"word to mother" (1985)

[Benjamin Zimmer]

On Sat, Sep 13, 2008 at 12:58 AM, Wilson Gray <hwgray at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Does the OED include "Word Up!", documentable to 1986, when it
> appeared as the title of a song written by Lawrence Ernest "Larry"
> Blackmon and recorded by the group, Cameo?

Yes indeed.

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 B. int.    slang (orig. U.S., in the language of rap and hip-hop).
Also _word up_. Expressing affirmation, agreement, or admiration:
'That's the truth!' 'There's no denying it!' 'For sure!'
1981 J. SPICER et al. Money (Dollar Bill Y'all) (song) in L. A.
Stanley Rap: the Lyrics (1992) 301 Word.., that's a good record, man.
1986 'CAMEO' (title of record) Word up! 1993 B. CROSS It's not about
Salary 251 Tommy Boy signed it, and here's the House of Pain, word up.
2002 N. MCDONELL Twelve liii. 133 'Yo b, we gonna smoke some mad bowls
tonight,' Timmy says to Mark Rothko. 'Word, word,' Mark Rothko agrees
sagely.
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--Ben Zimmer

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