By Ismael AbduSalaam
UK police have been studying gangsta rap slang in hopes to quell a growing narcotics problem, specifically in the kingdom’s prisons.
The decree was issued by concerned officials in the Ministry of Justice, as reports indicate that more than half of England and Wales’ prisoners are jailed on narcotic charges.
Previously, officers were not versed in Hip-Hop slang, and dealers were able to conduct transactions freely in front of the police simply by using the coded language.
Unfortunately with many officials now first being exposed to Hip-Hop as strictly a criminal element, visiting Hip-Hop stars are now experiencing high scrutiny and suspicion.
Earlier this year Snoop Dogg successfully overturned a visa ban that prevented him from entering the country.
The UK instituted the ban on the Long Beach, CA native on suspicion of his involvement in a brawl at London’s Heathrow Airport.
In September, Busta Rhymes was denied entry into the UK for a scheduled charity concert to honor community volunteers.
Officials detained Busta for 11 hours on the grounds that his previous criminal convictions in the United States made him a security threat.
The issue was eventually taken before a high court judge who ruled the detention was unlawful and had the rapper immediately released.
Just last week, R&B singer TQ was also denied entry into the UK.
Even with these high profile problems, the Ministry of Justice plans to continue their experiment and will look to local authorities to use the information and modify it as they see fit.
Reprinted below are the top gangsta rap “phrases” officers have been supplied with by the Ministry of Justice:
Strap - gun
Five 0 - police
Creps - sneakers
Bate - acting suspiciously
Shotter - drugs dealer
Garms - designer clothes
Burned - to receive bad quality drugs
Blanks - drugs of bad, or poor quality
Travel agent - street drug dealer
Champ - a drug user who will not reveal his source