How Well Do You Know Your Rap Slang?

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By: Lauren Lubas

6 Min Quiz

Image: BJ Formento/DigitalVision/Getty Images

About This Quiz

Do you think it's easy being a rapper? There are so many different terms that you have to remember, and you have to start getting creative when you write your lyrics. Not only do creative lyrics attract fans, they also help you avoid getting your music banned from the radio. We learn so many different words for intercourse, violence, weapons, and drugs from rap music that we basically get an insight into a second language. Knowing rap slang is no joke, and if you have the additional vocabulary, you can keep up with the best of them.

This quiz isn't just about words used in rap songs, it's about the language and culture of rap music since its inception. These terms and phrases brought us an understanding of what it was like to live in the terrible neighborhoods of LA, New York and Detroit. They helped connect to those who lived in those cities, and they changed the way we look at language in general. If you think you have a grasp on rap slang, we challenge you to this intense quiz. If you think you have what it takes to ace this quiz, answer these questions, and let's see how well you know your rap slang.

Joe got "heated" over some idiot. What does it mean when Joe is heated?

When you're really angry, you're heated. Of course, this also is a direct term for something that has escalated. For example, you can get into a heated discussion with a heated person ... if you know your rap slang.

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"She's a 'dime'" means that she's what?

In rap slang, there are quite a few words for an attractive woman. One of those words is "dime." A dime is ten cents, and an attractive woman is a perfect ten, so the correlation is that a perfect woman is a dime.

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"He has a 'biscuit!' We should run." What is a biscuit in this situation?

A "biscuit" can refer to a lot of things in the rap slang world—the most common ones are a good-looking woman and a gun. This is a good way to get some banned words over the radio waves.

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If you have to "dip," what do you have to do?

In rap slang, "dip" isn't chewing tobacco; it means to leave. If you want to make an exit at a party, just shout that you "gotta dip," and you'll get the proper farewell in response.

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Jack knows Sam from the hood. Where is the hood?

This one is an oldie but a goodie. Your neighborhood is your hood. It was used in the early stages of rap slang, where rappers simply dropped the "neighbor" because neighbors weren't always that neighborly in the hood.

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Who would you call a "brodie"?

There have been so many variations of "homeboy" over the years, and "Brodie" is another step in the evolution of the word. It is a mix between bro and homie. The ladies love brodies, and they are normally really cool dudes.

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If someone near you is spittin', what are they doing?

More specifically, spittin' is a form of freestyle rap. It's just putting words out there for all to hear, or if you're in a rap battle, you might spit out a few lines about someone's mom.

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"Hop in the L dog, and let's bounce!" What are you hopping into?

More specifically, an "L dog" is an old Lincoln, generally from the 1970s or 1980s. In the mid- to late-2000s, these became classic cars that many rappers coveted because they brought them back to the old days.

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If you're "coolin' it," what are you doing?

While there are many rap slang words and phrases for relaxing, "coolin' it" is a great way to say that you're not moving for the rest of the day. While you can tell someone who is freaking out to cool it, if you are the one coolin' it, you are simply relaxing.

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"May I please have a 'big face'?" What am I asking for?

A "big face" can also mean a $20 or $50 bill, as these monetary notes' designs were changed around the time this term became famous. The design made the faces on the bills bigger, hence the term "big face."

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Here's another easy one to give your brain a break. If someone has a lot of "bling-bling" what do they have?

"Bling-Bling" is based on the sound that diamonds would make if they made sounds as they shine. It was made famous by Weezy F. Baby (also known as Lil Wayne), and it really came to the spotlight with P!NK's song "Most Girls."

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What does C.R.E.A.M. stand for?

The term "C.R.EA.M." originated from the Wu-Tang Clan song with the same name and made a splash in the mid-1990s. It was an interesting song that had different values than most rap songs of its time.

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If you're driving a "hooptie," what kind of car are you driving?

There are some specific rules for calling a car a "hooptie," but for the most part, people call their terrible cars this name. Some people don't consider a car a "hooptie" unless it has a list of problems but is still treated like a classic.

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Alright, you might know what a gangsta is, but what if the word is used in this context: "That ride is so gangsta"?

