wouldn't even be in the same playground space as the girls, and if the boys & girls were in the same plagyround space, the boys-at least- would pretend to, or would actually be igorning the girls.
Anyway, here's the portion of the "Hanky Panky" rhyme that those girls were saying:
"where the bull frogs jump from bank to bank
I said fee fi fo fum
your mama stank and so are you”
-snip-
I’ve found these words- but not necessarily in that African American vernacular form - in a number of examples of the long form of the rhyme “Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky”
****
RELATED LINKS
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/03/funky-y2c-african-american-vernacular.html for Part I of this series.
Part I provides examples of African American Vernacular English from the comment thread of a YouTube video of "Funky Y2C".
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-meanings-of-lyrics-to-hey-little.html for Part III of this series.
Part III provides my interpretation of certain lines from this song.
****
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to the Puppies for their recording of "Funky Y2C". Thanks also to the composer of this song, the producer of that video, and all those who are featured in that video. Thanks also to the uploader of this video.
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Have you ever looked up the lyrics to a song online, and realized that not only were those lyrics wrong on one site, but that every other lyric website had copied those same wrong lyrics for that song? That's the way it is with the lyrics to the 1994 children's Hip-Hop/Maimi Bass song Funky Y2C (Hey Little Mama, Why You Dance So Funky).
How do I know that the lyrics to that song were copied from the same source? Because the exact same INCORRECT transcriptions for certain words are found in each & every one of those websites. It's not that incorrect transcriptions can't happen to the best of us - and I'm not patting myself on the back with that statement). But, come on son, when each of the lyric websites have the SAME typo, spelling error, or transcription of a possibly misheard word, that tells me that somebody copied off of somebody - which wouldn't be so bad if the transcription was right, but it's not.
For an example, check out how these two lines from that song are found on all the lyrics sites:
"Dont you know how to pup with the pup down?
UP, pop pup is shaking it agian..come on do that funky dance"
-snip-
Um, what do those lines even mean. They make no sense.
Here's my transcription of those lines:
"Don’t you know I’m down with the pup pound?"
Pup pound crew is shakin again.
Come on do that funky dance.
-snip-
Now I'm not sayin that my transcription of "Funky Y2C" is absolutely right. For instance, I'm not always sure who is rapping certain lines, and I don't know how to transribe those sounds toward the end of the song. As always, I welcome additions & corrections to my transcription.
By the way, this is Part II of a three Part series. Part I presents some examples of African American Vernacular English that is found in selected viewer comments from this video's viewer comment threads. Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/03/funky-y2c-african-american-vernacular.html for that post. [It probably would have made sense for that post to be the third one in this series, but that's what got me interested in this song.]
Here's that video, followed by my transcription of those lyrics.
dj nadinho funk the puppies hey lil mama funky y2c
nadinho vieiraPublished on Feb 5, 2013
-snip-
Information about this group from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Puppies
"The Puppies is a child hip hop duo composed of brother and sister Calvin "Big Boy" Mills and Tamara "Dee" Mills.
Specializing in Miami bass music, the duo released two albums and scored one Top 40 hit on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, 'Funky Y-2-C'."
****
LYRICS - FUNKY Y2C (HEY LITTLE MAMA WHY YOU DANCE SO FUNKY)
Girl from Crowd –Ooh you so funky and hot!
Crowd of Children- Oooh! Ooooh!
[Chorus]
Big Boy - Hey little mama, why you dance so funky?
Crowd - (Hey little mama, why you dance so funky?)
Yeah, that the funky, it’s the funky Y2C!
(Yeah, that the funky, that’s the funky Y2C!)
[repeat]
Big Boy - Hey little mama, why you dance so funky?
Get on the floor and shake it like a donkey.
Shake it to the left, shake to the right.
Do the funky dance. Shake it all night.
Shake that thing. You know you got it on.
Girl from Crowd [?]- Now look at me. I’m shakin my big butt.
Big Boy - Just do it baby. Jump up and down.
Now break it down, to the ground.
Shake it. shake it, shake it, shake it.
Get real funky and don't you break it.
Yeah, that's right you doin it baby.
Looks so funky. You drive me crazy.
Yeah , it's the Big Boy once again.
Let that butt go out and in.
Now do the funky dance in place.
