May 24, 2016

Manufactured Beef
No surprise this became popular after the notorious squabble between Magnum judge Khadine ‘Ms. Kitty’ Hylton, and host Yanique ‘Curvy Diva’ Barrett on live television. Even Damion Crawford and PM Holness were either interested in said beef, or said that people were trying to manufacture beefs with them.

Gas dem
Literally, it means boost them, and is similar to other words and phrases that have been used to encourage people in Jamaican pop culture such as faahwud.  When someone becomes popular, feel free to proclaim at the top of your voice Gas dem.

Real Rich
This one is about celebrating wealth. Touching the road and you clothes look good, hair done well, nails done too? Real Rich! It’s not just enough to be it people, shout it too!

Tonamonay
Feeling real rich? Then you definitely must have a tonamonay. Coined by the infamous Tanto Blacks, Tonamonay is exclaimed whenever someone feels as if they have a good amount of cash or wealth. This phrase, like real rich, comes from the idea that wealth should be flaunted. Pay day? Tonamonay!

Get There
Used when someone achieves something or steps up in life. Say this one with certainty and confidence. A friend just told you they have a new job? Get there!

‘Way up, stay up’
Related to up up, and ting loud (below), this phrase means that something is terrific. Having a good time at a party? Way up, stay up!

Ting loud
Another way of indicating that things are great! When the ting loud, it tunnup. This is perhaps the easiest one to have fun with. ‘My girl yuh tunnup louder than the speaker box inna di ghetto’! (an actual Facebook name). See what I mean?

Shakey
When things are not going right, dem jus' shakey. Shakey means that the situation is really difficult, or doesn’t make sense. You could also say someone is shakey to indicate that you don’t trust them.

Chop-chop
Perhaps lesser known, chop-chop can be used to describe something great. See a picture that you like on social media, feel free to post chop chop. See a friend you want to call to? Well, chop chop again!

Slap weh
A bit older, slap weh is used to denote something that has done really well. ‘Yow, di song slap weh’, would mean that the song is quite good, or ‘di performance did slap weh’ would mean that it was a great performance.