The Use of French and American Slang in Hip Hop Music

The definition of slang is a type of language which cannot be found in the dictionary. Different slang words are used in different cities and areas, as well as among different demographics of people. There are several different reasons for which slang is used. It can give individuals a sense of belonging, as well as give them a sense of identity. It can be used by people to set themselves apart from the rest of the population, who would have difficulty understanding them if they listened in on a conversation between certain slang speakers. It is a form of language which is in constant development, changing over the years. 

The first example of French slang which differs from American slang is verlan; words which are formed by inverting the syllables of a standard French word. The word “verlan” itself is verlan for “l'invers”. This form of slang was first used in Paris after the second world war, and quickly rose in popular due to music, television, and other forms of popular culture. In the present day, verlan is spoken across France. Some verlan words are very rarely used, and other words cannot be verlanised. However, a certain number of verlan words have become widespread in France. Sometimes, a verlan word become re-verlanised because of this. Rearranging the syllables creates a form of codeword, which is impossible to decipher by an individual who is not aware of verlan's existence. For example, in Le Ghetto Franais by Ideal J, the rapper says the phrase «Protager la peau de ses pain-co». Pain-co, in standard French, would be “copain”. This is completely different to anything that one might hear in American hip hop, which doesn't alter the syllables of a word in any way. There are countless examples of verlan in French hip hop, with French rappers even speaking their own names in verlan. For example, the rapper Fabe, in 'L'Impertinent' refers to himself as 'Bef'. In addition to this, MC Solaar referred to himself as “Laarso” in several of his songs.

In addition to this, there is another form of slang which differs enormously from American rap. Slang and vocabulary which derive from other languages, generally Arabic. The majority of rappers in the USA are African-American, however they speak English and only English while rapping. On the other hand, most French rappers are of Middle-Eastern descent. Cities such as Marseille and Paris, the cities where many rap legends reside, have large Arab populations. A large number of French rappers are of Arab origin, their parents having left countries such as Algeria due to economic hardships. Many of them use slang words which derive from Arabic. One of these rappers is Ali, who was part of the duo Lunatic. He was born in France but is of Moroccan origin. Several Arabic words and terms are used in his lyrics. For example, in Pas l'Temps Pour Les Regrets, he says « A la vie Inch' Allah». This is a term which means “God willing”. This phrase is very commonly spoken by Muslims, and variants of the phrase are used in Persian, Turkish, and Urdu. Booba also uses a common Arabic term in another song by Lunatic, Le silence n'est pas un oubli. He says “je dis Bismillah quand je mange”. Bismillah is an Arabic phrase which means 'in the name of God', which is also commonly used by many Muslims. There are several Muslim American rappers, however it is extremely uncommon to hear any Arabic phrases spoken by them. In addition, 'wesh wesh' is a common greeting which derives from Arabic, which is common amongst the French youth. This phrase is also present in rap. All of these examples show that there is a clear difference between the identity of French and American rap artists.

The language of French rap is also very clearly influenced by America. This is evident, because the use of English words is commonplace in French rap lyrics. In the songs where English is present, there are only several which are spoken, but they are still common. For example, in La Resistance by Fonky Family, he says «Loin des call quits et coke ici». Le Tempo by Mc Solaar, he says « Solaar vous invite dans le rap party». This is very different to American rappers, who almost exclusively speak English in their songs. The reason for this is that French hip hop, before developing its own identity, was heavily influenced by American hip hop. If it weren't for the rap of America, hip hop would not have spread to France. The use of English in French hip hop is perhaps a way of recognising this fact. There are also references to American hip hop artists themselves, as well as their song titles. In Group Sanguin by Lunatic, he says “One Love”. This is evidently a reference to the famous New York rapper Nas, who he was inspired by. Similarly, in Police by NTM, he said « Pour notre part, ce ne sera pas F*ck The Police, mais, un spacial Nique Ta Mère de la part de la mère patrie du vice». This is a reference to the famous song by NWA, “F*ck The Police”. As well as sharing NTM's hatred for law enforcement, he was also likely inspired by the group of rappers.

In conclusion, there are many examples of slang in French and American hip hop. Slang is deeply engrained in hip hop culture, and it is a large part of the identity of some rappers. However, there are large differences in the style of slang that is used in France and American. In American hip hop, it is mainly words that are invented, or words that are given an alternative meaning, such as 'bread' or “cheddar” when referring to money. On the other hand, in French hip hop there is much more variety, proving that they have an identity which is distinct from American rappers. There are examples of slang derived from Arabic and African languages, vocabulary from regional languages, verlan, and the use of English in many French rap songs.