You look so funky, I wanna say
Chorus
Tamara - Funky, funky, yeah that's me.
I'm dancing funky to the beat
I really want the crowd to say
Crowd -(Hey little mama)
Tamara -Shakin it, shakin it, that's what I'm doing
Got all the boys up in here just ooh-in.
Just because I'm young, not old,
I know you think that I am bold.
Bold enough to show this butt.
But tonight you got me messed up.
I am young, but I have rights.
I can do the funky dance all night
Sweat me. sweat me, you little sucker.
Don't you know they call me Tamara?
Feast your eyes on this funky butt
While all them boys out there say – “What!”
Chorus
Big Boy -Oooh! You so hot!
(Hey little mama)
Girl, you need to stop!
(Hey little mama)
Tamara - Hey ladies come, on do it now!
(Funky Y2C)
Fellas come on, get it now!
(Funky Y2C)
Little boy from the crowd -I wanna learn that dance...
Little girl from the crowd - Me too!
Tamara -So, watch how I do it then.
Crowd - (Go, go, go, go)
(Hey little mama)
Girl from the crowd - My mama taught me how to do this.
(Hey little mama)
Someone from the crowd -Oooh, she do it good.
Big Boy -“Yeah, it's that funky dance, that funky Y2c!”
(Go, go, go, go, funky Y2C!)
[insert some sounds]
Big Boy – Hey little mama, do you like that sound?
Tamara - Don’t you know I’m down with the pup pound?
Big Boy – Pup pound crew is shakin again.
Come on, do that funky dance
Get funky, funky, funky, baby.
Go to the ground. Get crazy.
Yah, that's right.
Hey Tamara.
I'm telling you to shake that...
Tamara- What!
Chorus
Big Boy–Now that's the way to do it, dog!”
-snip-
Transcription by Azizi Powell. Additions & correction are welcome. I don't know the name of the composer of this song. If you know, please live that information as a comment or contact me at cocojams17@yahoo.com
As a reminder, Part III of this post presents my interpretation of certain lines from this song. Part III will be published ASAP.
ADDENDUM
In the opening scene of this video, two sets of girls are shown and heard doing a partner handclap routine to a long form version of the playground rhyme "Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky". It should be noted that the two girls in the front are doing a really atypical form of a partner handclap routine. They actually look like they are doing some kind of wild fighting instead of doing a handclap. The usual way for people to do partner handclaps is to stand in place much closer to your partner than the distance those girls were standing.
I can't figure out why the director of this video shoot had the girls do that, but then again, the entire scene wasn't realistic. In the real world, girls in that playground crowd would have been giving that girl the eye & wouldn't be publicly praising her whether or not they liked how she looked or how she danced. And, in the real world, boys those ages wouldn't even be in the same playground space as the girls, and if the boys & girls were in the same plagyround space, the boys-at least- would pretend to, or would actually be igorning the girls.
Anyway, here's the portion of the "Hanky Panky" rhyme that those girls were saying:
"where the bull frogs jump from bank to bank
I said fee fi fo fum
your mama stank and so are you”
-snip-
I’ve found these words- but not necessarily in that African American vernacular form - in a number of examples of the long form of the rhyme “Down By The Banks Of The Hanky Panky”
****
RELATED LINKS
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/03/funky-y2c-african-american-vernacular.html for Part I of this series.
Part I provides examples of African American Vernacular English from the comment thread of a YouTube video of "Funky Y2C".
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-meanings-of-lyrics-to-hey-little.html for Part III of this series.
Part III provides my interpretation of certain lines from this song.
****
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to the Puppies for their recording of "Funky Y2C". Thanks also to the composer of this song, the producer of that video, and all those who are featured in that video. Thanks also to the uploader of this video.
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Visitor comments are welcome.
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Funky Y2C (African American Vernacular English In YouTube Comment Thread)
Edited by Azizi Powell
This post is Part I in a three part series of posts on the "Funky Y2C" (Hey Little Mama) record. This post presents selected comments from this video's viewer comment thread and, as such, is part of an ongoing pancocojams series that documents the use of African American Vernacular English in certain YouTube comment threads.
UPDATE: March 29, 2015 - The account for the video/discussion thread that was used for this post has been withdrawn. Consequently, I posted another video of the "Hey little Mama" and retained the selected comments that are found in this post.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-real-lyrics-to-hey-little-mama.html for Part II of this series.
