Pimp talk

[Benjamin Zimmer]

On 3/6/06, Benjamin Zimmer <bgzimmer at babel.ling.upenn.edu> wrote:
>
> 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.

Just caught it again here (on a very slow video feed):

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Vkhp8i1adFQ

It actually sounds more like "a whole lot of witches jumpin ship."

Aha, the Village Voice agrees:

http://www.villagevoice.com/blogs/statusainthood/archives/2006/03/three_6_mafia_o_2.php


--Ben Zimmer

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