Bammer (adj.): Low-grade marijuana (cf. RBL Posse, “Don’t Give Me No Bammer Weed,” 1993)
B-Town (n.): Berkeley, California
Baller (n.): A player, pimp, or hustler; a game-related rap artist; a dope-dealer; a ghetto celebrity (cf. D-Shot et al, Boss Ballin’, 1994)
Ballin’ (v.): The act of being a baller; one who engages in street-level activities of questionable legality (cf. E-40, “Ballin’ Out of Control,” 1993; the Whoridas, “Shot Callin’ and Big Ballin’,” 1995)
Barney (n.): Purple-colored marijuana considered to be of extremely high potency (cf. Mistah Fab); see also Yurple
Batch (n.): See Biiiiiiiiiitch (cf. E-40, B-Legit, the Click)
Bluebird (n.): An annoying, bothersome person or thing (cf. RBL Posse, “Bluebird,” 1994)
Blockbustah (n.): See Buster (cf. E-40)
Biiiiiiiiiitch (n.): An epithet of disdain. Can be used to describe either a male or a female (cf. Too $hort, “Dope Fiend Beat,” 1987)
Bitch-ass (n.): A man who displays characteristics associated with women (“You’se a Bitch-ass nigga”)
Bomb (n.): Potent marijuana; anything considered excellent (“Bomb-ass beats”); an SF hip-hop label founded by David Paul
Bootsie (adj.): Fake, wack, or otherwise held in low esteem (cf. E-40, “Bootsie,” 1995)
Boss baller (n.): A high-level ghetto celebrity of enviable economic status (cf. D-Shot et al, Boss Ballin’, 1994)
Bootch (n.): See Biiiiiiiiiitch (cf. E-40, B-Legit, the Click)
Breezy (n.): A slightly less offensive variant of Biiiiiiiiiitch. Generally refers only to women
Broccoli (n.): Marijuana (cf. E-40)
Bubbling (v.): Hustling with a measure of economic success; a Baller on the Come-Up; see also Grinding
‘Burban (n.): A Chevrolet Suburban automobile
Burg, the (n.): Pittsburg, California
Buster (n.): A person who comes off as less than credible
Burner (n.): A handgun
Cabbage (n.): Money (cf. E-40) Cali (n.): California
Captain (n.): A man who supports women both financially and emotionally (cf. E-40, “Captain Save-a-Ho,” 1993)
Candy paint (n.): Shiny finish applied to automobiles (cf. Ill-Mannered Posse, “Shinin’ Star,” 1995)
Cheddar: (n.) see Cabbage
Chip (n.): A cloned microchip used in unlicensed cellular telephones (cf. E-40, “Chip in da Phone,” 1995)
Chopper (n.): Automatic weapon such as an AR-15 or AK-47 (cf. E-40)
Choppin’ it up: To process drugs, usually cocaine; to converse with one’s peers
Come-up (v.): To advance one’s economic status, sometimes through illegal activities such as selling drugs or committing armed robberies
Crackin’ (v.): A happening event; a respectful greeting (“What’s crackin’, playboy?”)
Crackalackin’ or Crackulatin’ (v.): See Crackin’ (cf. E-40) Crib (n.): One’s place of residence.
Cuddie (n.): A close friend or relative, derived from “Cousin”; anyone from Vallejo’s Crestside neighborhood (cf. Mac Mall, Illegal Business?, 1993)
Dank (n.): Potent strain of Indo that causes sluggishness, first originated in East Oakland (cf. MC Pooh, “Fuckin’ wit Dank,” 1989)
D-boy (n.): A drug dealer specializing in crack (cf. Young D-Boyz, “Selling Cocaine as Usual,” c. 1994 or E-40, I Got Love for D-Boys)
Dirt (n.): Activities of an illegal nature
Dogtown (n.): Neighborhood in West Oakland known for high crime rates
Doja (n.): Vallejo-originated equivalent of Dank (cf. Mac Mall, “Sic wit This,” 1993)
Eastside O (n.): East Oakland (cf. Dru Down, “Pimp of the Year,” 1994)
Elroy (n.): Police officer (cf. E-40, “Show and Prove,” 2003)
EPA City (n.): East Palo Alto
Fa sheezy (excl.): Affirmation meaning “For sure” (cf. 3 X Krazy, E-40)
Fa shiggedy (excl.): See Fa sheezy
Fa shizzle (excl.): See Fa sheezy
Fa sho (excl.): See Fa sheezy
Fa shoo (excl.): See Fa sheezy (cf. Richie Rich, “You’se my boo Fa Shoo”)
Fed (n.): Derived from “Federal”; a government agent; a high-powered Boss Baller (cf. E-40, “Fed-X,” 1995)
Fetti (n.): Money (cf. Young Lay, “All About My Fetti,” 1995)
Flambostulatin’ (v.): Acting overly ostentatious (cf. E-40)
Five (n.): One-fourth of the amount needed to purchase a twenty-sack of marijuana (cf. the Luniz, “I Got Five on It,” 1995)
Folkers (n.): Friends or close associates
For reals? (excl.): Expression used to express disbelief at what someone has just said
Frisco (n.): San Francisco
G (n.): Gangster
Game related: To affiliate with criminal elements (cf. the Click, Game Related, 1995)
Good: Optimistic outlook, as in “It’s All Good”
Gravy: See Good (cf. the Coup, And they tell you it’s all gravy).
