“Scraper Scraper/full up with rippers/purple purple/gone off the liquor,” chants Mistah F.A.B. on his recent single “Super Sic Wit It.”

Anyone unfamiliar with the Bay Area hip-hop dialect would be scratching their heads wondering what he’s talking about. But to the seasoned native, they would know that the artist is boasting about being intoxicated by potent marijuana and alcohol while surrounded by easy women in a beat-up Buick with rims.

“See out here, we speak a little different,” said 24-year-old Sean Perl, a recent graduate of SF State.
“Hyphy, a word popularized by Bay Area artists such as Federation and Keak da Sneak, is a mix of hyper and fly. Thizzin’, originally from Vallejo’s Mac Dre, is a parody of the face someone makes when they’re on ecstasy,” explained Perl.

These two facets make up the “New Bay” culture of acting up when a song comes on, and when asked to explain what “New Bay” meant, Perl replied “Now that’s when it gets complicated."

The Bay Area has a long history of originating unique word variations. The most notable Ambassador of diction is rapper E-40, creating phrases such as wassupper, bootsy, and the most widely-adapted suffix “-izzle.”

Graphic design major Nino Pelaez, 23, has grown up with this language all of his life, and can easily decipher the lingo non-Bay Area residents might shrug their shoulders at in confusion.

“When I say ‘I got my stunnas on doing hella much,’ it means I have my Aviator Sunglasses on, acting overenthusiastic,” said Pelaez.

As simple as it seems, uttering this singular phrase can reveal to the careful observer exactly where in the country the speaker is from, and whether or not they’re likely over the age of 25.

“The funny thing is, that our variation of hip-hop dialect, is the most imitated and least attributed form of street talk in pop culture. "You got high fashion models ‘poppin’ their collars’ and Fran Drescher saying ‘fa shizzle’ in Old Navy commercials.

But nobody wants to recognize the origin of these phrases,” said Pelaez.

Maybe that’s why "going dumb" is part of a movement in the Bay Area, because people are tired of not getting attention for dripping with such creativity. "Going dumb" is a carefree energy similar to those at mosh pits, but in a hip-hop fashion of shaking dreadlocks - if you have them - and popping collars.

Mark Scott, a freshman at SF State, enjoys going dumb at any major social event, because he feels that it brings unity between those who are privy to the unique culture.

“I would be considered the ‘New Bay’ because I’m young, and there’s a different kind of movement for people my age that have them interested in local music again. It’s something that the rest of the world doesn’t yet share and is a source of pride,” said Scott.

It’s also a way to see if you are considered a member of a certain group, code talk that can easily spot outsiders looking to infiltrate.

“People on the streets always had codes for things, like calling police one time or 5-0. So if they use the same language, it’s a form of communication that can show whether or not you’re in solidarity with a group,” said Perl.

Some words, also have an expiration date, such as neato in the 50s and groovy in the 70s.

“Who knows, hopefully I get hyphy until I’m 80 years old,” said Perl.