Take this job and shove it.
I ain’t working here no more.

Vocabulary

These words and phrases are related to jobs and working. Review the vocabulary and then listen to the song to hear it in context.

• employment (noun) – a job or work that you do for money. What is your place of employment?
• coworker (noun) – a person who you work with. My coworker is meeting me for drinks later tonight.
• occupational performance (noun) – the quality of work that you do at your job. If your occupational performance is not good, you might get fired!
  • occupation (noun) – a job that you do for money
• work load (noun) – the amount of work that you have to do at your job. I don’t have enough time. The work load is too much!
• lay off / laid off (sep. phrasal verb) – to fire somebody; to terminate somebody’s job. The company laid off many employees because of low profits.
• chips (slang) – money. I want to find a new job with more chips.
• stick it out (phrasal verb) – to continue doing something, especially if it is difficult or boring. I hate my job, but I have to stick it out to pay my bills.
• shove it (idiom) – a very rude phrase used to say you don’t appreciate or accept something. I hate business meetings! The boss needs to take these meetings and shove it!
• S-O-B (slang) –  an abbreviation for “son of a bitch”
• 9 to 5 job (idiom) – a typical office job that normally begins at 9:00 AM and ends at 5:00 PM. I hate my 9 to 5!
• unemployment (noun) – not having a job. I lost my job last week, so I am receiving unemployment benefits from the government.
  • If you lose your job, you might qualify for unemployment benefits. You have to visit a government office and usually wait in a long unemployment line.
• boss (noun) – a manager or supervisor at work who tells other people what to do. I don’t like my boss because he’s so rude.
• gig (idiom) – a job that you do for money, especially a temporary job. I have a pretty good gig right now. I hope I can be hired as a full time employee.
• cubicle (noun) – a very small office. There are usually many cubicles in one large room. I wish I didn’t work in a cubicle all day.
• picnic in the park / walk in the park (idiom) – very easy to do. This job is a picnic in the park.
• to stay wired (idiom) – to be very alert and awake, especially after drinking a lot of coffee. I’ve had three Red Bulls. I’m so wired right now.

Passive Voice with ‘Get’

The boss’s favorites get placed in something spacious
while the most hated get placed in some small cubicle spaces,
or get thrown down in the basement. Get your stapler confiscated.

To make the passive voice, we usually use a form of the verb be and the past participle. In informal spoken English, you may substitute the be verb with get.

Subject + get/got/gotten + past participle.

Subject + negative auxiliary + past participle. 

Question auxiliary + subject + past participle. 

• I get paid on the first day of every month. I don’t get paid on the 15th. Do you get paid on the 1st?
• I got paid last week. I didn’t get paid yesterday. Did you get paid last week?
  
• I will get paid next month. I won’t get paid tomorrow. Will you get paid tomorrow?
• I am going to get paid next month. I am not going to get paid in four days. Are you going to get paid in four days?
• I am getting paid in cash right now. I am not getting paid by direct deposit. Are you getting paid in cash now
• I have gotten paid. I haven’t gotten paid yet. Have you gotten paid yet?
• I had gotten paid. I had not gotten paid. Had you gotten paid at that point?

These forms with get are not possible with be.

• I will be getting paid tomorrow at noon. I will not be getting paid at noon. When will you be getting paid?
• I had been getting paid by him. I had not been getting paid by her. Had you been getting paid by him, too?
• I have been getting paid for several months. I have not been getting paid for years. How long have you been getting paid?

Writing Task

Have you ever had a bad job? What did you dislike about it? If you saw your old boss today, what would you say to him or her? Please write your ideas in the comments below!

The post If you hate your job, you’ll love this song! appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

Everyone trying to be trife never face the consequences.
You probably only did a month for minor offences.
Ask a nigga doing life if he had another chance,
but then again there’s always the wicked that knew in advance.
Dance forever with the devil on a cold cell block,
but that’s what happens when you rape, murder and sell rock.
Devils used to be God’s angels that fell from the top.
There’s no diversity because we’re burning in the melting pot.

Vocabulary

In this powerful song, Immortal Technique describes how drugs and crime are destroying communities every day. He tells a story about a boy named William who abandons his mother and morals in order to live a lavish life of money, drugs and women. The end of the story is as surprising as it is shocking. Please review these words and phrases and then listen to the song.

