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Showing posts with label OG Original Gangsta. Show all posts
Showing posts with label OG Original Gangsta. Show all posts

Saturday, August 15, 2020

Kenyan Rapper Khaligraph Jones & The Referent "OG"

Edited by Azizi Powell

Latest Update: Sept. 1, 2022

This is Part IV of a four part pancocojams series on the term "OG".


Part IV presents information about Kenyan rapper Khaligraph Jones. This post also presents examples of comments from the discussion thread of a Khaligraph Jones music video. Most of these comments show how the term "OG" is often used in Kenya as a referent for Khaligraph Jones, but may also be used to refer to other African rappers.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/08/2010-pdf-excerpt-history-of-los-angeles.html for Part I of this four part pancocojams series. Part I is a preface to information about and examples of the term "OG". Part I provides an excerpt about the history of the Crips and the Blood gangs in Los Angeles, California from https://www.nationalgangcenter.gov/content/documents/history-of-street-gangs.pdf National Gang Center Bulletin, May 2010 (no. 4) by James C. Howell and John P. Moore.


Part I also includes an excerpt of an insert in that article that is entitled "Gang Names and Alliances" attributed to Miller, 2001, pp. 43–44.

The Addendum to this post presents an excerpt of  a March 2020 article about a Los Angeles gang truce after rapper Nipsey Hussle's shooting death.


Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/08/complete-reprint-of-2006-essay-making.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. Part II of this pancocojams series provides a complete reprint of  the 2006 essay entitled"The Making of an O.G.: Transcending Gang Mentality". This essay was written by San Quentin Death Row prisoners Steve Champion and Anthony Ross.


Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/08/how-meanings-of-term-og-have-changed-in.html for Part III presents some online definitions of term "OG". Those definitions along with some sentences that include that term demonstrate how the meanings of "OG"  have changed in the United States since it was first used in the early 1970s.

****
The content of this post is presented for cultural and linguistic purposes.


All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post and thanks to Khaligraph Jones for his music.

-snip-
Also, read my speculation in this post's comment section below about the meaning of the stage name "Khaligraph Jones".


****
INFORMATION ABOUT KHALIGRAPH JONES
From https://peoplepill.com/people/khaligraph-jones/
"Kenyan rapper
Birth: 12 June 1990, Nairobi, Nairobi County, Kenya"
From https://www.theelephant.info/culture/2020/03/20/khaligraph-jones-and-emerging-hip-hop-futures-in-kenya/ Khaligraph Jones and Emerging Hip Hop Futures in Kenya
March 20, 2020 By Richard Oduku
..."A talent emerged with a vociferous, shrill and piercing cry deep in the heart of Kayole on June 12, 1990. …. Brian Ouko Robert – aka Mr. Omollo aka Khaligraph Jones – was welcomed by a troubled country of barely 20 million people. Exactly 28 years later, this baby released a debut album, Testimony 1990, and give us a chance to look back not only at this baby who has now become a man, but at a country whose population, just like its troubles, has doubled. Let us talk about the music of this prodigious talent. Testimony 1990 is a testimony of Kaligraph Jones’s life, his troubles, and those of his country. Khaligraph is not an overnight celebrity. His success is not the product of the modern viral phenomenon, where the gods of the internet choose to crown a new artist with a million views on Youtube for some mumble rap. He is not the product of accidental fame but of tenacity. His interest in music began at an early age in elementary school. He attended Imara Primary School and Brucewood Secondary School, and at 13 his love of music was visible and palpable. It helped that his older brother loved music too. Together they released their first rap track in 2004. But Kenya has one of the most unforgiving hip hop music ecosystems. 

[...]

Khaligraph’s music attempts to carry both social and political commentary and easy-going party jams. While a majority of his tracks are fashioned for the club, a few explore social and political themes.

[...]

Hip hop, belted out in Sheng – to escape the censor of the police state– became a tool for the disenfranchised young men in the sprawling ghettos to voice their dissatisfaction and dissent.

[…]

Given the predominantly club-banger focus of a music single, it is often difficult to chart the trajectory of a musician from the perspective of their thematic concerns. However, the album Testimony 1990 is a condensed piece of work that offers us coherence, a singular thematic focus, and a snapshot of the career progress of the artist.

Sheng, as a practice of moving across languages, has always been the choice for urban youth to resist and to engage in socio-political commentary and protest. But with the breaking down of market boundaries through the dominance of a few US-based music streaming platforms, language is once again becoming a significant indicator for capturing the international market.