The word "gangsta" evolved over the years, and it is no longer used just to define a person, but it can describe something as tough as well. For example, you could say that a dog is gangsta, if it can hold up.

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We're going to start with some easy ones to warm you up. If your friend says, "He is so gangsta," what is he?

The word "gangsta" originated in LA. The term can be heard in dozens of rap songs, and it shows that a man has power, wealth and superiority. In general, it is used to describe a hardcore rapper.

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If someone tells you to meet them at the "telly," what should you do?

If you don't know your rap slang, you might think that the telly is your telephone, as it was once referred to as such. However, in rap slang, a "telly" is a hotel. It's also spelled tely, telli, tellee.

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Here's an oldie but goodie: If someone came up to you and said, "Let's bust a move," what do they want you to do?

"Bust a move" is another phrase that has come to have many meanings over the years. But for the sake of this quiz, it means to get on the dance floor and do some specific dance moves.

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What is rapper slang for Rolex?

Snoop Dogg doesn't mind telling people that he has a Rolly on his arm, and you shouldn't either. For many rappers, fine jewelry was a sign of success and importance. Snoop Dogg was no different.

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If you're "bent", what are you?

Being "bent" is the same as being under the influence of both drugs and alcohol. The intoxication may have some people "bent" out of shape and unable to perform basic tasks.

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If something was stolen from you, what would you say?

The word "gank" has been used for a long time, and it even crossed genres out of the rap world in the early 1990s. To gank something is to steal something or take something that isn't yours.

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When someone is "plexing," what are they doing?

There are many definitions for plexing, some of which aren't suited for this quiz. However, for rap slang, plexing simply means that you are starting some stuff with someone.

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Did you know Sally is a juggale? In this sentence, what is Sally?

A juggalo isn't just a fan of Insane Clown Posse, they are avid followers, fanatics and a part of the culture. While many juggalos find that they are targeted by police and religious groups, others have been able to live out their lives in peace.

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Which of these slang terms is NOT used to describe a vehicle?

Rap slang is filled with words that are names for different vehicles. Unfortunately, Dom P. is not one of them. Dom P. refers to the very expensive champagne that rappers like to have at parties.

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Which of these numbers has meaning in the rap slang world?

5150 is the California Welfare and Institutions code from someone who is mentally ill. More specifically, it's the police code for someone who is mentally unstable and a danger to others and themselves.

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What does the number 730 mean?

"730" means crazy, but it also can be used to call someone crazy. For example, you could say "that was 730" or you could say "he's 730." 730 refers to the code officers use when someone is out of control and a danger.

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Which of these terms is NOT East Coast rap slang?

Fa Shizzle was made famous by Snoop Dogg with his lyrics in "Suited N Booted." He rapped "Fa shizzle my nizzle, the big Snoopy D-O-double-jizzle, back up in the hizzle." It made sense to him, and now it makes sense to us.

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What kind of car is a "Cut"?

An Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme was often referred to as a "cut" or a "cut dog." These older cars were also considered classics in the early and mid-2000s.

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What is "808" a reference to?

The Roland TR-808 was a drum machine that could create synthesized music and keep beats for rappers on the streets. 808 also refers to a penal code ... the one for disturbing the peace.

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If you called someone "ratchet," what did you call them?

The term "ratchet" is generally used in a very negative way to call someone crazy. It's very rarely used in a friendly or joking manner. This rap term originated in New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

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Who would you most likely call a "boy boy"?

You might call your best friend "boy," but your closest friend would be called "boy boy." This term can also mean a friend with benefits or street slang for a common and dangerous drug.

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Which of these terms is NOT used to describe an amount of money in rap slang?

"On Grind" actually means "making money" whereas the other terms are denominations of money. A handful is a $5 bill, a c-note is a $100 bill and K is $1,000.

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Which of these terms is a Midwest rap term?

A Stan is an obsessed fan. Made famous by Eminem's song "Stan," this term originated in Michigan and can be used to replace the word "fan." Example: She's the biggest Beastie Boys Stan

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"Gouda" isn't just cheese. It also means money. Where did this word originate?

Gouda isn't a kind of cheese when it comes to rap slang, but cheese is money in rap slang, so it does kind of connect. In rap slang, "Gouda" is one of the many words that mean money.

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