• illest (adjective) – very good; the best and highest quality. This is the illest beat that I’ve ever heard!
• hustler (noun) – a person who makes money illegally, usually by selling drugs. Life is not like the movies. If you are a hustler, you will have a very difficult life indeed. 
  • hustle is the verb form
• coke (noun) – an abbreviation for cocaine, which is a highly addictive and illegal drug. Coke is illegal in nearly every country in the world. If you’re caught with it, you will go to jail.
  • rock is a slang word for crack, which is a pure and highly addictive form of cocaine.
• fiend (noun) – a very unpleasant person who is addicted to drugs; a junkie. Many drug fiends commit crimes in order to afford their expensive drug usage. If we treat drug addiction as a health problem, then we should see a decrease in these crimes.
• hit and run prospects (phrase) – something or someone that you can take advantage of and then quickly abandon. This phrase normally refers to young women who become the victims of sketchy men.
• squeal (verb) – to make a very unpleasant noise; in the context of this song, squeal means to reveal a secret. Did he squeal to the police? 
• drop out of (phrasal verb) – to leave school without completing your studies. Statistic have shown that people who drop out of college are more likely to live in poverty.
• give in (phrasal verb) – to do something that you don’t want to do or is unpleasant. I was cigarette free for a few days, but then I gave in yesterday. Quitting smoking is so hard!
• trife (adjective) – this is an abbreviation of the word ‘trifle’ or ‘trifling.’ If something is trife, it is unattractive, undesirable or morally corrupt. Don’t be trife! 
• do life (idiom) – to spend the rest of your life in jail or prison. If he does not accept the plea deal, he might do life in prison. 
• step up (phrasal verb) – to increase the speed, volume, amount, etc, of something. We need to clean up the house before my wife gets home. Can you step it up a bit?
• cut throat (adjective) – a person who is ruthless, competitive and aggressive. The competition at my company is so cut-throat!
• bust slugs (slang) – to shoot a gun.
• smoke somebody (slang) – to shoot somebody. Martin Scorsese films are so violent. People are getting smoked every two seconds!
• cold-hearted (adjective) – a person who has no mercy, compassion of sympathy. Her last husband was a cold-hearted monster. 
• made man (idiom) – a man who is very wealthy and successful. He admired the made men who drove fancy cars. 
• cife/projects (slang) – a ghetto; a low-income neighborhood that usually has a lot of crime. Living in the cife is tough. 
• raw (adjective) – tough, aggressive and violent. Does a real man get raw when things go bad?
• crew (noun) – a small, exclusive group of people that you regularly see and interact with. My crew is going to meet me at the mall later today. 
• cypher (noun) – a freestyle, impromptu rapping competition two or more people. New York City used to be busy with cyphers.

The post Learn English Vocabulary with Immortal Technique appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

Take your shoes off, let your hair down and go berserk all night long.
Grow your beard out, just weird out and go berserk all night long.

Grammar

Now this shit‘s about to kick off. This party looks wack.

I‘m about to bloody this track up. Everybody get back.

Just like I did with addiction, I‘m about to kick it.

About to go H.A.M., ya bish, shout out to Kendrick.

If you are about to do something, you are close to doing it. It means you are going to do something very soon.

Subject + am/is/are + infinitive with ‘to’

• Can you tell me where the toilet is? I‘m about to throw up!
• You must be so excited, right? You‘re about to graduate from college!
• I can’t reach her on the phone. I think she’s about to board the plane.

This structure has the same meaning as be fixing to. However, many people consider this “incorrect” English, whatever that means.

Subject + am/is/are + fixing + infinitive with ‘to’

• I can’t talk on the phone for very long. My flight‘s fixing to take off.
• You‘re fixing to leave the country, so I wanted to say goodbye!

Girl you’re fixing to get your heart broke.

Not about to do something has a slightly different meaning. It means you are unwilling to do something and you don’t plan on doing it.

Subject + am/is/are + not about + infinitive with ‘to’

• I’ve never done the laundry, but I‘m not about to start now!
• He’s studying for the TOEFL, so he‘s not about to leave his desk and go out drinking with you guys.