For young African artists, the future belongs to those who can blend local languages and the lingua franca with the dominant language of business, in this case English. It is the reason why Tanzania’s Diamond Platnumz, while capturing the local East African market on the back of Swahili lyrics, resorts to English when doing collaborations with American artists such as Rick Ross and Omario. Khaligraph is the evolution of that trend, and it will not be long before he begins hustling for that big collaboration with a major American artist."...

****
[Added Sept. 1, 2022]
ORIGINAL MEANING OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN VERNACULAR ENGLISH

Read Part III of a four part pancocojams series on the term "OG", https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/08/how-meanings-of-term-og-have-changed-in.html 
From http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2006/07/10/18286768.php
"A Brief History of the Term "O.G." written by San Quentin Death Row prisoners Steve Champion and Anthony Ross, July 10, 2006
"The term "original" was first used by Crips in 1972. It meant "we're the first" and was used by all Crips regardless of age. In 1974 the word "gangster" was added. It derived from the Original Gangster Crips (now known as Eight Tray Gangster Crips). Initially, Crips only used the term "O.G." when writing their name or neighborhood; it was not customarily used in everyday speech. No one, for instance, would say "Cuz is an O.G." or "What’s up, O.G.?" This is because, in those early years, Crips understood it to mean, "This is the 'Set' I am originally from"—an Original Westside or Eastside Crip. But with the expansion of the Crips came many individuals who had once belonged to other gangs; consequently, the term "O.G." inevitably broadened.

In the mid '70s the term "O.G." also came to represent one who was fiercely loyal and "down" for his or her Set. It was akin to calling a person a patriot or nationalist. By the end of the 1970s, all of the Blood neighborhoods had adopted the "O.G." term. Its transformation was evident among the younger generation of gang members, who began to refer to their older homeboys as "O.G." This new connotation elevated the word to a status or title of respect and it became synonymous with a specific age group. Consequently younger gang members excluded themselves from this elite club because now one had to be of a certain age in order to attain "O.G." status. Today, this is the more accepted usage, and herein originated the misconception."...
-snip-
I added italics to highlight these sentences.
 
Thanks, Unknown August 31, 2022 for asking about the original meaning of "OG". 

****
SELECTED COMMENTS ABOUT KHALIGRAPH JONES
These comments are from a YouTube video discussion thread for Khaligraph Jones "Tuma  Kitu" video. Most of these comments either include the referent "OG" or refer to "OG" being a referent for Khaligraph Jones.

These comments are given in no particular order and are numbered for referencing purposes only. I've added some translations and a few comments after some of these comments. 
Khaligraph Jones Tuma Kitu ["Send something"]
 Khaligraph Jones,  July 23, 2020

 1,313,186 views as of August 15, 2020 at 3:36 PM EDT
(All of these comments are from 2020)

1.Pinned by Khaligraph Jones
MILL DEE KE
"Top 5 Best rappers in Africa
1. Khaligraph Jones
2. OG
3. PAPA JONES
4. OMOLLO
5. BABA YAO"
-snip-
All of these are referents for Khaligraph Jones. "Omollo", a Luo surname,  is the title of Khaligraph Jones' Jan. 19, 2018 album. Read information about the surname Omollo in this post's discussion thread.

**
REPLY
2. david Mwangi UDI
"Honestly speaking, and I'm not saying this coz I'm Kenyan but this guy is probably the BEST RAPPER in Africa right now."
**
REPLY
3. Golden Boy
"TRUE BRO"

**
REPLY

4. Peter Nyakako
"100% true"

**
REPLY
5. Nelson King
"Not probably. He is literally the best rapper in Africa. There is seriously no other rapper that can compete."

**
REPLY
6. muchuma cbd
"Wewe unajua Nasty C?"
-snip-
Google translate from Swahili to English = "wewe unajua" = You know
-snip-
Nasty C is a South African rapper.

**
REPLY
7. Golden Boy
"@muchuma cbd  who is he ?  Can he rapp tongue_twister or faster like a bullet man you can't compare OG to young kids ask anybody from Africa will tell you ๐Ÿ™…"

**
REPLY
8. king Benjie
"He already won  award of being the best rapper in Africa lol"

**
REPLY
9. Dennis Kemboy
"Best in Africa"

**
REPLY
10. Ommy Waukweli
"True๐Ÿ’ฏ"

**
REPLY
11. dennis mwange
"He told Nigerians that he takes the top 5 and the rest come after"

**
REPLY
12. ronald chichi
"Luo is a lifestyle like OGs freestyles"
**
13. Lil Freezy
"OG ni OG ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ’ฏ๐Ÿ’ฏ๐Ÿ’ฏ๐Ÿ’ฏ๐Ÿ’ฏ๐Ÿ’ฏ
-snip-
Google translate Swahili to English: "OG is OG". This is a one of the slogans that is associated with Khaligraph Jones.

