# Old rap slang

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-rap-slang/503257>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [July 16, 2009, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-rap-slang/503257 "2009-07-16T20:02:49Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2009, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-rap-slang/503257/1 "2009-07-16T20:02:49Z")

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I recently came across the video for the old 1980s rap hit, “New York, New York” by Grandmaster Flash and the Furious 5, and realized it uses a bit of slang I’ve never deciphered:

_New York, New York, big city of dreams  
But everything in New York ain’t always what it seems  
You might get fooled if you come from out of town  
But **I’m down by law** , and I know my way around_

What did “down by law” mean?

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**Author:** ![enomaj](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/59ef9b/32.png) [@enomaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enomaj)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2009, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-rap-slang/503257/2 "2009-07-16T20:11:36Z")

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1. paid your dues; earned respect
2. cool with (someone). by law added for emphasis

_Oh that’s Rick. He’s down by law_

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**Author:** ![Mister\_Rik](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mister_rik/32/491_2.png) [@Mister\_Rik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mister_Rik)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2009, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-rap-slang/503257/3 "2009-07-16T22:29:41Z")

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Thanks!

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**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\
**Post date:** [July 16, 2009, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-rap-slang/503257/4 "2009-07-16T22:48:47Z")

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Well, I hate to over analyze slang. But I do loves me some slang, and I also love to over analyze, so let’s get it on.

First let me agree completely with enomaj’s definitions.

But to expound on his def. 2, there are those (over-analytical types) that would say that def 2 may be related to prison slang in particular.

Let’s start with the slang term “down”. To be ‘down’ is derived from ‘down for whatever’ which means, I am with you, in up times and down times. I got yo’ back.

In prison, you were ‘down’ with your homies, and furthermore, you were ‘down\* by law’\*. You had no choice but to be cool with these guys!

But yeah. Just my take on it. I love slang. And hip hop. And Grandmaster Flash and the Furious 5.