(Credits: Far Out / Maksym Pozniak-Haraburda)
Music is more than background noise. Music is a fundamental part of society, which can incite genuine cultural change, not only in the attitudes of those who listen to it but in how they dress, act and speak. The latter is impacted thanks to many different artists inventing words to put in their songs and those songs becoming popular. Then, the word and its subsequent meaning become an intrinsic part of language.
This happens a lot more than you might think. Many words commonly used in everyday speech and wholly understood by generations young and old were initially confined to the tape in a cassette. Now, those words form a part of our regular communication; whether that is to brag, flirt or be existential, these words cover absolutely everything.
Many are relatively recent – in the grand scheme of music, that is. This is because they were propelled to the mainstream by rap music, a genre that relies on speech and, therefore, uses unfamiliar words and phrases to fit a cadence better and add a layer of originality to the track. Regardless of where they come from, though, they have official meaning and aren’t going anywhere in a hurry.
‘YOLO’ is now a familiar phrase known by nearly everyone. The sentiment of it is relatively sweet. Standing for “You Only Live Once”, the word is a testament towards spontaneity that often takes a backseat against rationale. ‘YOLO’ tells people not to worry about the future and live in the moment because one day you aren’t going to be here. The phrase was used multiple times in history but was made famous in Drake’s single ‘The Motto’. The words went from the song to hashtags and eventually to court, as Drake claimed he had such a hand in popularising it that he was owed royalties for its persistent use.
Another word that people frequently use is ‘Bling’. It originally comes from Jamaica as a slang term for expensive jewellery, but many people first heard it on the track ‘Bling Bling’ by New Orleans rap duo Cash Money Millionaires. It is now used as a general means to express wealth and can be found in multiple music genres.
‘Twerk’ is a term that is now in the Oxford English Dictionary, and it pertains to a sexually provocative dance. It can be used to accompany some genres of music like dancehall, while other genres, such as rap, have used the word to describe what they want to do to someone or what they want someone to do to them. It originally appeared in DJ Jubilee’s track ‘Do the Jubilee’, but since then, it has been used by the likes of Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, and Nicki Minaj.
‘Mic drop’ extends much further than just music now. It was initially used in Eric B and Rakim’s track, ‘I Ain’t No Joke’, as the rapper says, “I ain’t no joke / I used to let the mic smoke / Now I slam it when I’m done and make sure it’s broke”. It means to finish singing, rapping, or saying something poignant and acts as a physical full stop. It has made its way into all forms of culture, as Barack Obama even ended his second term as president with the words, “Obama out”, before dropping the mic he was speaking into.
Finally, many people now know what the term ‘diss’ means, and though it is just the shortening of the word ‘disrespect’, its origins still date back to music. To ‘diss’ someone means to say something hostile towards them or to act in a way which shows them disrespect. Now, it is less used in the lyrics of songs and pertains more to a specific type of song that attacks another individual, referred to as a ‘diss track’.
Five words from music now in the dictionary :
- YOLO: Used to express the view that one should make the most of the present moment without worrying about the future.
- Bling: [A piece of] ostentatious jewellery.
- Twerk: A sexually provocative dance or dance move involving thrusting movements of the bottom and hips while in a low, squatting stance.
- Mic drop: An act of intentionally dropping a microphone after you have given a speech or performance as a way of making an impressive ending.
- Diss: Failure to show respect; an expression of scorn or contempt.
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