**
14. 
ASHUU B MUSIC
"Respect the og live long rap"

**
15. Bryan Zulu
"Dave east did asong one week ago and he has 500k view on YouTube, OG is doing over 600k views in less than  one week... khaligraph is doing more views than American rappers ....wapi likes za kenyan OG winning."
-snip-
Google translate from Swahili to English: wapi like za Kenyan. OG winning. = Where are likes for [this] Kenyan? [This is a reminder for people to click the "like" icon below his comment.]

My guess is that Dave East is a Kenyan rapper.

**
16. Wurie Bah
"The song is really dope, watching from Sierra Leone ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฑ. Love the OG, kao Denero is a small boy ๐Ÿ‘ฆ for the OG."
-snip-
My guess is that the statement "kao Denero is a small boy for the OG" means that the rapper kao Denero is a small boy compared to the OG Khaligraph Jones.

Update August 17, 2020: I happened upon this comment from a discussion thread for a That Fire LA reaction video showcasing another Khaligraph Jones video which indicates that Kao Denero is from Sierra Leone: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJ2izwXnq9I  written by So4 Teco man (June 2020) "Please react to kenyanta by Kao Denero from Sierra Leone"...

**
REPLY
17, ShutterDe DON
"Hahah kao is also a G blood, you people need to support him n make him big...one love ❤️ ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ช ๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฑ ๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ช ❤️"
 -snip-
In the context of this comment "blood", is a referent that is similar to "bro". With correct punctuation, that comment would be written "Ha Ha. Kao is also a G [meaning, an OG], blood. You people need to support him and make him big...One love."

**
REPLY
18. Mohamed Amid Kamara
"Don't lie please you are not from Sierra Leone"

**
REPLY
19. Tamba Isaiah
"@Mohamed Amid Kamara, He's from SL, but you know that Kao Denero, killed all their rappers in Sierra Leone, so that's the reason they will never like him, if not K Jones himself knows that Kao is a real OG."
-snip-
"Killed all their rappers"=  overwhelmingly won rap battles with Sierra Leonean rappers. 

**
20. Samuel Ng'ethe
"Whoever compare the real OG with the likes of kina octopizzo is just damn lame....the OG is #1 and the best rapper in Africa".
-snip-
Octopizzo is a Kenyan rapper. 

 **
REPLY
21. Mpashogram Kenya
"Tell them๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ’ฅ๐Ÿ’ฏ"

**
22. Bert Mat
"O.M.O.L.L.O #RESPECTHEOGs"
-snip-
Notice that Khaligraph Jones used a plural form of the referent "OG".  While he and his fans refer to him as [the] "OG" , he also recognizes that there are other African OGs.

**
24. Samuel Ohanga
"The OG has an elegant grasp of poetry. Simply genius."

**
25. Kheri Salaam
"OG is back๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ”ฅ
Love from burundi๐Ÿ‡ง๐Ÿ‡ฎ
Wakenya nipeni likes"
-snip-
Google translate from Swahili to English: "Wakenya nipeni" = Kenyans give it to me".

**
26. Maclean osei Akotoo
"All the way up in Ghana ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ญ.. OG is highly respected ova here. Can’t wait to see him and Lyrical joe on a joint.. 2beasts"

**
REPLY
27. Japhtyme DotMed
"Do you really want lyrical joe to burry him ??"

**
REPLY
28. Gerald Potkah
"Japhtyme DotMed what are you smoking?

**
REPLY
29. Exotic Dubai Life
"Japhtyme DotMed mmmmmmmmmhhhh stop smoking grass wrapped with sand paper ๐Ÿคฆ๐Ÿพ‍♂‍๐Ÿคฆ๐Ÿพ‍♂‍KHALIGRAPH JONES OG IS THE BEST RAPPER IN AFRICA or google that boy"

**
REPLY
30.  Mutweesy_254
"Respect the OG....every body has his opinion  stop boding each other over African rappers..they both have different rap styles..but Khaligraph is the best in the type that he does."

**
REPLY
31. Mwakisha MW
@Japhtyme DotMed, ..LJ is tight,but Kj has an angle most rappers lack...he can switch with any beat..LJ can't fast switch..khali can punch but of late he prefers bangers coz mmmhhh..competition remains sark the King.
-snip-

"sark the King" = Ghanaian rapper Sarkodie

**
REPLY
32. Noah Okoth
"He was voted the best in Africa so what's your point?"

**
REPLY
33. Barzster Records
"@Mwakisha MW I need to buy you something manze,,like you've completely exhausted my idea,,the OG has punches he started off with rap battles and he was going hard,,and the way he switches his flow,,daang mahn,,"
-snip-
The words "manze" and "mahn" are colloquial forms of the word "man".