Vocabulary

• kick off (sep. phrasal verb) – to start or begin something. I hope you kick off the fall semester with a lot of energy and enthusiasm!
• start something from scratch (idiom) – to do something again from the beginning and not use previous work. I tried to write a short story, but it was very difficult. I threw out my work and just started from scratch.
• kick (idiom) – there are two possible meanings in the song:
  • to stop doing a harmful habit. I was a smoker for five years, but I’ve finally kicked the habit.
  • to start something. Let’s kick off the party, shall we?
    
• go H.A.M. (slang) – a slang expression that means Hard As a Motherfucker.
• kick the bucket (idiom) – to die; pass away. What countries do you want to visit before you kick the bucket?
• throw in the towel (idiom) – to quit, especially after admitting the defeat. You’ve worked so hard to be a rapper. You can’t throw in the towel because somebody dissed you. 
• set the bar low (idiom) – to have low standards and expectations. He’s a very lonely person, and he will marry anybody! He’s set the bar rather low, to be honest.

Writing Task

Answer these questions in the comments below!

• Where are you, and what time is it now?
• What are you about to do?
• Some people are very adventurous eaters, and they will try anything. Is there any food that you’re not about to eat?

The post Learn English Grammar & Vocabulary with Eminem’s Berzerk! appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

On February 15, 1999, Coleman was killed by an unknown assailant in a drive-by shooting in his native Harlem. His second studio album, The Big Picture, was put together by Coleman’s manager, Rich King. It was released the following year and certified gold (taken verbatim from Wikipedia).

Vocabulary

So put it on, Big L. Put it on.
Come on! Put it on and on and on.
Come on. Put it on, Big L. Put it on.
Come on. Put it on, represent, put it on. Come on!

• put on (sep. phrasal verb) – to make some specially; to produce and play a show, concert, etc. Did you hear the Lil Wayne is putting on a show in December? I can’t wait!
  • other possible meanings
• hops (noun) – a slang word used in New York City during the 1990s. It’s similar to dude, bro, son, yute, etc.
• front (verb) – a slang word that means to insult or disrespect. Don’t come to my party and front! That’s a guaranteed way to get a black eye.
  • other possible meanings
• nookie (noun) – having sex. Why are you so happy? Did you finally get some nookie?!
• rookie (noun) – a person who has just started a job or activity and is inexperienced. He’s only been a lawyer for 6 months, so he’s still a rookie.
• can’t take something (idiom) – to hate something; unable to tolerate something. It’s so hot in here. I can’t take it anymore! Can we please turn on the AC?
• youse (pronoun) – an informal way of saying, “You are” especially common in the northeast United States. Youse a cool dude!
• pissed (adjective) – very angry. Please don’t talk to me right now. I’m very pissed!
• break of dawn (idiom) – very early in the morning when the sun starts to rise. I have to wake up at the break of dawn, so I can’t stay up late.
• a must (idiom) – something that you must do, see, try, etc. San Francisco’s art culture is amazing. Visiting the galleries in the Mission District is a must.
• slick (adjective) – very cool and smooth. Her new car is slick!

Writing Task

Big L is a very confident rapper. He believes in his skills and abilities, and he’s not afraid to tell you what’s on his mind. Do you think confidence is a good thing? Is it possible to be too confident? What are the advantages of having self-confidence. Please write your responses in the comments below.

The post Learn English Vocabulary with Big L appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

My style is off the thermostat plus I’m coming from the cold.

Vocabulary

In this song, Kardinal Offishal lists the many differences between American and Canadian slang.