Part II provides my transcription of the lyrics for the song "Funky Y2C".
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-meanings-of-lyrics-to-hey-little.html for Part III of this series.
Part III provides my interpretation of certain lines from the song "Funky Y2C".
The content of this post is presented for historical, folkloric, and cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
****
FEATURED VIDEO: dj nadinho funk the puppies hey lil mama funky y2c
nadinho vieiraPublished on Feb 5, 2013
****
EDITORIAL COMMENT & DISCLAIMER
While some of the comments that are presented below feature the use of African American Vernacular English grammar, many more of these comments feature African American slang, and/or alternative spelling that I believe are closely associated with and/or closely influenced by Hip-Hop culture.
It's my theory that this contemporary form of African American Vernacular English that I've described above is used on purpose. This conscious code switching from Standard American English African American Vernacular English is in contrast to the belief that people use African American English grammar and alternative spellings that are part of African American English because those people don't know the standard American English spelling or the Standard English words.
I believe that the primary reason for using the type of African American English that is found in most of these comments is to signal to other commenters or readers that you are "hip" (with the word "hip" here meaning "up to date" with the latest Black street culture).*
Another reason for commenters knowingly using the type of African American Vernacular English that is found in this YouTube comment thread, and in other YouTube comment threads, is that the person writing the comment wants to signal to other readers & other commenters that she or he is Black. However, that reason may not be as pertinent now because an increasing number of YouTube commenters have added a photograph of themselves as an icon which is posted in front of their comment. Therefore, presumably, a commenter's photograph could be used to determine his or her race. Admittedly, every person belonging to a particular race doesn't fit the physical images that that society has for members of that race. Also, I believe that people can belong to more than one race. That said, I still believe that it's still easier for people to identify a commenter as Black or as White now that YouTube commenter photographs are being used than it was before that time.
*I'm not a linguist, but I would categorize the majority of the comments that I have selected from this viewer comment as being representative of what I call "contemporary" (or "Hip Hop") African American English. There is also one comment below that includes an example of what I call 20th century Southern African American English (such as "I'm not finna") which I believe is the same as "not fixing to" (not getting ready to).
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/03/puttin-on-black-online-black-talk-code.html for more of my comments about what I call "putting on the Black", the purposeful use of African American English in YouTube comment threads.
DISCLAIMER
As mentioned above, I'm not a linguist, nor did I play one on tv (inside American joke).
This post is not meant to be a comprehensive listing of all the comments in this viewer comment thread that use African American vernacular English.
I want to be clear that don’t mean to imply that African American people are the only people using these terms. As is the case a part from the Internet, non-African American people-including non-Black people, also use African American vernacular. Given that fact, some of the commenters who are quoted in this post may be non-Black. Furthermore, some of the vernacular words & phrases that are used in these comments may not be of African American origin.
Also, although this video’s comment thread is full of comments on this issue, I’m not taking any position on whether this type of dancing was appropriate for children then or is appropriate for children now.
****
SELECTED YOUTUBE VIEWER COMMENTS
These comments are from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY2FbveZ6Xw. [Inactive link for a withdrawn YouTube account]
The commenter's name is given first and is followed by the comment that he or she wrote. I‘ve also included what I believe is the Standard American English equivalent/s below the comment. I also included some additional information after a few examples.
WARNING: Many comments in this viewer comment thread are NSFWOCV (Not suitable for work or children's vieweing) because of profanity, racist, explicit sexual references, etc.
[2011]
notofdisworld78
I loved dis song when it came out, Lord I pray my Daughter never finds out bout dis song PLEASE LORD Dont let my Daughter dance funky like dis.
-snip-
"dis" = "this"
In the context of this sentence "dance funky" means "to dance in a sexually provocative way." But I don't think that's what the word "funky" in that title means. I think that "funky" in song title means that this song is spicy, exciting and not straightlaced or bland.
The "Y2C" in that title is a nod to the 1962 R&B song "Watusi" by the Orlons. In both those songs "Watusi" (Y2C) refers to the Watutsi (Tutsi) people of Central Africa. However, neither the song nor the dance movements have anything to do with the Tutsi ethnic group. I believe that that record title reflected the renewed interest in and appreciation of African culture that African Americans felt in the during the 1960s, in large part because at that time so many African nations were achieving their independence from European colonization.
