Common hip hop terms and phrases
Rapping (also known as em-cee-ing or MC-ing): when rhyming song lyrics are spoken or chanted. It is usually delivered in time to a beat or “a capella” (singing without instruments).
DJ-ing (aka Disc Jockeying): when a person selects and plays records/CDs for an audience. Hip hop DJs select and play music using two turntables. They may also use turntable skills such as “scratching“, “mixing” and “beat juggling” to create percussive sounds/variations.
Sampling: taking a portion, or sample, of a sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording in another song. Often “samples” consist of one part of a song being mixed into another.
Beat-boxing: a form of vocal percussion which involves producing drum beats, rhythm and musical sounds using one’s mouth, lips, tongue and voice.
Breaking (or break dancing): breaking is the original dance style of hip hop culture and includes five foundation elements:
- top rock: steps performed while standing up
- drops: different ways of getting to the floor
- footwork: rhythmic steps performed on the floor
- power moves: rotating acrobatic movements derived from gymnastics
- freezes: sudden stops to a specific part of the break can be performed standing up, on the floor or upside-down.
Bboy/Bgirl (short for Break Boy/Break Girl): a person who expresses themselves using breaking.
Locking: a funk dance style by Don Cambellock which began in California in the late 1960s and is now associated with hip hop culture. A dancer uses wrist rolls, points and locks to dance to traditional funk music.
Popping: a funk dance style which also began in California, in the 1970s. The dancer quickly contracts and relaxes their muscles to funk music to cause a jerk in their body. Popping combines a range of styles and techniques such as Electric Boogaloo, waving, animation, gliding and Fresno, to name a few.
Freestyle (also known as hip hop dance): this dance style began with dancers performing as back-up to rap acts in the 1990s. It involves a range of dance styles including New Jack swing, popping and locking, and is usually performed standing up. This dance style is frequently seen in video clips.
Head spin: a power move used in breaking where a Bboy or Bgirl balances on their head and spins around, usually without the support of their hands.
Freeze: where a Bboy or Bgirl stops - in time to a specific part of a funk break - in a position which may include using their whole body to balance.
Handstand: the performer supports their body in a stable position by balancing on their hands.
Backflip: a sequence of body movements where the performer leaps into the air and rotates their body while airborne.
Back spin: the performer is on their back and uses their legs to spin themselves around for a few seconds.
Speaking terms
Brother: a word used to refer to a male friend.
Sister: a word used to refer to a female friend.
Oh yeah: term used to encourage enthusiasm, yes.
Yo: a word to get someone’s attention, hey.
Sweet/Smashing/Sick: a word to describe something that is good, great.
Deadly: a word to describe something that is excellent, very good.
Hot: a word to describe something that is fantastic/great.
Da-bomb: another phrase to describe something that is fantastic, great.
Wass up: a phrase to ask how someone is.