**
34. Don Don Ke
"Finally We are at 1 million views OG is being respected World wide now"

**
35. ABDIRISAQ CISMAN IBRAHIM
"OG♥"️

**
36. PROCMURA PRICA
"The Real OG ๐Ÿ’ฏ in worldwide ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ”ฅ"

**
37. Robert Kibiwot
"OG must be respected. This guy never dissapoints"

**
38. Micky King
"OG ALL THE WAY UP๐Ÿ’ฏ #OMOLO #RESPECT THE OG๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ‘‘"

**
39. j shizla
"OG NI OG LONG LIVE KING OG..."

**
40. Jackson Opiyo
"300k subs, OG is OG... The journey continues,"
-snip-
300k subs= 300k subscription

**
41. keth manyu
"The OG shall be respected" narrative changed to "The OG is repected๐Ÿ’ช"

**
42. Naftary Wanderi
"Big up to  the 575 Jamaican's on OG channel  with their dis I like ๐Ÿ™„๐Ÿ™„"
-snip-
This lighthearted comment includes a pun on the word "dislike". At the time that comment was posted this video had 575 dislikes. As of August 15, 2020 at 4:48 PM EDT, this video has 1,315,121 views, 41K likes,  682 dislikes, and   5, 985 comments.

**
43. AKIA SAMUEL
"One love from Uganda..

Respect to the #O.G"

**
44. Marie Le Couer
"The best in Africa, I hope one day you do a collabo with Sarkodie of Ghana ๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ญ.. It will be epic, respect the OGs. ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿฟ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿฟ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿฟ๐Ÿ™Œ๐Ÿฟ"

**
REPLY
45. john kairo
"don't worry cause the have a project that was supposed to be released this year but this corona interrupted the procces"

**
REPLY 
46. Peter Nyakako
"Khaligraph Jones and Sarkodie have a song together... just waiting for the video"

**
REPLY
47. Kingsley Ngira
"We waiting for this.... this is the most important comment here... two kings must drop something fire ๐Ÿ’ฃ๐Ÿ’ฃ"

**
REPLY
48. Ya'kov Erick
"Sarkodie should get to OG, man! we need better collaborations, at this level OG is above all in Africa. OG should go for American r&b  singers the likes of C Brown we get something sick and contemporary."
-snip-
"C Brown" = African American singer Chris Brown

**
49. Andieh Masha
"GOAT๐Ÿ๐Ÿ #RESPECTHEOGS ๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿ‘Š๐Ÿ‘Š

Like for the best Rapper alive ๐Ÿ’ฏ"

**
REPLY
50. Lamar Halalboy
"king sarkodie ๐Ÿ‘‘"
-snip-
This is probably not who Andieh Masha had in mind when he or she wrote that comment.

**
51. Vincent Abuga
"Been listening to this song more than 20 times,when in my house also  in the car., My honest opinion is OG is # 2 after Sarkodie.Keep  up the good job.

**
52, Dismas chunguri
"For sure OG will always be OG,the King ,Greatest Of All Time,k Jones to the world beiby"
-snip-
"beiby" = baby

**
53. The Governor TV
"Respect the OG, like we respect the OG pamoja...."
-snip-
Google translate from Swahili to English pamoja= together  

**
54. ephraim sang
"Respect the OG, this is on fleek"
-snip-
"on fleek" African American Vernacular English term meaning "flawlessly styled", looking good"

**
55. Chrispus Mwathe
"the OG always killing it...clearly, Papa JONES is the Kenyan music industry and the Kenyan Music industry is PAPA JONES"

**
56. Brian Asuga
"Baddest in the industry .....OG"
-snip-
"baddest" = the best

**
57. Coach Collins Odhiambo
"OG is the GOAT in Africa... I like him more because of the story behind his success. Huyu jamaa in noooma....eih!!"
-snip-
Goat = African American Vernacular English for "greatest of all times"
I think "noooma" is an elongation of the Sheng word "noma" .

"Huya jamma in noooma" = Google translate from Swahili to English means something like "This family is hot" or "This family kills it"

I think that "eih!!" is an exclamation that means something like "Yeah!"

**   
58. Everlyne Kangogo
"This guy is a living legend.........the O.G will shall and be forever be respected"

**
59. Nonso Martins
"Nigerian I am  Og you're the best, much love from Spain...."
-snip-
This comment probably reads like this in standard English: I am Nigerian. OG, you are tthe best. Much love from Spain.