"Funky Watusi" means that that old school song has been re-made with a funkier tempo.
When the crowd of children say that the girl [Little mama/Tamara] is so "funky and hot", both of those words are compliments that mean that they really like the way she looks - both her physical appearance and her style of dressing.
**
mrsboone26
I'm almost 25 and if my mamma saw me dancing like this today she would still whoop my butt!!!lol
-snip-
"whoop my butt" means "to give me a spanking on my backside".
**
blkcoverboy
oooh u so hot...GUUUUUUUUUuuurl u need to stop"....CLASSIC! lol
-snip-
In this sentence "hot" here = "very physically appealing".
**
slimcola21
Hilarious. This song and vid still cracks me up. The 90's was a colorful era. I remember having similar jumpsuits and outfits like the ones in this vid. LOL
-snip-
"cracks me up" = "makes me laugh"
**
Jasmine Carter
hahaha omg im 20 now and I remember me and my brother used to absoultly JAM to this song.. couldn't tell us nothing
-snip-
"Jam to this song = "dance to this song"
**
SWAGTVOFMEMPHIS
This is whats wrong with our youth smh
-snip-
"smh" (or SMH) = "shake my head", a body gesture by shaking the head back & forth which signals that the person making the gesture is disdainful, annoyed, aggravated, disappointed, and/or disapproves of something said or done, or of some person or persons. Sometimes the actual action isn't done. Instead, the person writing this may just want to register his or her feelings about the matter or about the person. Particularly in the Caribbean, smh can be combined with the sound & motion of "suck teeth" (kiss teeth).
**
BlackDymond927
remember back then when we use to b on d blk dancin like that n ya mama would catch u dancin like that n she'll drag u by ya shirt and say "get ya lil ass up stairs u think u grown..." lol d good old days
-snip-
I think that "b on d" means "to be on down"
"n" means "and'
"d good old days" means "the good old days"
**
mzladykiki11
man i love dis video and song so for all da haters yall need to back back y y
-snip-
"da" = "the"
"haters" - people who "hate on" (dislike, insult, think negatively about and/or try to impede the actions of) someone or a group of people because of jealously or for no discernable reason
"y y" - I'm unsure what this means
****
missresecup
lol, even though this song is so wrong......lol....i remember this song and i loved it..right now i am just laughing...i am not finna look deeper into this song which some people are trying to make it, when all on the television that got shows of young people getting pregnant and being fast and they win awards so whatever, enjoy the darn video and laugh a lil.
-snip-
"finna" = "fixing to" which means "getting ready to" do something:
**
RBarr123
OMG this was my jam lol this brings back memories
-snip-
"this is my jam" = this is my favorite song. A Caribbean way of saying the same thing is "Tune!" (or "Chune!").
**
Dizzle101d
nowadayz people would trip on this cuz thats the first thing that comes to people sick mind but when you grew up to this it was all fun and this came out along time ago. its just a dance but better than having miley cyrus as a teen idol dont ya think
-snip-
“trip on this” – would get upset about this. Another way of saying this is that "people would get on a set about this" [on a set=upset], or people "would get all bent out of shape about this."
Also, notice the lack of capitol letter in this example and the fact that punctuation is hardly used. And notice that "z" are used in place of the “s”. All of these are commonly found in Internet writing and in text messaging. These writing styles may be done to because speed is more important on the internet & in texting than grammatical rules. They may also be done because such styles of writing signal that you are "hip".
**
othamama
U r so rite.. i was out durr doin all of dat.. LOL! aint nothin like dat ole skool music.
-snip-
“You are so right. I was out doors doing all of that. Laugh out loud! [There’s] nothing like that music from long ago.
-snip-
Also notice this commenter’s user name: “otha” = “other”.
Additional comments about how African Americans use “little mama” as a referent for girls as young as toddlers can be found in Part II of this Y2c series.
**
MsVA757
This was my joint back in the day. LOL
-snip-
“joint”= same as “jam” – favorite song
The Caribbean terms “tune”, “chune” have the same meaning.