Gravity: See Good (cf. E-40)
Grinding (v.): The act of selling drugs on street corners; making money through illegal activities (cf. the Click, “Hustler on the Grind,” 1995)
Grip (n.): Money (cf. Digital Underground, “Packet Man,” 1989)
Gurpin’ (n.): A state of intoxication, whether from liquor, marijuana, or hallucinogens; irrational or paranoid behavior (cf. Hieroglyphics)
Haystack (n.) Hayward, California
Hella (adj.): Derived from “Hell of a lot” Henny (n.): Hennessy cognac
Ho (n.): A whore or prostitute; someone who can be pimped; a rap artist signed to a major label
Hoo-ride (v.): Driving without regard for traffic laws; to be unconcerned with the effect of one’s actions upon others
Hot ones (n.): Shots fired (cf. the Click, “Hot Ones Echo Through the Ghetto,” 1995)
HP (n.): Neighborhood in San Francisco known for high murder rates and producing rap artists (cf. Kevin Epps’ film Straight Outta Hunters Point, 2000)
Ice cream (n.): Cocaine (cf. the Luniz, “Ice Cream Man,” 1994)
Indo (n.): Marijuana of the Indica variety (cf. Dru Down, For myself, I keep Indo!)
Janky (adj.): Flawed, fake, or otherwise lacking in quality
Keyed (v.): Intoxicated on something other than alcohol
Kill-a-hoes (n.): Rap collective from SF’s Hunters Point-Bayview area popular in mid- to late-’90s
Killing Fields: Area of East Oakland comparable to Cambodia under Pol Pot because of its high murder rate (cf. Black Dynasty, “Deep East Oakland,” 1995)
L.I.P.s (n.): Rhymes said by a rapper (“Lemme go into the studio and spit these L.I.P.s”)
LV (n.): Lakeview neighborhood in San Francisco
Ma nigga (n.): Affectionate term only used for one’s closest associates
Mac (n.): Title given to succession of Vallejo rappers, such as the Mac, Mac Dre, and Mac Mall
Mail (n.): Money
Mailman (n.): Someone who makes a lot of money (cf. E-40, The Mailman, 1993)
Mobbin’ (v.): To organize as a collective entity; to drive at a high speed
Mobb music: Funk-based sound invented by producers Studio Ton and Mike Mosely, widely copied throughout the Bay Area
Marinatin’ (v.): Relaxing at leisure; kicking back (cf. E-40)
Moe (pl.): SF’s Fillmore neighborhood
Nade (n.): Marijuana laced with bug spray (cf. 11/5, Kill-a-Hoe niggas smoke Nade, we don’t even care that it’s sprayed)
Nathan (n.): Nothing; null and void (cf. E-40)
Nathaniel (n.): See Nathan (As in, “What’s crackalackin‘?” “Nathaniel”)
O, the (pl.): Oakland, California
Off the chain (exc.): Variant of “off the hook”; an exciting event
Off da heezy: See Off the chain
Off the hinges: See Off the chain
Off the Richter: See Off the chain
Paper (n.): Money
Paper route (n.): Any method of making money, either legal or illegal
Penelopes (n.): Police (cf. E-40, “Fed-X,” 1995)
Pervin’ (v.): Drunk or intoxicated
PH (n.) : Player hater; one who envies another’s success (cf. Mac Mall, “Suckers PH,” 1995)
PG (n.): The pimp game
Pimpin’ (v.): To handle oneself in a dominant, controlling manner; affectionate greeting (“What’s up, Pimpin’?”)
Pimp skillet: Term of respectful endearment (cf. E-40)
Po-pos (n.): Police (cf. E-40, “Outsmart the Po-pos,” 1991)
San Jo (pl.): San Jose, California
Saucy (adj.): Impressive or desirable (“That car is Hella Saucy”)
Scratch (n.): Money
Scrilla (n.): See Scratch
SFC (pl.): San Francisco City (cf. RBL Posse)
Sideshow (n.): Illegal exhibition of cars held on public streets (cf. 415, “Sideshow,” 1989)
Sidewayz (v.): To drive in a reckless manner at high speeds (cf. E-40, “Sidewayz,” 1995) Smebbin’ (v.): see Smobbin’ (cf. E-40)
Smobbin’ (v.): See Mobbin’ (cf. IMP, Smobbin’ the backstreets, no registration, no pink slip, 1995)
Sohab (n.): Individual from Hillside neighborhood of Vallejo (cf. E-40, the Click)
Sucka Free (n. pl.): San Francisco
Telly (n.): Hotel room (cf. Mac Mall, “Let’s Get a Telly,” 1995)
Twomp (n.): Twenty-dollar bag of marijuana
Twomps, the (n. pl.): Neighborhood in Oaklandbetween 20th and 29th avenues
V, the (n.): Vallejo, California
Vega (n.): Garcia y Vega cigar used in rolling blunts (cf. 11/5, Everybody light your Vega)
Wesssiiide (pl.): The West Coast
Yay Area (pl.): The Bay Area (cf. E-40, I represent the Yay Area)
Yayo (n.): Cocaine
Yola (n.): See Yayo (cf. 11/5, A-1 Yola, 1995)
Zat (n.): A gun, derived from “gat” (cf. Conscious Daughters, “Fonky Expedition,” 1994)
Zip (n.): An ounce of marijuana
Compiled by Eric K. Arnold, with props to the online Bay Area Hip-Hop Dictionary.
