Bay Area Slang...

An Abridged Guide to Yay Area Slang
From Bammer to Zat, feel me?

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)

C-Town (n.): Concord, California

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)

Hyphy (adj.) Derived from "Hype" and "Fly"

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