Rap's a foreign language, judge rules

Telegraph via Chicago Sun-Times ^ | 6/06/03 | RICHARD ALLEYNE

[kattracks]

LONDON--An English high court judge ruled Thursday that rap lyrics should be treated as a "foreign language" after admitting that he was unsure of the meaning of "shizzle my nizzle" and "mish mish man."

Judge Kim Lewison, who was ruling on a copyright battle between two British rap bands, even pondered the idea of inviting a drug dealer into the court as an expert witness to end the confusion.

The judge had been asked to rule on a case brought by the band Ant'ill Mob against a rival outfit, the Heartless Crew.

Andrew Alcee, the writer of Ant'ill Mob's 2001 garage hit "Burnin," said lyrics "laid over" the top of Heartless Crew's remix of the song constituted "derogatory treatment" of the copyright.

He said phrases such as "shizzle my nizzle," "mish mish man" and "string dem up" referred to drugs and violence and so "distorted and mutilated" his original tune.

The judge, 50, said the claim had led to the "faintly surreal experience of three gentlemen in horsehair wigs [himself and two other judges] examining the meaning of such phrases."

But he admitted that even after playing the record at half speed and referring to the Urban Dictionary on the Internet, he was unable to be sure of the meaning of the slang.

He said that although the lyrics were written in a form of English, they were "for practical purposes a foreign language," and he had no expert evidence as to what they meant.

The judge ruled that the Urban Dictionary gave various definitions of the phrase "shizzle my nizzle" and its variants, none of which referred to drugs.

Some definitions carried sexual connotations, but the most popular definition of "shizzle my nizzle" indicated that it meant "for sure."

He said there were no entries for "mish mish man" and that the court had heard that Elephant Man, the rapper who uttered the disputed phrases, often made up words for their rhyming effect.

The judge said the fact the lyrics were hard to "decipher" mitigated against the case.

The judge also said a fundamental weakness in Alcee's case was that the court had no evidence about his honor or reputation or of any prejudice caused.

He dismissed Alcee's damages claim against East West Records, a division of Warner Music UK, which used "Burnin" on Heartless Crew's album "Crisp Biscuit."

Daily Telegraph

[mhking]

Just damn.

[doc30]

Shades of Mony Python!

[Amelia]

It would make a great Saturday Night Live skit, wouldn't it?

[george wythe]

Ebonics tend to go for rhymes. For example, when I was a teenager, I worked at a small grocery store where I heard the following alliterations :

Fee Food (Seafood)
Foo Famps (food stamps)

[RedBloodedAmerican]

L-O-N-D-O-f'n-N--Some English high court judge ruled Thursday dat rap lyrics should be treated as some "fo'ign language" afta' admittin' dat he wuz unsure o' da dam mainin' o' "shizzle mah nizzle" an' "mish mish dude."

Judge Kim Lewison, who wuz rulin' on some copyright battle between deuce British rap bands, even pondered da dam brainstorm o' invitin' some drug deala' into da court as some 'espuh't witness t' fat-lady da confusion.

Da judge had been axed t' rule on some case brought by da band Ant'ill Mob against some rival outfit, da Heartless Crew.

Andrew Alcee, da writa' o' Ant'ill Mob's 2001 garage hit "Burnin," said lyrics "laid ova'" da top o' Heartless Crew's remix o' da damn song constituted "derogatory treatment" o' da dam copyright.

He said phrases such as "shizzle mah nizzle," "mish mish dude" an' "strin' dem down" referred t' candy an' violence an' so's "distorted an' mutilated" wassups original tune.

Da judge, 50, said da dam claim had led t' da dam "faint-like surreal 'espuh'ience o' trey gentlemen in horsehair wigs [himself an' deuce otha' judges] 'esaminin' da dam mainin' o' such phrases."

But he admitted dat even afta' playin' da dam vinyl at half speed an' referrin' t' da dam Urban Dicshunary on da Internet, he wuz unable t' be shaw o' da dam mainin' o' da dam slang.

He said dat although da dam lyrics wuz written in some form o' English, they wuz "4 practical purposes some fo'ign language," an' he had no 'espuh't evidence as t' whut they maint.

Da judge ruled dat da damn Urban Dicshunary gave various definishuns o' da dam phrase "shizzle mah nizzle" an' its variants, none o' which referred t' candy.

Some kinda' definishuns carried sexual connotashuns, but da dam most populah' definishun o' "shizzle mah nizzle" indicated dat it maint "4 shaw."

He said dair wuz no entries 4 "mish mish dude" an' dat da dam court had heard dat Elephant Dude, da rappa' who uttered da dam disputed phrases, often made down words 4 deir rhymin' effect.

Da judge said da damn fact da dam lyrics wuz rock t' "decipha'" mitigated against da dam case.

Da judge also said some fundamental waikness in Alcee's case wuz dat da dam court had no evidence about wassups honor o' rep o' o' no prejudice caused.

He dismissed Alcee's damages claim against East West Vinyls, some division o' Warna' Beat U-K, which 'esploited "Burnin" on Heartless Crew's album "Crisp
Biscuit."

Daily Telegraph

[Scenic Sounds]

Can't you just picture the judges trying to ponder this one?

LOL - yeah, I can.

"Shizzle my nizzle? Counsel, are you prepared to offer some demonstrative evidence on this point?" ;-)

[RedBloodedAmerican]

If da glove duzn't fit, yo' ass gots'ta acquit!

[Amelia]

Too funny!

[Texaggie79]

Fo shizzle mah nizzles

[Sir Gawain]

Fo sheezie my neezie.

[billbears]

LOL!! I guess this is where Pootie got it, eh? I'm gonna sine your pitty on the runny kine. Sipi-tai!! Don't have any idea what that means. Are we supposed to have Pootitise language classes now?

[Morgan's Raider]

Perhaps the judge can translate Wolly Bully next?

After that he can conquer the riddle of the ages, a complete deciphering of Louie, Louie

[Frank_2001]

Danks fo' dat Ebonics translation, bro!;))