• turn up (sep. phrasal verb) – to make music, radio, TV, etc. louder. I can’t hear the movie. Can you turn it up please?
• You know what I’m saying? (American slang) – a phrase used for clarification and to check understanding. Do you understand me? Know what I’m saying?
  • Yuh dun know? (Canadaian slang)
• That’s the breaks! (American slang) – a phrase used when a problem has happened and you cannot change it. I’m sorry that your uncle died. That’s the breaks man. So it goes.
  • A so it go. (Canadian slang)
• Word (American slang) – very common word used to express agreement and satisfaction. This track is dope! Word up, son
  • zeen (Canadaian slang)
• More times (Canadian slang) – a phrase that means “More often than not”; More times California is hot and dry with no rain.
• Differently (Canadian slang) – used to tell somebody that they are wrong or incorrect.
• yute (Canadian slang) – a young person, especially a teenager. All the yutes are drinking and smoking cigarettes in the graveyard behind my house.
• jubie (Canadian slang) – a young, attractive woman. That jubie is the woman of my dreams!
  • also, di gal dem (Canadian slang)
• T Dot (Canadian slang) – a nickname for the Canadian city of Toronto.
• kissing teeth (Canadian slang) – a sound made with the lips and teeth, used to show disapproval. Don’t you kiss teeth in front of me! 
• Come again. (expression) – used to ask someone to repeat. Come again? Sorry, I didn’t  understand you.
• punk (American slang) – a young boy who behaves badly or violently. That little punk needs to be arrested. He keeps stealing my newspapers.
  • fosse (Canadian slang)
• crep (Canadian slang) – shoes.
• fete (Canadian slang) – a big party.
• 2-4 of Guinness (Canadian slang) – 24 cans of Guinness. He brought a 2-4 with him to the party, and he blacked a few hours later.
• the bundown (Canadian slang) – the most attractive woman even. She’s crazy hot! She’s the bundown. 
• boys / homies (American slang) – your close friends. I might chill with my boys later tonight. 
  • di man dem (Canadian slang)
• chicken / skettlebam (Canadian slang) – an unintelligent, tacky and gross woman. Let’s get out of here. All the jubies at this party are all chickens. 
• thug (American slang) – a violent criminal, especially a gangster.
  • shotta (Canadian slang)
• burn Kahn / puff lah (Canadian slang) – to smoke marijuana. After a long day of work, who doesn’t like burning Kahn?

Writing Task

Kardinal Offishal is very proud of hometown of Toronto. Are you proud of your hometown? Why or why not? If I visit your city, what should I do or see? Please write your ideas in the comments below! 

The post Learn Canadian Slang with Kardinal Offishall appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

English Slang

The word ain’t is a very common English slang word, and it is commonly used in hip-hop and rap songs. It is used by the working class in England as well as the southern United States, especially in informal conversation. Many people in the middle and upper class do not like this word.

Ain’t is a contraction of:

• am not
  • I ain’t hungry. I just ate a very big sandwich.
  • I ain’t sleepy. I had three cups of coffee, and I’m wide awake!
• are not
  • You ain’t the boss of me. You can’t tell me what to do.
  • You’re smart, but you ain’t Albert Einstein.
• is not
  • He ain’t a little boy. He can take care of himself.
  • She ain’t my girlfriend. I don’t know where she got that idea from.
• has / have not (for present perfect)
  • You ain’t heard nothing yet!
  • I ain’t ever been to the Great Wall of China.
• do not / does not / did not
  • I ain’t got much money.
  • He ain’t go to work today, so he can help you move furniture.

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Writing Task

Answer these questions  using ain’t.

• Are you an alien from a different planet?
• Are you Barack Obama?
• Do you have $150,000,000,000,000?
• Have you ever seen a person with two heads?

The post Ain’t: Learning English AIN’T Difficult! appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

I love it when you call me big poppa

Vocabulary

• mack on somebody (in. phrasal verb) – to hit on, flirt or seduce somebody. My friend is too shy to mack on girls, so he’ll probably be single for a long time!
• crew (noun) – your closest group of friends; your gang of friends. When my crew shows up to the club, the party gets started! 
• honey (noun) – a slang word for young, attractive women. Look at that fine-ass honey at the back of the club! I’ve got to get me a piece of that.
• C notes (noun) – a slang word for a $100 bill. Have you ever seen a thick stack of C notes before? 
  • also, Benjamins
• player (noun) – a womanizer; a man who has sexual relationships with many different women. Don’t hate the player, baby. Hate the game.
• telly (noun) – a slang word for a hotel. After we leave the party, let’s check in at the telly and order room service.
• crib (noun) – a slang word for a home. I don’t feel like going to the club tonight. I just want to chill in my crib.
• cream (noun) – a slang word for money. Rap artists make a lot of cream!

Discussion Questions

Do you want to have an extravagant lifestyle like Biggie Smalls? Have you ever wanted to swim in a big pile of Benjamins? Do you like partying with your crew in the clubs, or do you like to chill out in your crib? Please write your responses in the comments below!

The post Fridays with Biggie: Big Poppa appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

Yeah, you come here. Give me a kiss
Better make it fast or else I’m gonna get pissed.

