what it be
A chill, laid-back AAVE greeting that asks 'what's going on?' without really needing an answer.
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Born ~1960 · no dated citations yetDefinitions
A chill, laid-back AAVE greeting that asks 'what's going on?' without really needing an answer. It's less a question and more a vibe-check — the kind of thing you say when you roll up on your crew and want everyone to know you're in a good mood. 'What it be' carries that same easy energy as 'what's good' or 'what's poppin', just with a slightly older-school flavor that gives it undeniable cool.
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(AAVE, uncommon) What's up? What's going on?.
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🎤About Black culture & AAVE slang
Slang from Black American Vernacular English (AAVE), hip-hop, drag and ballroom culture, the Caribbean, and NYC street vocabulary. The single largest source of new mainstream English slang in living memory.
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- what it is71%
(slang, African American Vernacular English) A casual greeting.
- da bell59%
African-American Vernacular English (AAVE) slang, popularised in hip-hop and urban communities in the late 1990s–2000s. A superlative of approval, meaning something is outstanding, elite, or the absolute best — equivalent to 'the bomb' or 'the GOAT.' Often used after a successful stunt, song, or play.
- what the what59%
(euphemistic, informal, also, AAVE) What the hell.
- do it up59%
AAVE and urban slang phrase meaning to party hard, go all out, or make the most of an occasion — essentially telling someone to have the best possible time. Used as an enthusiastic imperative or affirmation. It can also mean to handle a task with maximum effort or style. The phrase is broadly positive and celebratory, typically heard at parties, before going out, or in hype-up conversation. Widely used in hip-hop culture and Black American social contexts.