Gangsta slang is its own legalese

[MNeagle]

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/111...PQLanchO7DiUsr

[solid]

Good article and good information.

"Everyone be gettin' hyphy at the sideshow until da po-po showed up. That sh!t was CrAzY!"

Don't forget "the uniform", blue jeans, white t-shirts (black hoodies in the evening), and dreadlocks...if everyone looks the same, it's hard to ID them.

[osoab]

Whatcha talkin about Willis?

[Twisted Titan]

Yo for my shorty MN good lookin on tossing out dis kite for da peeps on da GSUS front Mah cuz on da real......... Keepin us in da loop is jon blaze cuz mad fools be tryin to test ya heart in da jungle Mah. Gotta be ready to strecth a cat out mad quick cuz fools be wildin az of late cuz they aint much paper out there fo' evebody to be eatin rite Mah.

Translation:

My Dearest MN: It is with great appreciation that you made this information available to your sisters and brothers on GSUS. By keeping us informed we will be better able to asses those that may potentially wish to do us harm and if needed take appropriate defensive action swiftly because as the economy errodes people that are truly desperate will be more inclined to take drastic measures.

[SLV^GLD]

Somebody's been watching The Wire?

[DMac]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RezHc7YRSlA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ymMBEwtRZOg&NR=1

[horseshoe3]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6H0i1RAdHk

[Ponce]

If you were to take an ancient American-English from the 17 century and have him talk to a sixteen year old from our generation then to the ancient it would be like if we were talking legalese or jibe... and the same thing will happen 300 years from now.

[Awoke]

http://www.mileanhour.com/files/2010...o7v5o1-250.gif

[Gaillo]

Legalese? More like Illegalese!

I'm familiar with most of that slang, having listened to Rap for years... "in the cut" and a few others were new to me though - I'm sure Ebonics is "evolving" like most languages. Doesn't look like they got this one:

Cheese or Cheddar = FRN's. I've also heard "Lettuce" for the same meaning - but only in older Rap.