**
afrobeauty08
lol i feel you. good old days
[“I feel you” – I agree with you. Technically means I feel just how you feel]
**
TheLesh83
I still love this song. i dont care how old i am. this was it back in the day. (80's baby)
-snip-
"this was it" = this was the most popular song or the song that everyone danced to
"back in the day" means the same thing as "way back then" or "in the olden days".
**
miamivicepastels83
i still have this on tape single....they are killin it lol
[“killin it” = dancing really good]; “breakin it down” - taking something down to its very essence, would result in that thing dying, this may be where the phrase “killin it came from.
**
Kaitlyn johnson
ahahah why.. i fell you but i dont..theres a time and place for everthing....like at a play ground unexceptable depending on the situation ...feel me..at home by nherself in her room or gettin crunk wit mom its cool as loing der aint no lil boy behind her we all cool
-snip-
"feel me" - agree with me (technically "feel the same way I'm feeling"
In the context of this comment, I think that "getting crunk" means "partying" & dancing wildly
My translation of this comment to Standard American English:
[Laughter]. Why? I agree with some of what you wrote but not all of it. There’s a time and a place for everything. A playground is an unacceptable place to be dancing like that. Hear what I’m saying. At home by herself in her room, or partying and dancing with her moon, that type of dancing would be alright as long as there’s not any boy behind her, everything’s fine.
-snip-
Another way of saying “we all cool” is in the context of this sentence is “It’s all good”.
**
shortaye99
OMG I have this on my IPOD it is my JAMMMMMMMMM!!! OOhhh I'm so funky and hot...I used to kill this!! LOL
-snip-
"kill this" – dance really well to this record
-snip-
The name ‘shortaye” may be a form of the word “shorty”. "Shorty" is an affectionate African American general referent for children.
****
[2012]
ccosten28
Yo this is just what is was back then. Miami was booty shake central....i mean this was the same era of Luke. And the kids were going to do it anyway so why not make something they could really dance to instead of letting them listen to 2 live Crew. the song is fun....booty shakin is a type of dance please know everybody cant do it.
-snip-
In the context of this sentence “Yo” means “Hey” and/or “Listen up”.
“booty shake central" = the main location in the nation where Black people were known for doing butt shaking dances. That was in contrast to other parts of the United States, for instance, Chicago where Black people were [are still] known for dances which emphasize fast foot work dance.
"Luke" refers to Luke Campbell, the manager & lead vocalist in the Hip-Hop group, 2 Live Crew ("too live [rhymes with hive] crew" is African American Vernacular English for "a group of people who are hyped {full of energy}". 2 Live Crew was known for records with very sexually explicit themes. Several commenters wrote that Luke Campbell is the uncle of the duo that made up the Puppies (Calvin "Big Boy" Mills & Tamara "Dee" Mills).
**
Luke Bosco
Am i the only that thinks this is dope? lol the beat is fire and the flow is hype. theyre just shakin their lil behinds. they're not wearing thongs or anything. chill out everyone. this is fun.
-snip-
In the context of this sentence, "dope" = really very good
In the context of this sentence "hype" = exciting, very good
"Chill out" = "relax"
**
papigrandeful
lol so old skool
-snip-
so old skool = so old school means "this was a hit song a while ago. ("old school" is usually a compliment.)
[2013]
miss10baby
luv dis song
-snip-
"luv" is a Hip Hop spelling for "love"
-snip-
ZERBA66
girl this song is so ghetto
-snip-
"girl" is a general referent for females.
"So ghetto" means so lower class.
**
mbur126
Memba thiz joint....oldy but a gudy
-snip-
My translation of this comment into Standard American English:
[I] remember this song... [It's an] oldy but a goody (it's a classic.)
ADDENDUM
Notice the various types of user names that are found in this post. Such made up user names are less often found on YouTube since June 2012 because of the strong suggestion YouTube administrators have made to commenters and uploaders to switch to their first & last names. Posts about YouTube user names can be found on this pancocojams blog and on my cocojams.com website.
****
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to the Puppies for this old school jam. Thanks also to the commenters for their comments. Thanks also to the uploader of this video.
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Visitors comments are welcome.
****
This post is Part I in a three part series of posts on the "Funky Y2C" (Hey Little Mama) record. This post presents selected comments from this video's viewer comment thread and, as such, is part of an ongoing pancocojams series that documents the use of African American Vernacular English in certain YouTube comment threads.
