In the '70’s, we had “What’s happening?”
I can’t seem to remember much from the '80’s for some reason.
In the ‘90’s, we had "How YOU doin’?"
I think “Whazzup?” was popular in the 00’s, buoyed by the Budweiser commercials, although we were saying it much earlier.
My cohorts and I, in our late twenties, use “Dude”, “hey”, “whats-up”, “how you doin/hows it goin”" (though not in the sexy way) or some variation or combination of those.
Sometimes with a certain few friends a “fun” word is thrown in there like, 'Whats up motherfucker" or “hey douchebag” or “Your mothers a dumb fucking cunt you ass-licker.”
Anybody still use the phrase, “It’s the pits.”? As in, how is that new restaurant? It’s the pits. (Horrible).
I was told this expression originated in Harlem in the mid to late 70’s among junkies when talking about another junkie. How is Joe? It’s the pits. (Meaning, he no longer could shoot up in his veins as they were too hard to find, he was shooting up in his armpits.)
My Grandmother, who was 20 in 1938, used to greet me with “What do you know?”, which I think was common when she was a bit younger. It’s more like “Whaddaya know?”, actually.
I seem to recall hearing that in movies from the '40s. I kind of like it too, but I’d never say it to anyone for fear of getting a perplexed look or punch to the nose in return.
I like this one, much better than the conventional “Hello.” Might have to test it out at my next job interview, see if it helps me stand out from the crowd and give me an edge.
I just got home from a bar watching the Celtics win (thank god the giants beat the pats) and “yo nigga” and “whattup nigga” seem to be all the rage these days.