throwing it down

[Benjamin Zimmer]

On Thu, 7 Apr 2005 16:56:49 -0400, Wilson Gray <hwgray at GMAIL.COM> wrote:

>On Apr 7, 2005 3:28 PM, Benjamin Zimmer <bgzimmer at rci.rutgers.edu> wrote:
>>
>>In hiphop usage "throw down"/"throwdown" refers to battling an opponent,
>>either lyrically in a freestyle competition or using physical force.
>
>A distant relative of "throw down the gauntlet," perhaps.

Perhaps.  I think there were a number of different converging influences,
and "throw down the gauntlet" could very well be in the mix.

The hiphop histories _Yes Yes Y'All_ and _Can't Stop Won't Stop_ (both
searchable on Amazon) give some background on "throwdowns" in the early
days of the South Bronx rap scene -- parties featuring battles among
freestyling MCs and/or breakdancing B-boys.  In such contexts nominalized
"throwdown" may have been influenced by various sporting usages
(basketball, baseball, wrestling), as well as "showdown" (or even
"hoedown"?).

Alonzo Westbrook's _Hip Hoptionary_ (also on Amazon) has the following
entry for "throw/threw-down": "1) fight/fought. 2) enjoy(ed). 3) to behave
aggressively. 4) sex."  There's also an entry for "are you ready to throw
down?": "a call-and-response party chant. The response: 'Yes, we are,'
spoken to the beat of music."

So beyond competitive rapping/breakdancing, "throw down" can be likened to
"get down" (HDAS def: "to be uninhibited, esp. in dancing or performing
music; enjoy oneself intensely").  Here are some relevant cites from an
African-American paper on ProQuest Ethnic NewsWatch, the _Columbus (Ga.)
Times_ (all from the "Nite Life" column):

-----
1980 _Columbus Times_ (Ga.) 24 Jul. 22 (Proquest) I was invited to attend
an annual July Disco held by the Authentic Social Club on Saturday night
at Rowland's Lounge. The brothers really threw down!
-----
1981 _Columbus Times_ (Ga.) 8 Jan. 7 (Proquest) I did manage to splurge
out to Uchee Creek Recreation Center, but after it took me a half hour to
get there. I don't know whether it was worth it or not. Anyway Gene
Winchester and partners Frank and Crenshaw did throw down!
-----
1981 _Columbus Times_ (Ga.) 30 Jul. 19 (Proquest) I heard from staff
members that Coca Cola really threw down at a reception held in Atlanta on
Tuesday night! They always did say things go better with Coke!
-----
1981 _Columbus Times_ (Ga.) 20 Aug. 19 (Proquest) We had the pleasure of
visiting Audrey Holston Scales who certainly threw down with some southern
hospitality!
-----

Nominalized "throwdown" can also refer to various types of lively
get-togethers:

-----
1979 _Syracuse Herald Journal_ 15 Sep. 6/4 "Community Throwdown," a
two-part exploration of youth involvement in politics, begins tomorrow at
10 a.m. on WTVH-TV's [minority affairs program] Karamu. Members of the
Youth Political Throwdown group will guest in a town meeting format.
-----
1985 _Columbus Times_ (Ga.) 4 Dec. C2 (Proquest) To celebrate 18 yrs. in
the talent booking business Norby Walters Associates held a throw down at
Visage on the west side. Invitations went out to Pattie LaBelle, Rick
James, Luther Vandross, Jennifer Holiday, Kool & the Gang and Miss America
among others.
-----


--Ben Zimmer