Homie
Encyclopedia
Homie or homey is a slang
term in urban culture
whose origins etymologists generally trace to African American language from the late 19th century. This was a time when many African Americans were migrating to cities in larger numbers, and "homeboy" meant a male friend from back home. It was eventually shortened to "homie". The word is also a contraction of Mexican
slang
words "homeboy" or "homebuddies" which became prevalent among some of the youth in Latino and chicano
communities in the United States, starting in the late 1960s and continuing up to the present. Since the 1980s, the word has been particularly prevalent in hip hop
subculture
. Homie was also commonly associated with gangs, gang symbols, and rebellious youth.
In 1992, A Lighter Shade of Brown
, a Latino rap hip hop group, released the recording "Homies" on their Hip Hop Locos
album, which describes what a homie is in the Latino community. The status of "homie" is similar to "my best friend" or "someone I can trust", as in, "This is my homie Alex, we've known each other since grade school," or "I won't be around this afternoon, but you can give the money to my homie James. He'll give it to me later when I see him."
In an early use of the term Ella Mae Morse
, a white singer, in the original 1946 version of the song "House of Blue Lights" asks, "What's that homie?" to Freddie Slack
, the writer of the song.
In the hip-hop subculture the homeboy image is important for artists and audiences. The need to appear "hip" and "fresh" with their attitudes, clothing, and jewelry is an important aspect. The inspiration for this homeboy image can be traced to Malcolm X
, who also rebelled against a tradition of being perceived as ineffectual. It has been argued that hip-hop has redefined the homeboy by providing him with functions that contradict society's view of him. Manthia Diawara
, author of "Homeboy Cosmopolitan", writes, "Hip-hop culture gives aesthetic pleasure through ironic and parodic play with mainstream images of black people". Diawara argues that hip-hop permits the creation of a new image of black cultures, because it sharply turns against preconceived notions of African-American society and allows for the creation of a new image of black Americans. This image of staying hip is always evolving with new dress styles and sayings. The referenced website gives ten ways to stay hip every week, they change drastically week to week.
As a Mexican-American slang word created in Southern California with the early 20th century cholo style generation, the term can be traced back to fact-based films such as Boulevard Nights
(dramatizing their culture from 1975–1978), Blood In Blood Out
/Bound By Honor (1972-1984 culture), and American Me
(1940-50s culture)
The Southern California slang term "choloz", or Nahuatl
for "it jumps", is inspired by cultural self-identity. The word originates from a commonly believed police
mantra of "Get home boy; before we beat you down". This stems from the practice of late night de facto detainment by the police in the chicano
barrio
; anyone found outside late at night would get a promised beating. Often it has been said that police would announce "This is your new home boy so get used to it" when orientating detainees to the jail staff. Consequently this led to the creation of the Chicano Militancy movement and neighborhood street soldiers of "homeboys" who challenged against "[white]man, e.g., power" repression.
Comedian Pablo Francisco
has utilized the similarity between "homie" and "homo
" in some of his stand-up routines. The trailer for a Francisco's fictional film about gay
gangster
s includes "They were homies... they were homie-sexuals."
In recent times, on August 14, 2009, an 11 year old TV reporter, Damon Weaver, from South Florida interviewed President Barack Obama
and declared that the President was now his "homeboy".
In some parts of Europe, especially in the Netherlands, homeboy is also used as a pejorative term, as well as to refer to individuals with diverging sexual preferences.
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
term in urban culture
Urban culture
Urban culture is the culture of towns and cities. In the United States, Urban culture may also sometimes be used as a euphemistic reference to contemporary African American culture.- African American culture :...
whose origins etymologists generally trace to African American language from the late 19th century. This was a time when many African Americans were migrating to cities in larger numbers, and "homeboy" meant a male friend from back home. It was eventually shortened to "homie". The word is also a contraction of Mexican
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
slang
Slang
Slang is the use of informal words and expressions that are not considered standard in the speaker's language or dialect but are considered more acceptable when used socially. Slang is often to be found in areas of the lexicon that refer to things considered taboo...
words "homeboy" or "homebuddies" which became prevalent among some of the youth in Latino and chicano
Chicano
The terms "Chicano" and "Chicana" are used in reference to U.S. citizens of Mexican descent. However, those terms have a wide range of meanings in various parts of the world. The term began to be widely used during the Chicano Movement, mainly among Mexican Americans, especially in the movement's...
communities in the United States, starting in the late 1960s and continuing up to the present. Since the 1980s, the word has been particularly prevalent in hip hop
Hip hop
Hip hop is a form of musical expression and artistic culture that originated in African-American and Latino communities during the 1970s in New York City, specifically the Bronx. DJ Afrika Bambaataa outlined the four pillars of hip hop culture: MCing, DJing, breaking and graffiti writing...
subculture
Subculture
In sociology, anthropology and cultural studies, a subculture is a group of people with a culture which differentiates them from the larger culture to which they belong.- Definition :...
. Homie was also commonly associated with gangs, gang symbols, and rebellious youth.
In 1992, A Lighter Shade of Brown
A Lighter Shade of Brown
A Lighter Shade of Brown was a Mexican American hip hop duo from Riverside, California best known for their 1990 hit single "On a Sunday Afternoon", a success in the U.S., written by songwriters/musicians David Dunson & Micah Carson.-History:...
, a Latino rap hip hop group, released the recording "Homies" on their Hip Hop Locos
Hip Hop Locos
Hip Hop Locos is the second studio album by A Lighter Shade of Brown. It was released in 1992 for Quality Records and featured production from Romeo, DTTX, Stan Jones, Jessie "Toothie" Lars, Jason Roberts and Angelo "Stone" Trotter IV. Hip Hop Locos was not a success, only peaking at #87 on the Top...
album, which describes what a homie is in the Latino community. The status of "homie" is similar to "my best friend" or "someone I can trust", as in, "This is my homie Alex, we've known each other since grade school," or "I won't be around this afternoon, but you can give the money to my homie James. He'll give it to me later when I see him."
In an early use of the term Ella Mae Morse
Ella Mae Morse
Ella Mae Morse , was an American popular singer. Morse blended jazz, country, pop, and R&B.-Career:Morse was born in Mansfield, Texas, United States. She was hired by Jimmy Dorsey when she was 14 years old. Dorsey believed she was 19, and when he was informed by the school board that he was now...
, a white singer, in the original 1946 version of the song "House of Blue Lights" asks, "What's that homie?" to Freddie Slack
Freddie Slack
Frederick Charles Slack was an American swing and boogie-woogie pianist and bandleader.He played with the Jimmy Dorsey Band in the 1930s and was a charter member of the Will Bradley Orchestra when it formed in 1939...
, the writer of the song.
In the hip-hop subculture the homeboy image is important for artists and audiences. The need to appear "hip" and "fresh" with their attitudes, clothing, and jewelry is an important aspect. The inspiration for this homeboy image can be traced to Malcolm X
Malcolm X
Malcolm X , born Malcolm Little and also known as El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz , was an African American Muslim minister and human rights activist. To his admirers he was a courageous advocate for the rights of African Americans, a man who indicted white America in the harshest terms for its...
, who also rebelled against a tradition of being perceived as ineffectual. It has been argued that hip-hop has redefined the homeboy by providing him with functions that contradict society's view of him. Manthia Diawara
Manthia Diawara
Manthia Diawara is a Malian writer, filmmaker, cultural theorist, scholar, and art historian. Diawara holds the distinguished title of University Professor at New York University, where he is Director of the Institute of Afro-American Affairs.-Biography:...
, author of "Homeboy Cosmopolitan", writes, "Hip-hop culture gives aesthetic pleasure through ironic and parodic play with mainstream images of black people". Diawara argues that hip-hop permits the creation of a new image of black cultures, because it sharply turns against preconceived notions of African-American society and allows for the creation of a new image of black Americans. This image of staying hip is always evolving with new dress styles and sayings. The referenced website gives ten ways to stay hip every week, they change drastically week to week.
As a Mexican-American slang word created in Southern California with the early 20th century cholo style generation, the term can be traced back to fact-based films such as Boulevard Nights
Boulevard Nights
-Plot:Boulevard Nights is a focus on life in a gang. The movie portrays the dangers of street violence. Richard Yniguez plays a young Chicano who tries to get out of the gang, but he keeps finding himself drawn back into it. Boulevard Nights is all about brotherhood and survival.-Taglines:Two...
(dramatizing their culture from 1975–1978), Blood In Blood Out
Blood in Blood out
Blood In Blood Out is a 1993 crime-drama film directed by Taylor Hackford. It follows the intertwining lives of the three Chicano relatives, Miklo , Cruz and Paco from 1972 to the mid 1980s...
/Bound By Honor (1972-1984 culture), and American Me
American Me
American Me is a 1992 biographical crime drama film produced and directed by Edward James Olmos, his first film as a director, and written by Floyd Mutrux and Desmond Nakano. Olmos also stars as the film's protagonist, Montoya Santana...
(1940-50s culture)
The Southern California slang term "choloz", or Nahuatl
Nahuatl
Nahuatl is thought to mean "a good, clear sound" This language name has several spellings, among them náhuatl , Naoatl, Nauatl, Nahuatl, Nawatl. In a back formation from the name of the language, the ethnic group of Nahuatl speakers are called Nahua...
for "it jumps", is inspired by cultural self-identity. The word originates from a commonly believed police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
mantra of "Get home boy; before we beat you down". This stems from the practice of late night de facto detainment by the police in the chicano
Chicano
The terms "Chicano" and "Chicana" are used in reference to U.S. citizens of Mexican descent. However, those terms have a wide range of meanings in various parts of the world. The term began to be widely used during the Chicano Movement, mainly among Mexican Americans, especially in the movement's...
barrio
Barrios
Barrios, de Barrios, Barrio or Berrios is a surname of Basque origin. The name may refer to:-People:*Agustín Barrios , Paraguayan guitarist and composer*Artur Barrio , Brazilian artist...
; anyone found outside late at night would get a promised beating. Often it has been said that police would announce "This is your new home boy so get used to it" when orientating detainees to the jail staff. Consequently this led to the creation of the Chicano Militancy movement and neighborhood street soldiers of "homeboys" who challenged against "[white]man, e.g., power" repression.
Comedian Pablo Francisco
Pablo Francisco
Pablo Ridson Francisco is an American stand-up comedian of Chilean origin. He started his career doing improv in Tempe, Arizona.-Career:...
has utilized the similarity between "homie" and "homo
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
" in some of his stand-up routines. The trailer for a Francisco's fictional film about gay
Gay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
gangster
Gangster
A gangster is a criminal who is a member of a gang. Some gangs are considered to be part of organized crime. Gangsters are also called mobsters, a term derived from mob and the suffix -ster....
s includes "They were homies... they were homie-sexuals."
In recent times, on August 14, 2009, an 11 year old TV reporter, Damon Weaver, from South Florida interviewed President Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
and declared that the President was now his "homeboy".
In some parts of Europe, especially in the Netherlands, homeboy is also used as a pejorative term, as well as to refer to individuals with diverging sexual preferences.