Pimp talk

Benjamin Zimmer bgzimmer at BABEL.LING.UPENN.EDU
Mon Mar 6 22:26:16 UTC 2006


On 3/6/06, Jonathan Lighter <wuxxmupp2000 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> Almost forgot: In the most edifying media moment since Janet
> Jackson's bra malfunction, last night's Oscars featured a big
> production number with Taraji P. Henson rappin' a nominated
> song all about how hustlin' really takes a toll on pimps.
>
>   But the Academy said she can't use the f-word on TV.
> "We know there will be children watching and we want it to be
> family-friendly," said songwriter Jordan "Juicy J" Houston :
>   http://go.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=oddlyEnoughNews&storyID=11398244&src=rss/oddlyEnoughNews
>
>    Awwwwww.
>
>   "Bitches" was fine, though.

I distinctly remember Henson singing "a whole lot of witches talkin
sh..." in the chorus instead of "a whole lot of bitches talkin shit."
So maybe the Oscar folks enforced a last-minute crackdown on the
b-word.


--Ben Zimmer

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