departs: I’m outta here, I’m Audi 5000! Unrelated to ownership of, or travel in, the popular Audi sedan of the same name.
baby mama ( n ): The mother of one’s child, typically used to describe an unmarried parent. As you know, out-of-wedlock birth is a big problem for these folks, so let’s be sensitive there.
baller ( n ): Ballplayer, though often used to denote one who has garnered a reputation for success (legitimate or criminal). Includes a connotation of success with the fairer sex (sometimes referred to as “bitches,” “hos,” or “tricks”).
bank ( n ): Money. This is a tough one because it doesn’t mean the place where the money is stored. It’s just the money itself. I know, that makes no sense. Don’t shoot the messenger. Keep an open mind. [See also cheese, cheddar, benjamins, and dead presidents .]
benjamins ( n ): Money, specifically $100 bills, as in P. Diddy’s “It’s All About the Benjamins.” You see, Benjamin Franklin’s face appears on a $100 bill.
bling ( n ): Jewelry, especially the large gold, platinum, and diamond rings and pendants favored by those sporting the “ghetto fabulous” style. An example is the “Jesus Piece” worn by Kanye West. Upper-middle-class white moms have started to use this one.
blow up the spot ( v ): To give a great performance onstage. Generally used to describe hip-hop artists, but let’s broaden it out on the air: Hey, Gary! Great report on the five-day weather outlook. You totally blew up the spot! [Note: should not be used to punch up our Afghanistan or Iraq coverage.]
blunt ( n ): marijuana rolled into the shell of a Phillies Blunt cigar. [Note: marijuana is illegal and should not be glorified here at BNO.]
bounce ( v ): To depart, get going, move on. [Point of personal privilege here: also a terrific Gwyneth Paltrow/Ben Affleck vehicle a few years back. Grab the Kleenex!]
bug ( v ): To behave inappropriately, irrationally, or strangely: Why you acting so crazy? You buggin’! Not related in this context to insects.
catch the vapors ( v ): To be overly involved in, or covetous of, another’s popularity, style, or vibe. [Note: our sources report that no one has said this for 20 years.]
chill 1. ( v ): An entreaty (or command) to relax. Also a smart thing to do with Chardonnay 20 minutes before company comes over. 2. ( adj ): Relaxed and mellow.
crib ( n ): A person’s home. As the recent years of MTV Cribs has taught us, pretty much anything with a front door and a roof is considered a “crib.” [Note: not considered “ghetto fabulous” when used to describe an infant’s bed.]
Cristal ( n ): Expensive champagne often preferred by hip-hop artists and sprayed from VIP sections of nightclubs as a display of wealth.
dawg ( n ): Term of endearment to describe a friend: That’s my dawg right there! or I feel you, dawg! You may recognize this usage from American Idol judge Randy Jackson, who, surprisingly, is not considered part of the hip-hop community. Go figure.
dis ( v ): To insult or disparage. Short for “disrespect”: Hey, you! Don’t dis my new Sperry Top-Siders!
dope ( adj ): Very good, high quality, fantastic. Also slang for “drugs,” which have plagued urban communities for decades now. It’s really sad, but what are you gonna do, right?
down with ( adv ): Embracing a particular idea, activity, or thing: Are you down with that? You’d better believe I am! Wait, what are we talking about?
drop science, drop knowledge ( v ): To provide wisdom or skill. To instruct. This one confuses me. The “knowledge” part I get. It’s all the “dropping” I’m hung up on. I’ve asked our lawyers to check into it.
flava ( n ): Flavor, style: Give it your own flava, yo. Let’s be honest, and we don’t mean to be insensitive, but this one is just a flat-out misspelling of the word “flavor.”
floss ( v ): To show off, most often with an overt display of material wealth. Flashing items (e.g., one’s cheddar or bling
baby mama ( n ): The mother of one’s child, typically used to describe an unmarried parent. As you know, out-of-wedlock birth is a big problem for these folks, so let’s be sensitive there.
baller ( n ): Ballplayer, though often used to denote one who has garnered a reputation for success (legitimate or criminal). Includes a connotation of success with the fairer sex (sometimes referred to as “bitches,” “hos,” or “tricks”).
bank ( n ): Money. This is a tough one because it doesn’t mean the place where the money is stored. It’s just the money itself. I know, that makes no sense. Don’t shoot the messenger. Keep an open mind. [See also cheese, cheddar, benjamins, and dead presidents .]
benjamins ( n ): Money, specifically $100 bills, as in P. Diddy’s “It’s All About the Benjamins.” You see, Benjamin Franklin’s face appears on a $100 bill.
bling ( n ): Jewelry, especially the large gold, platinum, and diamond rings and pendants favored by those sporting the “ghetto fabulous” style. An example is the “Jesus Piece” worn by Kanye West. Upper-middle-class white moms have started to use this one.
blow up the spot ( v ): To give a great performance onstage. Generally used to describe hip-hop artists, but let’s broaden it out on the air: Hey, Gary! Great report on the five-day weather outlook. You totally blew up the spot! [Note: should not be used to punch up our Afghanistan or Iraq coverage.]
blunt ( n ): marijuana rolled into the shell of a Phillies Blunt cigar. [Note: marijuana is illegal and should not be glorified here at BNO.]
bounce ( v ): To depart, get going, move on. [Point of personal privilege here: also a terrific Gwyneth Paltrow/Ben Affleck vehicle a few years back. Grab the Kleenex!]
bug ( v ): To behave inappropriately, irrationally, or strangely: Why you acting so crazy? You buggin’! Not related in this context to insects.
catch the vapors ( v ): To be overly involved in, or covetous of, another’s popularity, style, or vibe. [Note: our sources report that no one has said this for 20 years.]
chill 1. ( v ): An entreaty (or command) to relax. Also a smart thing to do with Chardonnay 20 minutes before company comes over. 2. ( adj ): Relaxed and mellow.
crib ( n ): A person’s home. As the recent years of MTV Cribs has taught us, pretty much anything with a front door and a roof is considered a “crib.” [Note: not considered “ghetto fabulous” when used to describe an infant’s bed.]
Cristal ( n ): Expensive champagne often preferred by hip-hop artists and sprayed from VIP sections of nightclubs as a display of wealth.
dawg ( n ): Term of endearment to describe a friend: That’s my dawg right there! or I feel you, dawg! You may recognize this usage from American Idol judge Randy Jackson, who, surprisingly, is not considered part of the hip-hop community. Go figure.
dis ( v ): To insult or disparage. Short for “disrespect”: Hey, you! Don’t dis my new Sperry Top-Siders!
dope ( adj ): Very good, high quality, fantastic. Also slang for “drugs,” which have plagued urban communities for decades now. It’s really sad, but what are you gonna do, right?
down with ( adv ): Embracing a particular idea, activity, or thing: Are you down with that? You’d better believe I am! Wait, what are we talking about?
drop science, drop knowledge ( v ): To provide wisdom or skill. To instruct. This one confuses me. The “knowledge” part I get. It’s all the “dropping” I’m hung up on. I’ve asked our lawyers to check into it.
flava ( n ): Flavor, style: Give it your own flava, yo. Let’s be honest, and we don’t mean to be insensitive, but this one is just a flat-out misspelling of the word “flavor.”
floss ( v ): To show off, most often with an overt display of material wealth. Flashing items (e.g., one’s cheddar or bling
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