20 Slang Words Popularized By Hit Songs –

20 slang phrases popularized by hit songs

Slang —the casual, non-standard lingo utilized in social settings —doesn’t originate in a vacuum. The invented phrases we casually throw round come from the tradition round us, significantly the music trade.

An excellent many music-related phrases stem from hip-hop, significantly rap. As a result of rap attracts closely from Black tradition, many rap-based slang phrases have roots in African American Vernacular English (AAVE), a dialect of English generally spoken in Black communities. This cultural context shapes high-profile hip-hop artists, whose work consequently influences broadly used, on a regular basis slang.

Whereas many latest slang phrases with roots in music originated in hip-hop, there are some exceptions; a typical time period for a buddy with whom you share a rivalry, for instance, comes from the pop music world. Different slang phrases might be traced again many years, although they typically have a barely completely different which means. As an example, one phrase on this listing popped up in a 1896 journal lengthy earlier than showing on music charts. Regardless of the case could also be, investigating the historical past of slang phrases presents us a possibility to study extra in regards to the various musical influences that form our on a regular basis linguistic habits.

For those who’re questioning what number of of your favourite slang phrases acquired their begin throughout the music trade earlier than getting into mainstream dialog, you then’ve come to the best place. Stacker culled by information and leisure sources to give you a listing of 20 slang phrases that originated from or had been popularized by songs.

Beef

Having “beef” is one other method to discuss with having a battle with somebody. Rooted in outdated English, “beef” gained traction as a slang time period after rapper The Infamous B.I.G. launched his 1997 music “What’s Beef,” wherein he expressed exasperation over his friends’ rap feuds.

Bling

“Bling” is an onomatopoeia, referring to the sound made by shiny, ostentatious jewellery. Initially regarded as Jamaican slang for costly jewellery, it was popularized by rapper B.G.’s 1999 music “Bling Bling,” wherein he raps about his wealth, proclaiming, “Bling, bling, pinky ring value about fifty.”

Boo

Whereas “boo” is usually related to ghosts or used to specific disapproval, the phrase can be used to explain a big different or love curiosity affectionately. This use of “boo” entered mainstream vernacular because of Methodology Man and Mary J. Blige’s 1995 music “I’ll Be There For You/You’re All I Want To Get By,” which incorporates the lyric, “That’s why I’m with you to today, boo, no frontin’.” It was additional popularized by Usher and Alicia Keys’ 2004 romantic duet “My Boo.”

Cake

“Cake” primarily refers to girls’s butts, and a girl with a bigger rear finish is likely to be described as “caked up.” Though male rappers initially used this slang extra generally—corresponding to Flo Rida and 99 P.c of their 2017 observe “Cake”—feminine rappers like Megan Thee Stallion and Nicki Minaj have reclaimed the time period as a type of sexual empowerment in songs like “Ladies within the Hood” and “Trollz.”

Diss

Within the Twenties, folks used “diss” as a derogatory abbreviation of “disconnected,” referring to somebody who just isn’t absolutely current or mentally sound. Extra lately, the hip-hop world has popularized “diss” as slang for insulting or disrespecting somebody. This was popularized by the Roxanne Wars, a collection of Nineteen Eighties hip-hop rivalries wherein rappers like Roxanne Shanté, U.T.F.O., and Sparky D dissed each other in a collection of tracks.

Dope

“Dope” is a slang time period with a number of meanings, however in music, it refers to calling somebody or one thing “cool.” In keeping with the New York Instances, Black hip-hop artists utilizing “dope” on this means is an act of reclamation, since “dope” can be used to explain an unintelligent individual—a unfavorable stereotype of Black people who endured all through the twentieth century. The present use of “dope” started within the Nineteen Eighties in songs like LL Cool J’s 1989 observe “Why Do You Assume They Name It Dope?”, wherein he remarks, “Yo I’m loopy dope, with tremendous hype traces/ And lots of hype traces make one dope rhyme.”

Frenemy

A frenemy is a supposed buddy with whom you really share a rivalry (therefore the portmanteau of the phrases “buddy” and “enemy”). The time period was popularized within the pop band New Radicals’ 1998 music “You Get What You Give,” wherein they sing, “Frenemies, who, while you’re down, ain’t your buddy.”

