# What up G? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 4, 2002, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-up-g/130779 "2002-10-04T03:08:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Omnipresent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@Omnipresent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omnipresent)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-up-g/130779/1 "2002-10-04T03:08:29Z")
What up G? What does the G stand for? ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-up-g/130779/2 "2002-10-04T03:18:07Z")
Gangsta (?) ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-up-g/130779/3 "2002-10-04T03:21:01Z")
Gravity ---
**Author:** ![mazzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@mazzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mazzer)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-up-g/130779/4 "2002-10-04T03:25:22Z")
Well, to be perfectly accurate, it doesn’t really _stand_ for “gangsta,” although that is what it is derived from. When someone says “What up, G?”, they are not thinking, “What up, Gangsta?” “G” has evolved from “gangsta” and has become something like “homey” or whatever slang term you might call a friend. If you were to say “What up, Gangsta?” to someone they might look at you a little funny. “G” just means “G.” ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 3:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-up-g/130779/5 "2002-10-04T03:39:38Z")
From [http://www.rapdict.org/terms/g](http://www.rapdict.org/terms/g) : > [@](#): > > G > > 1. (n) Anything that starts with a G. E.g. God, Gangsta, Girl, Guy. As in “Whatup, G?”. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-up-g/130779/6 "2002-10-04T04:26:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by chriszarate \* > \*\*Well, to be perfectly accurate, it doesn’t really _stand_ for “gangsta,” although that is what it is derived from. When someone says “What up, G?”, they are not thinking, “What up, Gangsta?” > > “G” has evolved from “gangsta” and has become something like “homey” or whatever slang term you might call a friend. If you were to say “What up, Gangsta?” to someone they might look at you a little funny. “G” just means “G.” \*\* I was trying to skip late '80s/early '90s and cut right to the chase. ---
**Author:** ![Floater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/dc4da7/32.png) [@Floater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Floater)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-up-g/130779/7 "2002-10-04T10:15:36Z")
If you asked a Hasher (there are some here) ‘G’ stands for **Gispert**. ---
**Author:** ![Omnipresent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@Omnipresent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omnipresent)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 12:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-up-g/130779/8 "2002-10-04T12:37:38Z")
How about "What up “B”? What does the “B” stand for? Sorry, I must have missed this stuff somewhere along the line. Is every letter of the alphabet going to be gotten to in this respect eventually. What up “X”? What up “O”? ---
**Author:** ![mazzer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eada6e/32.png) [@mazzer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mazzer)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-up-g/130779/9 "2002-10-04T15:55:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Omnipresent \* > **How about "What up “B”?** If it isn’t short for their name, then it’s short for “bitch,” as a term of endearment. ---
**Author:** ![Big\_G](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a88e4f/32.png) [@Big\_G](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Big_G)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-up-g/130779/10 "2002-10-04T19:20:43Z")
Not too much. How 'bout you? In my case, G is short for Givens. I always associate using G this way with gangsta rap (as has been mentioned above). Snoop Dog and Dr Dre come to mind. “Ain’t Nuthin’ but a G-thang, baby” -G ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-up-g/130779/11 "2002-10-04T20:42:08Z")
It refers to Charles Spearman’s [theory of generalized (i.e. “g”) intelligence](http://admin.vmi.edu/ir/ltsi.htm#Spearman's%20G). Multiple tests in multiple areas are mathematically blended together – “reified” – into a single number, “g,” for general brain power. When somebody says, “What up, g?” they’re obliquely complimenting one’s higher (“up”) intelligence, or possibly requesting that the individual engage one’s brain for enhanced quality of discourse. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-up-g/130779/12 "2002-10-04T21:06:06Z")
That link won’t parse correctly due to the apostrophe and percent sign, apparently. Just copy and paste: [http://admin.vmi.edu/ir/ltsi.htm#Spearman’s%20G](http://admin.vmi.edu/ir/ltsi.htm#Spearman's%20G) ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-up-g/130779/13 "2002-10-04T23:32:46Z")
I imagine a lot of people are familiar with the usage of this phrase on the television programme, “Fresh Prince of Bel Air.” In the context of that usage, “G” stands for “Geoffrey,” the name of the butler. ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2002, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-up-g/130779/14 "2002-10-04T23:49:04Z")
Somebody callin’ me? manGeorge ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2002, 3:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-up-g/130779/15 "2002-10-05T03:46:20Z")
> [@](#): > > I imagine a lot of people are familiar with the usage of this phrase on the television programme, “Fresh Prince of Bel Air.” In the context of that usage, “G” stands for “Geoffrey,” the name of the butler. And, cof course, Will Smith the rapper, goes back a ways before the tv show. ---
**Author:** ![trader\_of\_shots](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/aeb1de/32.png) [@trader\_of\_shots](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trader_of_shots)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2002, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-up-g/130779/16 "2002-10-05T12:55:21Z")
It is Gangster. ---
**Author:** ![TheeGrumpy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@TheeGrumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheeGrumpy)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2002, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-up-g/130779/17 "2002-10-05T17:43:55Z")
_“Plots I have laid, inductions dangerous, By drunken prophecies, libels, and dreams, To set my brother Clarence and the King In deadly hate the one against the other; And if King Edward be as true and just As I am subtle, false, and treacherous, This day should Clarence closely be mewed up About a prophecy, which says that G Of Edward’s heirs the murderer shall be.”_ –Richard III, Act 1, scene 1 G stands for George, the Duke of Clarence’s given name. Richard has stirred up rumors that “G” will kill King Edward. Of course, “G” also refers to Richard, the Duke of Gloucester, who actually _does_ kill the king. What, like Snoop Dog and Dr. Dre can’t read Shakespeare? ---
**Author:** ![Omnipresent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8c91f0/32.png) [@Omnipresent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omnipresent)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2002, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-up-g/130779/18 "2002-10-06T00:30:39Z")
So can anybody use “G” or is it just reserved for gansters greeting each other? ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [October 6, 2002, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-up-g/130779/19 "2002-10-06T21:29:05Z")
I don’t believe it’s trademarked, if that’s what you mean… ---
**Author:** ![JayElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/4bbf92/32.png) [@JayElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JayElle)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2002, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-up-g/130779/20 "2002-10-07T01:30:18Z")
Oh, geez, now I feel old and out-of-it. A young co-worker always gives me a friendly “what up, g?” I thought she was just playfully shortening my name - Jen.