Vocabulary

• ain’t (slang) – am not, are not, is not. I ain’t that hungry. I just want a snack.
  • very informal; considered “bad English” by many people. ESLhiphop.com does not consider any English dialect “bad”
• in effect (adjective) – something that exists; something with force or persuasion. The hip-hop group is in effect tonight with the funky beats!
• work up a sweat (idiom) – to do something with a lot of effort. We’re working up a sweat trying to fix the car.
• Come on! (expression) – used to tell somebody to hurry or try harder. Come on, man! You have to work harder than that! You’re so lazy. 
• pissed (adjective) – very angry. I’m so pissed right now. Somebody ate the last burrito, and I was really looking forward to it!
  • also, pissed off
• y’all (pronoun) – plural ‘you’. What are y’all going to do tonight? 
• mothers (noun) – people. Y’all some really cool mothers!
  • very informal; short for motherfuckers.

Writing Task

How do you feel when you listen to this song? What do you think about? Please write your comments below!

The post Learn English Vocabulary with Salt-N-Pepa appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

In “Council Estate of Mind”, Skinnyman describes the horrors and challenges the he must face living in the social housing projects of London.

We know that we have been living our lives through the hardest times,
Still we know that we must keep up the faith in our hearts and minds.

British Slang and Vocabulary

• council estates (noun) – a large group of affordable houses for the working class, built by local government agencies. As in many large cities, there tends to be more crime and drugs in London’s working class neighborhoods, especially within the council estates.
  
• blud (noun) – brother; friend. Hey, blud! What’s up? 
• do a runner – to leave or run away from somewhere in a hurry, especially to avoid paying a bill or receiving a punishment. I made a huge mistake at work, and I’m thinking about doing a runner.
• yute (noun) – the youth, children, young people. The yutes have nothing to do after school. They are exposed to more crime and drugs because they play on the streets.
• nuts (adjective) – crazy. If my neighbor does not turn down the music, I will go nuts!
• raw (adjective) – honest, direct and sometimes shocking. Life in the council estates is bleak and raw. You have to be tough to make it on the streets.
• Bobbby / Feds / coppers (noun) –  the police. The Feds spend a lot of time harassing the immigrant yutes. They should be working harder to prevent crime.
• cotch (verb) – to hang out, relax or chill; to loiter alone or with friends. The yutes have nothing to do after school, so they usually cotch by the train station and smoke drugs.
• shotter (noun) – a drug dealer. There are shotters around every corner in the council estates, and they are in the middle of a bloody turf war.
• merk (verb) – to kill someone; to murder. I hope my friend stops selling drugs because somebody might merk him!
  
• splurt (verb) – leave; get out. This party is boring, so let’s splurt.
  

 Discussion Questions

Do you live in a rough neighborhood? Have you ever lived in a rough neighborhood? Does your country have something like council estates? According to Skinnyman’s track, what problems do people face on a daily basis? Please write your comments below!

The post Learn British Slang with Skinnyman appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.

But right now, yo, we gonna up you on how we just chill

-Tajai, Souls of Mischief

Vocabulary

• chill/max (verb, slang) – to relax instead of feeling worried and anxious. If you’re maxing with your friends, you are having a good time. A lot of people chill out on the weekends. 
• dope (adjective, slang) – very cool and really good. Souls of Mischief are really dope! Their music is perfect for chillin’ on a Saturday afternoon in California.
• going to up you (phrase) – to inform or give somebody information. If you’re going to up someone on how to dance, you are going to teach them how to dance. Souls of Mischief are going to up us on how they chill. 
• crew (noun) – a group of close friends. If you are in a crew, you have a group of very close friends. You will help each other at any time, and you are always reliable and supportive. Of course, you got to have fun with your crew and max out! 
• grub (verb, noun) – food; to eat food. If you grub, you are eating food. When you hang out with your crew, what kind of grub do you like to eat?
• props (noun) – respect and support for someone. If you give someone props, you are publicly acknowledging and respecting them. Friends give each other props.
• fresh (adjective) -a very cool style.

Pronunciation

• Instead of saying chilling and maxing, many rappers say chillin’ and maxin’. It is common not to make the final /ng/ sound.
• Instead of saying going to up you, you can also say gonna up you. 

Discussion

When you are with your friends, what do you like to do? How do you chill out with your crew? Where do you go and who do you see? Can you up us on your crew? Who’s in it, and who is the leader? Please write your comments below!

The post Learn How to Chill with Souls of Mischief appeared first on ESL Hip Hop.