Roots Archives Forum

fareast_77 wrote:nothing bout "ice on mi block"
man says

Issat Mabrack (we) got the whole city lock

you can google up the rest

Thanks!!! I wondered about that for years. I was pretty convinced it had nothing to do with ice. As I'd heard others use the same phrase and could tell they weren't saying anything about a block. Do Jamaicans even refer to their neighborhoods as blocks? Could be but I've never heard it.

I would say its called "yard" instead of "block"

listen Demolition man - inna me yard
would be in amerikkka:
on my block

palava (or palabba) means idle chatter, gossip.

peace,
r.

babylonyoudoom wrote:palava (or palabba) means idle chatter, gossip.

peace,
r.

my bad, someone already said that

and Labba (eg. labba mouth) meaning someone who talks alot which i guess is a shortened version of the word palava(palabba). But then it makes me wonder where the word 'Blabba' comes from and how this fits in?? eg. Blabba meaning to talk alot, splurt out information your not supposed to, or to talk too much.

Interesting....

Their is a well known 80's/90's dancer from trenchtown nicknamed 'Labba Labba' who used to be friends with Bob Marley and Bogle.

I often think that many patois words are simply queens english words(old style or posh english) which have the odd sylable missing or letter missing, i've come across many words which sound odd to begin with(eg. wonder where they originate) then you add one letter and realize it's an english word! like Labba +Blabba, that kinda thing, as well as mis-pronounciations. I also seen many of the older queens english type words which i guess where spoken by the colonialists being used, many of which aren't usually spoken in the UK today. I wish i could think of some examples but i can't.

I think that Rastafari has also played a big part in creating new patois words, as they often change the pronounciation to take away any negative conitations and delete any isms or schism's!! and don't deal with certain negative words at all, eg. 'understand' not used, only overstand as under is negative, i'd love to see a list of these words which aren't 'dealt wid' and reasons behind it, there are so many of them. Then the word I gets stuck in place os many letters.

Then many other words i think have originated just like how slang words originate anywhere and in JA these new slang words seem to come and go all the time, especially in the dancehall culture.

what does "hice it up" mean?

Keromak128 wrote:Ok here is a phrase I was always interested in the meaning of..
"Fire de a mus mus tail and take a cool breeze".

Frankie Paul did a tune/album under this name and I have pondered this phrase for years but have not been able to come up with a solid translation for it. I feel it would be described as something similar to this. When things & times get hot you need to keep your cool. If anyone can reply to help me get a solid overstanding of this I would really appreciate it....
Respect....
Easy

"Fire de a Mus Mus tail, him tink a cool breeze". Set a Rat's tail on fire and he's thinks there's a cool breeze. Used to describe someone or something (the system for example) that is clueless. This characterizes the delusional complacency of the upper classes.

Ites !

Just love that, "Mus Mus"!!lol, a little mousey! :@)
get di mus dem outta mi hus dem or ya seh mi a blow di hus dung, mi huff an puff seen..


not heard 'hice it up' before, Nice it Up maybe...

xxmikeb1xx wrote:what does "hice it up" mean?

My guess is "hice" is "hoist"

not hice it up

Nice it up = to cork the dance , ram up the dance , enjoy the scene

Big bout ya !!!

Lionel