A comprehensive reference guide to the vocabulary and phraseology of Hip-Hop culture.

The inventive sounds of hip-hop (which became America’s number two music genre in 2001, outselling the country category) have echoed far from their Bronx beginnings of twenty years ago. Making its way from Compton sidewalks to suburban malls, garnering commentary from The Wall Street Journal alongside Vibe, hip-hop by definition delivers its messages as creatively as it can. Celebrating hip-hop’s boon to the realm of self-expression, Hip Hoptionary™ translates dozens of phrases such as “marinating in the rizzi with your road dawg” (relaxing in your car with your friend), including:

• Big bodies: SUVs or luxury vehicles
• Government handle: registered birth name
• 411: the latest scoop or information
• Bling-bling: diamonds, big money, flash and cash
• Brick City: Newark, New Jersey
• 1812: war, fight (as in War of 1812)

In addition to the lexicon of idioms and beeper codes, Hip Hoptionary™ also features lists of hip-hop fashion labels, books, mixed drinks, and brief bios of America’s famous rappers, making this the ultimate guide for students, linguists, writers, pop culture fans—and all those interested in learning Hip-Hop vernacular.

 
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Alonzo Westbrook is a writer and former General Assignment Reporter for ABC and CBS affiliates in Charlotte North Carolina, Dayton Ohio, and Macon Georgia.