MNeagle
16th December 2010, 07:08 AM
Gangsta slang is its own legalese
Lick, elbow and strap are common words with common meanings.
In the lively argot of the street, the words have other definitions that make their way into Hennepin County District courtrooms.
A lick doesn't involve a tongue; it's a robbery. An elbow is a pound of marijuana. A strap is a gun.
In 2007, Deaunteze Bobo was convicted of murder after testimony showed he directed a passenger in his vehicle to "get his strap out" and shoot into another car.
A fiend is a drug-dealer's term for a strung-out addict.
"Vulture hour" is six hours of prime drug-dealing time, from midnight to 6 a.m. Attempts to move in on a dealer's "vulture hour" turf can end in death.
A .22-caliber gun is a "deuce-deuce."
When someone is "blacked out," he is in dark clothes from head to toe and ready to commit a crime. Usually, the outfit includes a black hoodie with the hood up.
Someone "in the cut" is in a hiding spot between buildings.
One murder trial repeatedly included references to the defendant being "blacked out" and waiting "in the cut."
"Catching a case" is street-gang speak for being charged with a crime.
"Getting a cut" refers to the shaving of a prison sentence in exchange for cooperation with prosecutors and/or police, who are called "po-po."
Being "on federal paper" means the U.S. government has charged you with a crime. Long federal sentences mean that a defendant "on federal paper" is usually more willing to work with prosecutors.
"Finna" is a popular abbreviation for the phrase "fixing to."
"Cuz" is a sobriquet for just about any one you've ever met.
"Roll up on" means aggressively approach with nefarious intentions.
Putting the phrases together: "What up, cuz? Let's get blacked out because I'm finna hit on a lick for an elbow during vulture hour, so get your strap. We'll wait in the cut and roll up on him."
http://www.startribune.com/local/111964824.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUi D3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUsr
Lick, elbow and strap are common words with common meanings.
In the lively argot of the street, the words have other definitions that make their way into Hennepin County District courtrooms.
A lick doesn't involve a tongue; it's a robbery. An elbow is a pound of marijuana. A strap is a gun.
In 2007, Deaunteze Bobo was convicted of murder after testimony showed he directed a passenger in his vehicle to "get his strap out" and shoot into another car.
A fiend is a drug-dealer's term for a strung-out addict.
"Vulture hour" is six hours of prime drug-dealing time, from midnight to 6 a.m. Attempts to move in on a dealer's "vulture hour" turf can end in death.
A .22-caliber gun is a "deuce-deuce."
When someone is "blacked out," he is in dark clothes from head to toe and ready to commit a crime. Usually, the outfit includes a black hoodie with the hood up.
Someone "in the cut" is in a hiding spot between buildings.
One murder trial repeatedly included references to the defendant being "blacked out" and waiting "in the cut."
"Catching a case" is street-gang speak for being charged with a crime.
"Getting a cut" refers to the shaving of a prison sentence in exchange for cooperation with prosecutors and/or police, who are called "po-po."
Being "on federal paper" means the U.S. government has charged you with a crime. Long federal sentences mean that a defendant "on federal paper" is usually more willing to work with prosecutors.
"Finna" is a popular abbreviation for the phrase "fixing to."
"Cuz" is a sobriquet for just about any one you've ever met.
"Roll up on" means aggressively approach with nefarious intentions.
Putting the phrases together: "What up, cuz? Let's get blacked out because I'm finna hit on a lick for an elbow during vulture hour, so get your strap. We'll wait in the cut and roll up on him."
http://www.startribune.com/local/111964824.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUi D3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUsr