Hyphy

The word hyphy ( /ˈhaɪfiː/ HY-fee) is a short word meaning "hyperactive." It was created by Bay Area rapper Keak da Sneak when he used the term on an album he recorded in 1994. Hyphy is a style of music and dance associated with Oakland Bay Area hip hop culture. The culture began to emerge in the late 1990s and early 2000s as a response from Bay Area rappers against commercial hip hop for not acknowledging the Bay for setting trends in the hip hop industry. The term is said to be a combination of the words "hyper" and "fly". It is distinguished by gritty, pounding rhythms, and in this sense can be associated with the Bay as crunk music is to the South. An individual is said to "get hyphy" when they dance in an overstated and ridiculous manner, or if they get overly loud with other people. Although the "hyphy movement" has just recently seen light in mainstream America, it has been a long standing and ever evolving culture in the Bay Area since the early 90s. Throughout the Bay Area (particularly in East Oakland), there are regularly events called "sideshows". This is where different people come together and partake in or watch illegal automobile performances. This is where drivers do things such as donuts, ghostride and streetrace while others dance and "go dumb" around them. These events can be very dangerous. From the USA Today article: "Every record label was getting at us at that time, but we fumbled the ball," says E-40, whose My Ghetto Report Card entered the Billboard album chart at No. 3 in March. "I hung on like a hubcap in the fast lane along with a few other rappers, and now it's time again. We had a 10-year drought and they went to other regions and were bypassing us like the sand out here. But we're trendsetters, and the rap game without the Bay Area is like old folks without bingo."

The phrase "to get hyphy" refers to when an individual acts or dances in an overstated, fast paced, and ridiculous manner. This is similar to the southern phrase "to get crunk" but without the drug and alcohol references (although marijuana and alcohol are glorified in many hyphy tracks). Those who consider themselves part of the hyphy movement would describe this behavior as what they strive their movement to be. "Hyphy" is taken as a form of pride. Hyphy as an adjective, "the hyphy movement" is a cultural term: regional slang that refers to the dance itself as well as party atmosphere, lifestyle, and independent Bay Area music referred to as hyphy music.