UPDATE: March 29, 2015 - The account for the video/discussion thread that was used for this post has been withdrawn. Consequently, I posted another video of the "Hey little Mama" and retained the selected comments that are found in this post.
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-real-lyrics-to-hey-little-mama.html for Part II of this series.
Part II provides my transcription of the lyrics for the song "Funky Y2C".
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-meanings-of-lyrics-to-hey-little.html for Part III of this series.
Part III provides my interpretation of certain lines from the song "Funky Y2C".
The content of this post is presented for historical, folkloric, and cultural purposes.
All copyrights remain with their owners.
****
FEATURED VIDEO: dj nadinho funk the puppies hey lil mama funky y2c
nadinho vieiraPublished on Feb 5, 2013
****
EDITORIAL COMMENT & DISCLAIMER
While some of the comments that are presented below feature the use of African American Vernacular English grammar, many more of these comments feature African American slang, and/or alternative spelling that I believe are closely associated with and/or closely influenced by Hip-Hop culture.
It's my theory that this contemporary form of African American Vernacular English that I've described above is used on purpose. This conscious code switching from Standard American English African American Vernacular English is in contrast to the belief that people use African American English grammar and alternative spellings that are part of African American English because those people don't know the standard American English spelling or the Standard English words.
I believe that the primary reason for using the type of African American English that is found in most of these comments is to signal to other commenters or readers that you are "hip" (with the word "hip" here meaning "up to date" with the latest Black street culture).*
Another reason for commenters knowingly using the type of African American Vernacular English that is found in this YouTube comment thread, and in other YouTube comment threads, is that the person writing the comment wants to signal to other readers & other commenters that she or he is Black. However, that reason may not be as pertinent now because an increasing number of YouTube commenters have added a photograph of themselves as an icon which is posted in front of their comment. Therefore, presumably, a commenter's photograph could be used to determine his or her race. Admittedly, every person belonging to a particular race doesn't fit the physical images that that society has for members of that race. Also, I believe that people can belong to more than one race. That said, I still believe that it's still easier for people to identify a commenter as Black or as White now that YouTube commenter photographs are being used than it was before that time.
*I'm not a linguist, but I would categorize the majority of the comments that I have selected from this viewer comment as being representative of what I call "contemporary" (or "Hip Hop") African American English. There is also one comment below that includes an example of what I call 20th century Southern African American English (such as "I'm not finna") which I believe is the same as "not fixing to" (not getting ready to).
Click http://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2012/03/puttin-on-black-online-black-talk-code.html for more of my comments about what I call "putting on the Black", the purposeful use of African American English in YouTube comment threads.
DISCLAIMER
As mentioned above, I'm not a linguist, nor did I play one on tv (inside American joke).
This post is not meant to be a comprehensive listing of all the comments in this viewer comment thread that use African American vernacular English.
I want to be clear that don’t mean to imply that African American people are the only people using these terms. As is the case a part from the Internet, non-African American people-including non-Black people, also use African American vernacular. Given that fact, some of the commenters who are quoted in this post may be non-Black. Furthermore, some of the vernacular words & phrases that are used in these comments may not be of African American origin.
Also, although this video’s comment thread is full of comments on this issue, I’m not taking any position on whether this type of dancing was appropriate for children then or is appropriate for children now.
****
SELECTED YOUTUBE VIEWER COMMENTS
These comments are from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RY2FbveZ6Xw. [Inactive link for a withdrawn YouTube account]
The commenter's name is given first and is followed by the comment that he or she wrote. I‘ve also included what I believe is the Standard American English equivalent/s below the comment. I also included some additional information after a few examples.
WARNING: Many comments in this viewer comment thread are NSFWOCV (Not suitable for work or children's vieweing) because of profanity, racist, explicit sexual references, etc.
[2011]
notofdisworld78
I loved dis song when it came out, Lord I pray my Daughter never finds out bout dis song PLEASE LORD Dont let my Daughter dance funky like dis.
-snip-
"dis" = "this"
In the context of this sentence "dance funky" means "to dance in a sexually provocative way." But I don't think that's what the word "funky" in that title means. I think that "funky" in song title means that this song is spicy, exciting and not straightlaced or bland.
