Rap's a foreign language, judge rules

Telegraph via Chicago Sun-Times ^ | 6/06/03 | RICHARD ALLEYNE

[kattracks]

LONDON--An English high court judge ruled Thursday that rap lyrics should be treated as a "foreign language" after admitting that he was unsure of the meaning of "shizzle my nizzle" and "mish mish man."

Judge Kim Lewison, who was ruling on a copyright battle between two British rap bands, even pondered the idea of inviting a drug dealer into the court as an expert witness to end the confusion.

The judge had been asked to rule on a case brought by the band Ant'ill Mob against a rival outfit, the Heartless Crew.

Andrew Alcee, the writer of Ant'ill Mob's 2001 garage hit "Burnin," said lyrics "laid over" the top of Heartless Crew's remix of the song constituted "derogatory treatment" of the copyright.

He said phrases such as "shizzle my nizzle," "mish mish man" and "string dem up" referred to drugs and violence and so "distorted and mutilated" his original tune.

The judge, 50, said the claim had led to the "faintly surreal experience of three gentlemen in horsehair wigs [himself and two other judges] examining the meaning of such phrases."

But he admitted that even after playing the record at half speed and referring to the Urban Dictionary on the Internet, he was unable to be sure of the meaning of the slang.

He said that although the lyrics were written in a form of English, they were "for practical purposes a foreign language," and he had no expert evidence as to what they meant.

The judge ruled that the Urban Dictionary gave various definitions of the phrase "shizzle my nizzle" and its variants, none of which referred to drugs.

Some definitions carried sexual connotations, but the most popular definition of "shizzle my nizzle" indicated that it meant "for sure."

He said there were no entries for "mish mish man" and that the court had heard that Elephant Man, the rapper who uttered the disputed phrases, often made up words for their rhyming effect.

The judge said the fact the lyrics were hard to "decipher" mitigated against the case.

The judge also said a fundamental weakness in Alcee's case was that the court had no evidence about his honor or reputation or of any prejudice caused.

He dismissed Alcee's damages claim against East West Records, a division of Warner Music UK, which used "Burnin" on Heartless Crew's album "Crisp Biscuit."

Daily Telegraph

[tdadams]

I can't wait to pick up the Berlitz "Rap in 8 easy lessons" audiotapes.

[Fzob]

Once again reality runs headlong into satire.

[The Magical Mischief Tour]

Shazam!!!

Uhhh no, wait...

shizzle my nizzle!!!


Jeebus!!!

Woogity Boogity Boo!!!

[martin_fierro]

"fo' shizzle mah nizzle" defined

[Impy]

http://www.joel.net/EBONICS/translator.asp

[xsmommy]

thanks for resolving this controversy, counselor! ; )

[RightOnline]

"I can't wait to pick up the Berlitz "Rap in 8 easy lessons" audiotapes"

Oh, they'll be easy to find........right next to the "Ebonics" tapes under "Junk Urban Butchering of the English Language Posing as 'Cool' for Stupid Kids of All Colors".

[Drango]

The judge said the fact the lyrics were hard to "decipher" mitigated against the case.

Perhaps the judge can translate Wolly Bully next?

[HiTech RedNeck]

I.e. "for sure, my [black person]"

[killjoy]

They should have had the judges watch "Pootie Tang"... Sada Tay!

[martin_fierro]

thanks for resolving this controversy, counselor!

Fo' shizzle mah sizzle! ("For sure, my sister!") <|:)~

[xsmommy]

ay que bilingue eres! ; )

[Amelia]

The judge, 50, said the claim had led to the "faintly surreal experience of three gentlemen in horsehair wigs [himself and two other judges] examining the meaning of such phrases."

Ping for the amusement of it. Can't you just picture the judges trying to ponder this one?

[ewing]

lol, I love the alternative definition.. ('please dont kill me Suge')

[Centurion2000]

Of course this same judge was later heard speaking in sixes and sevens claiming that it was proper English .... American reporters are still baffled as to what exactly was said.

[RedBloodedAmerican]

bling bling!

[maxwell]

Well shizzle my nizzle. LMAO!

Chance, ol' son, this is yer kinda story.

[ewing]

My Dirtiez!!

[maxwell]

What're YOU doin' here, chickie? Don't you have work to do?

I, on the other hand, am typing furiously.