Ghost

To “ghost” somebody means to out of the blue disappear from their life with out warning. The hip-hop duos third Bass and Good & Easy had been a number of the first teams to assist the time period go mainstream, because of their 1991 music “Microphone Methods,” which incorporates the lyric, “Greg Good, I’m outta right here, ghost!”

Sizzling lady summer season

Megan Thee Stallion introduced “scorching lady summer season” to the mainstream along with her 2019 music of the identical identify. Because the rapper defined to The Root in 2019, the summery slang time period is “simply principally about girls—and males—simply being unapologetically them… You undoubtedly need to be an individual who might be the lifetime of the occasion.”

Jiggy

This description of uninhibited, excited dancing (or different bodily actions) is mostly related to Will Smith’s 1998 observe “Gettin’ Jiggy Wit It.” Greater than 80 years prior, the time period additionally appeared in Annie Hamilton Donnell’s 1916 novel “Miss Theodosia’s Heartstrings,” which referred to “jiggy tunes,” a.okay.a. melodies with jig-like rhythms.

Lit

“Lit” dates again to the early 1900s, when it meant being drunk. As of late, it’s utilized by rappers to explain one thing thrilling. Rapper Nas used the time period in his 1996 music “The Message,” wherein he raps, “Don’t give a f–okay who they hit so long as the drama’s lit.”

Mic drop

The time period “Mic drop” derives from artists, particularly in hip-hop, dropping a microphone after a profitable efficiency. Eric B. and Rakim reference the observe of their 1987 observe “I Ain’t No Joke,” with the lyrics “I used to let the mic smoke / Now I slam it after I’m executed and ensure it’s broke.”

No cap

“Capping” has referred to mendacity or exaggeration because the 1900s, turning into significantly well-liked inside Black communities within the Forties. The time period then made its means into Southern hip-hop, particularly by Atlanta artists Future and Younger Thug’s 2017 observe “No Cap.”

Shizzle

Shizzle entails playfully changing the endings of sure phrases with the suffix “izzle.” The time period typically takes the type of “fo shizzle,” a play on “for certain.” Made well-liked by Nas’ 2001 music “Stillmatic Freestyle” (a diss observe in opposition to Jay-Z), shizzle has additionally turn out to be related to Snoop Dogg.

Stan

Whereas “stan” is often used to discuss with a superfan of somebody or one thing, it initially had a extra unfavorable connotation. The time period comes from a 2000 Eminem music of the identical identify, wherein the rapper sings about an obsessive stalker-fan named Stanley who claims to be his most loyal follower.

Flip up

“Flip up” refers to partying and letting unfastened. The time period might be traced again to rapper Rocko’s 2007 album “Swag Season,” and gained additional consideration because of 2 Chainz’s 2011 music “Flip Up.”

Twerk

“Twerk” refers to a dance wherein somebody adopts a squatting stance and thrusts their butt and hips. Initially related to New Orleans bounce, the fashionable use of the time period was launched by DJ Jubilee’s 1993 hit “Do the Jubilee All” and gained traction by the Yin Yang Twins’ 2000 music “Whistle Whereas You Twurk.”

Wildin’

“Wildin’” fairly actually refers to wild, uninhibited habits. Ice-T used the time period in his 1988 observe “Radio Suckers,” which incorporates the lyric “Gangs illin’, wildin’ and killin’.” The time period was utilized in a pejorative means following the wrongful arrest of the Exonerated 5 in 1985, the identical yr the Oxford English Dictionary described wildin’ as “the motion or observe by a gang of youths of occurring a protracted and violent rampage.” The time period has since been reclaimed by rappers like A$AP Rocky, who contains it in his 2013 observe “Wild for the Evening.”

Woke

Though right-wing teams have lately co-opted “woke” as a derogatory time period aimed toward their extra left-leaning counterparts, the time period really refers to being woken up and made conscious of social justice points. The time period grew to become frequent in Black communities within the Forties however gained widespread reputation when singer Erykah Badu used the phrase “I keep woke” in her 2008 music, “Grasp Trainer.”

YOLO

“YOLO,” which stands for “you solely reside as soon as,” is usually used to justify reckless selections. Rapper Drake popularized the time period—which was runner-up for 2012’s Phrase of the Yr—together with his mixtape of the identical identify, and the 2011 music “The Motto.”

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