Dunn language (slang)
The Dunn language or Dunn lingo is a style of East Coast hip hop slang popularized in the mid-1990s by rappers such as Queensbridge's Mobb Deep, Tragedy Khadafi, Capone-N-Noreaga, Nas and AZ, and to a lesser extent Raekwon and Ghostface Killah of the Wu-Tang Clan. While much of the slang had already been introduced by this point, the term "Dunn language" was first recorded in Mobb Deep's 1999 single "Quiet Storm", in which Prodigy raps: "you's a dick blower, [you] tryin' to speak the Dunn Language?/ "what's the drilly" with that though? "It aint bangin"/ you hooked on Mobb phonics, Infamous 'bonics."
The term "Dunn" supposedly originated in the Queensbridge housing projects with an acquaintance of Prodigy's, Bumpy, whose speech impediment prevented him from pronouncing the letter 'S'. The impediment encouraged him to put the tongue on the two front teeth/palate, making a 'th' or a 'd' sound. Mobb Deep has attempted to claim ownership of this body of slang; additionally, they were going to release an album called The Dunn Language, in 2002, but the project was shelved, due to label issues.
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