The "Y2C" in that title is a nod to the 1962 R&B song "Watusi" by the Orlons. In both those songs "Watusi" (Y2C) refers to the Watutsi (Tutsi) people of Central Africa. However, neither the song nor the dance movements have anything to do with the Tutsi ethnic group. I believe that that record title reflected the renewed interest in and appreciation of African culture that African Americans felt in the during the 1960s, in large part because at that time so many African nations were achieving their independence from European colonization.
"Funky Watusi" means that that old school song has been re-made with a funkier tempo.
When the crowd of children say that the girl [Little mama/Tamara] is so "funky and hot", both of those words are compliments that mean that they really like the way she looks - both her physical appearance and her style of dressing.
**
mrsboone26
I'm almost 25 and if my mamma saw me dancing like this today she would still whoop my butt!!!lol
-snip-
"whoop my butt" means "to give me a spanking on my backside".
**
blkcoverboy
oooh u so hot...GUUUUUUUUUuuurl u need to stop"....CLASSIC! lol
-snip-
In this sentence "hot" here = "very physically appealing".
**
slimcola21
Hilarious. This song and vid still cracks me up. The 90's was a colorful era. I remember having similar jumpsuits and outfits like the ones in this vid. LOL
-snip-
"cracks me up" = "makes me laugh"
**
Jasmine Carter
hahaha omg im 20 now and I remember me and my brother used to absoultly JAM to this song.. couldn't tell us nothing
-snip-
"Jam to this song = "dance to this song"
**
SWAGTVOFMEMPHIS
This is whats wrong with our youth smh
-snip-
"smh" (or SMH) = "shake my head", a body gesture by shaking the head back & forth which signals that the person making the gesture is disdainful, annoyed, aggravated, disappointed, and/or disapproves of something said or done, or of some person or persons. Sometimes the actual action isn't done. Instead, the person writing this may just want to register his or her feelings about the matter or about the person. Particularly in the Caribbean, smh can be combined with the sound & motion of "suck teeth" (kiss teeth).
**
BlackDymond927
remember back then when we use to b on d blk dancin like that n ya mama would catch u dancin like that n she'll drag u by ya shirt and say "get ya lil ass up stairs u think u grown..." lol d good old days
-snip-
I think that "b on d" means "to be on down"
"n" means "and'
"d good old days" means "the good old days"
**
mzladykiki11
man i love dis video and song so for all da haters yall need to back back y y
-snip-
"da" = "the"
"haters" - people who "hate on" (dislike, insult, think negatively about and/or try to impede the actions of) someone or a group of people because of jealously or for no discernable reason
"y y" - I'm unsure what this means
****
missresecup
lol, even though this song is so wrong......lol....i remember this song and i loved it..right now i am just laughing...i am not finna look deeper into this song which some people are trying to make it, when all on the television that got shows of young people getting pregnant and being fast and they win awards so whatever, enjoy the darn video and laugh a lil.
-snip-
"finna" = "fixing to" which means "getting ready to" do something:
**
RBarr123
OMG this was my jam lol this brings back memories
-snip-
"this is my jam" = this is my favorite song. A Caribbean way of saying the same thing is "Tune!" (or "Chune!").
**
Dizzle101d
nowadayz people would trip on this cuz thats the first thing that comes to people sick mind but when you grew up to this it was all fun and this came out along time ago. its just a dance but better than having miley cyrus as a teen idol dont ya think
-snip-
“trip on this” – would get upset about this. Another way of saying this is that "people would get on a set about this" [on a set=upset], or people "would get all bent out of shape about this."
Also, notice the lack of capitol letter in this example and the fact that punctuation is hardly used. And notice that "z" are used in place of the “s”. All of these are commonly found in Internet writing and in text messaging. These writing styles may be done to because speed is more important on the internet & in texting than grammatical rules. They may also be done because such styles of writing signal that you are "hip".
**
othamama
U r so rite.. i was out durr doin all of dat.. LOL! aint nothin like dat ole skool music.
-snip-
“You are so right. I was out doors doing all of that. Laugh out loud! [There’s] nothing like that music from long ago.
-snip-
Also notice this commenter’s user name: “otha” = “other”.
Additional comments about how African Americans use “little mama” as a referent for girls as young as toddlers can be found in Part II of this Y2c series.
**
MsVA757
This was my joint back in the day. LOL
-snip-
“joint”= same as “jam” – favorite song
The Caribbean terms “tune”, “chune” have the same meaning.