**
60. Emmanuel Mach
"OG the best ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ”ฅ๐Ÿ”ฅ..............soon OG will the best globally #team OG#๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿ’ช๐Ÿ’ช

****
This concludes Part IV of this four part pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome

What "OG" Means In The United States & How The Meanings For That Term Have Changed

Edited by Azizi Powell

Lastest Revision - January 21, 2021 [title changed]
 
This is Part III of a four part pancocojams series on the term "OG".


Part III presents some online definitions of term "OG". Those definitions along with some sentences that include that term demonstrate how the meanings of "OG"  have changed in the United States since it was first used in the early 1970s.

Click
 https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/08/2010-pdf-excerpt-history-of-los-angeles.html for Part I of this four part pancocojams series. Part I is a preface to information about and examples of the term "OG". Part I provides an excerpt about the history of the Crips and the Blood gangs in Los Angeles, California from https://www.nationalgangcenter.gov/content/documents/history-of-street-gangs.pdf National Gang Center Bulletin, May 2010 (no. 4) by James C. Howell and John P. Moore.


Part I also includes an excerpt of an insert in that article that is entitled "Gang Names and Alliances" attributed to Miller, 2001, pp. 43–44.

The Addendum to this post presents an excerpt of  a March 2020 article about a Los Angeles gang truce after rapper Nipsey Hussle's shooting death.


Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/08/complete-reprint-of-2006-essay-making.html for Part II of this pancocojams series. Part II of this pancocojams series provides a complete reprint of  the 2006 essay entitled"The Making of an O.G.: Transcending Gang Mentality". This essay was written by San Quentin Death Row prisoners Steve Champion and Anthony Ross.


Click 
https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/08/kenyan-rapper-khaligraph-jones-referent_15.html for Part IV presents information about Kenyan rapper Khaligraph Jones. This post also presents examples of comments from the discussion thread of a Khaligraph Jones music video. Most of these comments show how the term "OG" is often used in Kenya as a referent for Khaligraph Jones.

****
The content of this post is presented for cultural and linguistic purposes.


All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who are quoted in this post.


****
SOME DEFINITIONS AND EXAMPLES OF DEFINITIONS FOR THE REFERENT "OG" IN THE UNITED STATES


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

Quote #1
From 
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2006/07/10/18286768.php

"A Brief History of the Term "O.G." written by San Quentin Death Row prisoners Steve Champion and Anthony Ross, July 10, 2006
"The term "original" was first used by Crips in 1972. It meant "we're the first" and was used by all Crips regardless of age. In 1974 the word "gangster" was added. It derived from the Original Gangster Crips (now known as Eight Tray Gangster Crips). Initially, Crips only used the term "O.G." when writing their name or neighborhood; it was not customarily used in everyday speech. No one, for instance, would say "Cuz is an O.G." or "What’s up, O.G.?" This is because, in those early years, Crips understood it to mean, "This is the 'Set' I am originally from"—an Original Westside or Eastside Crip. But with the expansion of the Crips came many individuals who had once belonged to other gangs; consequently, the term "O.G." inevitably broadened.

In the mid '70s the term "O.G." also came to represent one who was fiercely loyal and "down" for his or her Set. It was akin to calling a person a patriot or nationalist. By the end of the 1970s, all of the Blood neighborhoods had adopted the "O.G." term. Its transformation was evident among the younger generation of gang members, who began to refer to their older homeboys as "O.G." This new connotation elevated the word to a status or title of respect and it became synonymous with a specific age group. Consequently younger gang members excluded themselves from this elite club because now one had to be of a certain age in order to attain "O.G." status. Today, this is the more accepted usage, and herein originated the misconception."...

****
Quote #2
From https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=OG


[WARNING- Some of the content of that page includes explicit sexual references. That content isn't quoted on this pancocojams blog.]
1, "OG

OG used to mean Original Gangster allthough some poeple these days use OG as a quicker way of saying Original

Oh man that was so og what you did back there
by Saxo_Broko August 16, 2016
-snip-
All of these urbandictionary.com entries were retrieved on August 15, 2020. These definitions are given in the order that they were found on that page. The entry that is given as Quote #2:1 is still the top definition for that term as of that date. 

**
2. "G

Acronym for original gangster. Means you have a classic style or stay with the older ways instead of newer.

Mr. Pollard is an OG because of his style and manner.
by MDMBoss777 January 22, 2016

**
3.
"O G
O G means original gangsta
those tru gangstas from way back in the day that jacked ya and left nothing but you boxers and socks

Biggie and tupac were both OG's"
by James White July 10, 2004
-snip-
Biggie (also known as The Notorious B.I.G and Biggie Smalls)  was a very well regarded African American rapper.