**
afrobeauty08
lol i feel you. good old days
[“I feel you” – I agree with you. Technically means I feel just how you feel]
**
TheLesh83
I still love this song. i dont care how old i am. this was it back in the day. (80's baby)
-snip-
"this was it" = this was the most popular song or the song that everyone danced to
"back in the day" means the same thing as "way back then" or "in the olden days".
**
miamivicepastels83
i still have this on tape single....they are killin it lol
[“killin it” = dancing really good]; “breakin it down” - taking something down to its very essence, would result in that thing dying, this may be where the phrase “killin it came from.
**
Kaitlyn johnson
ahahah why.. i fell you but i dont..theres a time and place for everthing....like at a play ground unexceptable depending on the situation ...feel me..at home by nherself in her room or gettin crunk wit mom its cool as loing der aint no lil boy behind her we all cool
-snip-
"feel me" - agree with me (technically "feel the same way I'm feeling"
In the context of this comment, I think that "getting crunk" means "partying" & dancing wildly
My translation of this comment to Standard American English:
[Laughter]. Why? I agree with some of what you wrote but not all of it. There’s a time and a place for everything. A playground is an unacceptable place to be dancing like that. Hear what I’m saying. At home by herself in her room, or partying and dancing with her moon, that type of dancing would be alright as long as there’s not any boy behind her, everything’s fine.
-snip-
Another way of saying “we all cool” is in the context of this sentence is “It’s all good”.
**
shortaye99
OMG I have this on my IPOD it is my JAMMMMMMMMM!!! OOhhh I'm so funky and hot...I used to kill this!! LOL
-snip-
"kill this" – dance really well to this record
-snip-
The name ‘shortaye” may be a form of the word “shorty”. "Shorty" is an affectionate African American general referent for children.
****
[2012]
ccosten28
Yo this is just what is was back then. Miami was booty shake central....i mean this was the same era of Luke. And the kids were going to do it anyway so why not make something they could really dance to instead of letting them listen to 2 live Crew. the song is fun....booty shakin is a type of dance please know everybody cant do it.
-snip-
In the context of this sentence “Yo” means “Hey” and/or “Listen up”.
“booty shake central" = the main location in the nation where Black people were known for doing butt shaking dances. That was in contrast to other parts of the United States, for instance, Chicago where Black people were [are still] known for dances which emphasize fast foot work dance.
"Luke" refers to Luke Campbell, the manager & lead vocalist in the Hip-Hop group, 2 Live Crew ("too live [rhymes with hive] crew" is African American Vernacular English for "a group of people who are hyped {full of energy}". 2 Live Crew was known for records with very sexually explicit themes. Several commenters wrote that Luke Campbell is the uncle of the duo that made up the Puppies (Calvin "Big Boy" Mills & Tamara "Dee" Mills).
**
Luke Bosco
Am i the only that thinks this is dope? lol the beat is fire and the flow is hype. theyre just shakin their lil behinds. they're not wearing thongs or anything. chill out everyone. this is fun.
-snip-
In the context of this sentence, "dope" = really very good
In the context of this sentence "hype" = exciting, very good
"Chill out" = "relax"
**
papigrandeful
lol so old skool
-snip-
so old skool = so old school means "this was a hit song a while ago. ("old school" is usually a compliment.)
[2013]
miss10baby
luv dis song
-snip-
"luv" is a Hip Hop spelling for "love"
-snip-
ZERBA66
girl this song is so ghetto
-snip-
"girl" is a general referent for females.
"So ghetto" means so lower class.
**
mbur126
Memba thiz joint....oldy but a gudy
-snip-
My translation of this comment into Standard American English:
[I] remember this song... [It's an] oldy but a goody (it's a classic.)
ADDENDUM
Notice the various types of user names that are found in this post. Such made up user names are less often found on YouTube since June 2012 because of the strong suggestion YouTube administrators have made to commenters and uploaders to switch to their first & last names. Posts about YouTube user names can be found on this pancocojams blog and on my cocojams.com website.
****
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT AND THANKS
Thanks to the Puppies for this old school jam. Thanks also to the commenters for their comments. Thanks also to the uploader of this video.
Thank you for visiting pancocojams.
Visitors comments are welcome.
****
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