Tupac (Tupac Shakur) was a very well regarded African American rapper.

****
Quote #4
From   https://www.dictionary.com/e/slang/og/
…"WHERE DOES OG COME FROM?
While OG has come to be a hip way of referring or showing respect to someone who’s an expert in any facet of life, its origins lie in gang culture. According to Steve Champion and former South Central Los Angeles gang member Anthony Ross in 2006, the term first started being used in the early 1970s by the LA-based Original Gangster Crips. The term original gangster was derived from the gang’s name and initially stood for “we’re the first.” Crips members would use the OG abbreviation as a shorthand when writing which part of the gang they belonged to (e.g., Original Eastside Crip or OG Eastside).

As the Crips expanded in the 1970s, and many new recruits were coming form different gangs, the definition of the term began to change. An OG became someone who was deeply devoted to their subset gang, and younger members of the gangs began to use it in reference to the elders. The term became so popular that even the Crips’s rival gang, the Bloods, started using it.

During the 1980s, OG began to enter the mainstream with its use in commercialized rap music. In songs and music videos, an OG was seen as someone in gang culture who was hip and impressive (an exceptional badass), and soon the term was used to describe people in the real world who exemplified those characteristics even when they had no gang affiliations. At the same time, the term continued to carry on its initial meaning in the sense that something was OG if it was the first of its kind or unique—that is, original.

One notable example of OG in the context of commercialized rap is in LA-raised rapper Ice-T’s single (and album) “O.G. Original Gangster,” which, at its peak, was #7 on 1991’s Billboard rap charts”

****
Quote #5
From https://hinative.com/en-US/questions/14223330
1. Peppeper, 2 Sept 2019
Korean
"Question about English (US)
‎what does "og"(original gangster) mean? how is it used?"
Answers
2. Alyssabrooke, 2 Sept 2019
English (US), Korean near fluent
" OG is a slang term for someone who's incredibly exceptional, authentic, or "old-school"

Micheal Jordan is an OG because of playing basketball for years."

**
3. laura654, 2, Sept 2010
English (US)
"
I mostly see this in movies when people are talking about an older man who's really dangerous, like a gangster. It would be used like this.


That guy is OG! the last guy that didn't pay him him up got its neck broke!"
**
4. Peppeper, 2 Sept. 2019
Korean
"@laura654 @alyssabrooke05 I think it can be used when something is awesome. similarly to "killing/kick-ass/banging"

eg-
I know an OG bugger place.(the bugger joint is awesome)
he showed me to an OG soul food diner.(the diner is awesome)

is that wrong??"-snip-
"bugger"; is a misspelling of the word "burger" (an abbreviation of the word "hamburger".

**
5. Alyssabrooke, 2 Sept 2019
English (US), Korean near fluent
"Yes, it can be used for killing(not actual murder)kick-ass and banging.

OG is short for original or original gangster so the examples you gave me are correct"

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Quote #6

[WARNING: This twitter account contains profanity. That content isn't included in the tweet that is quoted below.]

 ally๐Ÿ’ซ is crying because of IAL
@shouyoslovebot

2h [August 15, 2020]
i dont watch here but goodbye kissanime ๐Ÿ˜ข๐Ÿ’” you will always be the og”
-snip-
The Japanese government took down KissAnime and KisManga as a result of its stricter copyright law regarding pirate websites. According to the tweets in that August 15, 2020 trending United States twitter account, from 2012 to 2020 Kissanime was a site "that allowed users to watch high quality Japanese anime online for free". According to a tweet that I read in that trending twitter account That website also contained a number of porn ads.

The word "og" in that tweet refers to KissAnime being the first website to feature Japanese anime along with the description of that site featuring high quality anime.

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This concludes Part III of this four part pancocojams series.

Thanks for visiting pancocojams.

Visitor comments are welcome.

Complete Reprint of 2006 Essay: "The Making of an O.G.: Transcending Gang Mentality" by Steve Champion and Anthony Ross

Edited by Azizi Powell

This is Part II of a four part pancocojams series on the term "OG".

Part II of this pancocojams series provides a complete reprint of  the 2006 essay entitled"The Making of an O.G.: Transcending Gang Mentality". This essay was written by San Quentin Death Row prisoners Steve Champion and Anthony Ross.

Click
 https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/08/2010-pdf-excerpt-history-of-los-angeles.html for Part I of this four part pancocojams series. Part I is a preface to information about and examples of the term "OG". Part I provides an excerpt about the history of the Crips and the Blood gangs in Los Angeles, California from https://www.nationalgangcenter.gov/content/documents/history-of-street-gangs.pdf National Gang Center Bulletin, May 2010 (no. 4) by James C. Howell and John P. Moore.

Part I also includes an excerpt of an insert in that article that is entitled "Gang Names and Alliances" attributed to Miller, 2001, pp. 43–44.

The Addendum to this post presents an excerpt of  a March 2020 article about a Los Angeles gang truce after rapper Nipsey Hussle's shooting death.


Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/08/how-meanings-of-term-og-have-changed-in.html for Part III presents some online definitions of term "OG". Those definitions along with some sentences that include that term demonstrate how the meanings of "OG"  have changed in the United States since it was first used in the early 1970s.

Click https://pancocojams.blogspot.com/2020/08/kenyan-rapper-khaligraph-jones-referent_15.html for Part IV presents information about Kenyan rapper Khaligraph Jones. This post also presents examples of comments from the discussion thread of a Khaligraph Jones music video. Most of these comments show how the term "OG" is often used in Kenya as a referent for Khaligraph Jones.

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


All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to Steve Champion and Anthony Ross for writing this essay and making it available for free distribution.

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ESSAY REPRINT: THE MAKING OF AN OG: TRANSCENDING GANG MENTALITY



by Steve Champion and Anthony Ross

Monday Jul 10th, 2006 7:06 AM

"Essay on the history and use of the term "O.G.," by San Quentin Death Row prisoners Steve Champion and Anthony Ross. Please copy and distribute in your community.

The Making of an “O.G.”: Transcending Gang Mentality
In honor of our brother, Stanley Tookie Williams III.
We continue the struggle.

by

Steve Champion, a.k.a. Adisa Kamara
Anthony Ross, a.k.a. Ajani Kamara

Copyright 2006

A Brief History of the Term "O.G."

"The term "original" was first used by Crips in 1972. It meant "we're the first" and was used by all Crips regardless of age. In 1974 the word "gangster" was added. It derived from the Original Gangster Crips (now known as Eight Tray Gangster Crips). Initially, Crips only used the term "O.G." when writing their name or neighborhood; it was not customarily used in everyday speech. No one, for instance, would say "Cuz is an O.G." or "What’s up, O.G.?" This is because, in those early years, Crips understood it to mean, "This is the 'Set' I am originally from"—an Original Westside or Eastside Crip. But with the expansion of the Crips came many individuals who had once belonged to other gangs; consequently, the term "O.G." inevitably broadened.

In the mid '70s the term "O.G." also came to represent one who was fiercely loyal and "down" for his or her Set. It was akin to calling a person a patriot or nationalist. By the end of the 1970s, all of the Blood neighborhoods had adopted the "O.G." term. Its transformation was evident among the younger generation of gang members, who began to refer to their older homeboys as "O.G." This new connotation elevated the word to a status or title of respect and it became synonymous with a specific age group. Consequently younger gang members excluded themselves from this elite club because now one had to be of a certain age in order to attain "O.G." status. Today, this is the more accepted usage, and herein originated the misconception.

In the mid 1980s, Crips began to migrate throughout the United States, taking with them their particular brand of "gangster" culture and vernacular. Crip "Sets" sprang up everywhere and with the mass commercial success of rap music, the term "O.G." transcended its gang roots and entered popular culture and slang. By the late '80s and early '90s the term "O.G." had broken through all cultural borders. Nowadays, its usage is so common that it can be heard on the television and on the radio, in music and movies, and read in books and magazines. The term "O.G.,” along with its abbreviated form, "G," is now applied to animals, records, clothing, and even foods. We understand its cool factor, but things have gotten out of hand. However, this is not the sole reason we feel the term must be redefined: the source of that hits much closer to home.

The Plain Truth

There are many people walking around who deserve neither the respect nor the acknowledgement that the title "O.G." denotes. For far too long, so called "Gs" and big homies have abused their status by exploiting and manipulating younger homeboys. A perfect example of this can be seen in neighborhoods and prisons where the big homie/little homie relationship is only about superiority, control, and someone else doing the dirty work. Terms such as "Double " and "Triple O.G." only reinforce the notion of age, and render the title ridiculous. This kind of unequal dynamic undermines the very core principles that all O.G.s should exemplify.

The cornerstone of every O.G.'s/Elder's character is integrity; if this is tainted by foul behavior then that person forfeits being recognized as an O.G./Elder. It is of supreme importance that the criteria for "O.G." and "Elder" be based upon the content of a person's character, the righteousness of their actions, and the love they show for their people, not on the misguided notion that they have been around for a long time or reached a certain age bracket. There are men and women who are worthy of esteem but don't receive it, and there are those who receive it but don't deserve it. It is time for truth to determine who earns the "O.G." title.

The Need for Real Leaders

Without revered O.G.s, elders, leaders and teachers to bridge the gap between where one stands and where one is going, the younger generation can lose their way and misinterpret the meaning of their journey. O.G.s/elders act as guides and advisors who offer their experience and wisdom. It is from them that the younger generation draws inspiration and a sense of purpose. If the O.G. elders are corrupt, then the younger generation can’t respect them. When this happens, the younger generation becomes trapped in a cycle of despair, conflict, addiction and chaos. When miners are trapped in a mine, whose obligation is it to rescue them? All of those above ground. O.G.s and elders, as we view these figures, have made it out of the mine and it is their responsibility to reach back and help others, to show them the way out—to show them how to build a new path and end the cycle of chaos.

Entering the Chosen Order

Being called an O.G./elder should be akin to being initiated into a sacred Order. As with being nominated for the Nobel Prize, the title of O.G./elder should be taken with the utmost honor and seriousness because it implies that one has made many personal sacrifices, evolved in their thinking, and acquired wisdom. One can be an O.G. at twenty, thirty or fifty; what matters is one's maturity, self transformation, and a commitment to helping others. When people dedicate themselves to making a difference, they enter an order of honor and earn the esteem consequently bestowed upon them. O.G.s/elders must live by and enforce upon themselves a higher standard of behavior. They must be aware of their symbolic role as father, mother and teacher. They must understand that when someone is searching for answers it is their duty to provide them with practical and comprehensive advice—advice that encourages, inspires and enlightens.

A New Definition

Since there is no university, academy or training camp that produces O.G.s, we can agree that not all O.G.s are wise and intelligent leaders. Therefore, the question we must ask ourselves is, What makes an O.G.? Here, we provide a new definition, along with five characteristics of a true O.G.

O.G.—One who exemplifies commitment, struggle, intelligence, integrity, and wise counsel.

The Five Characteristics of an O.G. :

1. One who leads by example.

2. One with untarnished credibility and integrity among his peers.

3. One who has control over his ego and strives for self-improvement.

4. One who has the ability to inspire those around him.

5. One who is emotionally mature and uses reason and logic to make decisions.

Commentary from O.G.s

Outdated thinking and methods cannot be used to solve problems. Temporary solutions cannot end conflicts. If people lack a vision for their future, then there will be none. If they lack a blueprint for building a new way of living, then it will not happen. In order to bring about a radical change and end the cycle of chaos, each individual must make a rational commitment to change."

* * *

About the Authors

"Steve Champion is a death row prisoner at San Quentin State Prison. A former Crips gang member, he grew up in South Central Los Angeles. Champion has been incarcerated for 24 years. He is self taught and conversant in African history, philosophy, political science, and comparative religion.
As an author he has received honorary mention in the short fiction category in the 1995 Pen Prison Writing Contest and in 2004 won first place in nonfiction for his essay, “His Spirit Lives On: George E. Marshall.” He is coauthor of Afterlife, a death row anthology published in 2003, and he has poetry featured in the book Voices From The Inside. He is currently working on his memoir, One day Deep, an excerpt of which was published in Maxim magazine (May 2005). Steve’s memorial poem for Stanley Tookie Williams, “My Brother is Gone,” may be found on the Internet and/or obtained by writing the author.

Write to:

Steve Champion
C 58001
San Quentin State Prison
San Quentin, California 94974"

"Anthony Ross was raised in South Central Los Angeles. A former gang member of the Crips he has been incarcerated for 24 years. While in the hole he began to study metaphysics, psychology, mythology, African and Asian history, and follow the spiritual path of the Buddha.
After ten years in the maximum security unit (San Quentin's Adjustment Center), he is now a writer and mentor. In 1995 he won the Pen Prison Writing Award for best short fiction: “Walker's Requiem,” a riveting account of a young man's last day before being executed.
Ross has been published in several books and periodicals. He appears in the anthology Children of the Dream: Growing Up Black in America. He has coauthored a book on self transformation with Steve Champion and Stanley Tookie Williams, and is presently completing his memoir,The Road to Purgatory. Anthony’s memorial prose poem for Stanley Tookie Williams, “The Words Would Not Come,” may be found on the Internet and/or obtained by writing the author."

Write to:

Anthony Ross
C 58000
San Quentin State Prison
San Quentin, California 94974


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This concludes Part II of this four part pancocojams series.


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Visitor comments are welcome.