Hand Signs (NSR)

[JMO]

Can someone please explain to me what this means? Is it the equivalient of or or is it more like . I'm not sure when I became out of touch but I'm pretty sure it happened recently. Feel free to school me on other hand gestures.

[A-wreck]

the hand gesture in question is not important, and will probably never be used by anyone on a ski hill, unless you are tanner hall.







in other words: I don't know.

[basom]

ask bill and gonzo... they seem to know the deal

[The Reverend Floater]

[KQ]

Hand Gestures Ruling Rap

Demand For Consultants Increases as Hip-Hop Market Explodes
Have you ever looked at an album cover or publicity photo for a rap star and wonder why you are magnetically attracted to it? Record companies and publicists spend lots of time, and even more money, on stylists and designers to ensure that their rap star is adorned with the latest clothing and accessories that will catch your eye. But another attention-getter and image-maker is coming to the forefront in the world of rap – hand gestures.

Very rarely will you find a rap star with his or her hands simply hanging limp, like the rest of us, even when they are walking. Rather, their hands and fingers are usually in a rigid, seemingly uncomfortable position, contorted and aimed towards the camera or person(s) in front of them. Their hand gestures are in-your-face, and are rapidly becoming recognized as a skill that can make, or break, a rap artist.

“Besides being able to rhyme words and wear expensive clothing, a rap artist today must be able to consistently produce hand gestures that get the attention of record buyers”, says Saturn record executive Paul Bonadio. “When I see a kid trying to emulate the hand gesture of one of our artists, I know we have a hit on our hands”. And what happens if the hand gestures do not work? “It can get ugly”, says Bonadio. “If an artist’s hand gestures seem forced, or do not inspire imitation on the streets, we can usually count on the record sales dropping.”

So how can a rapper ensure that their hand gestures will excite today’s youth? Like any other big business, rap in enlisting the help of high-priced consultants. One such consultant, Lisa Jewell, is currently on the payroll at four different record companies. Jewell began her career in software sales, but moved to hand gesture consulting after discovering her talent. “I was in my boss’s office, and I had just closed a big deal”, recalls Jewell. “He (Jewell’s boss) was sitting behind his desk, and I said ‘Boss, we got the Harley account!’ He looked up from his computer screen and smiled at me, offered me some kind of automatic congratulation, then looked back down. So, I said it again; ‘Boss, we got the Harley account!’, only this time I had crossed my arms over my chest and spread all ten of my fingers as wide as I could. He looked up at me, and this time, when he saw my (hand) gesture, he jumped out of his chair, came around his desk and gave me a hug. He was ecstatic, and offered me a raise on the spot. That’s when I knew that a good hand gesture can make all the difference in the world.” Jewell smiles as she recalls the story from her expansive downtown office.

She quit her sales job a month later, and opened Jewell Consulting, where she and a staff of five work almost exclusively with rap artists and record labels. “The corporate world has not realized the power of street hand gestures. Not yet, anyway”, she says with a wink.

So what is it about a rapper’s contorted hands that draw us to them? Psychologist Timothy Ovitz has been studying the phenomenon. “The only thing that I can come up with to account for the power of these ridiculous gestures and posing is the astronomical drop in the intelligence of our youth”, offers Ovitz. His studies involve playing rap songs of very poor quality to a group of teenagers, and having them write down their opinion of the song. Then, the same song is played, but the image of a rapper displaying various hand gestures is shown during the song. Again, the teen’ opinions are documented. The results are staggering, says Ovitz. “First, the subjects hate the song. Then, after seeing a rapper doing something as inane as curling their fingers, as if they were tightly gripping a grapefruit, and moving their hands and arms up and down, they suddenly love the damn (rap song)”.

Jewell smiles when she reads Ovitz’s findings. She says his findings about hand gestures confirm what she already knows. “The hand gesture is perhaps the most powerful form of communication, influence, and image making that we have seen since the cellular phone”, she says.

Opponents of hand gestures include leading osteopathic doctors who claim that the contortion of one’s hand will inevitably lead to arthritis. Also, the conservative Christian group “The Mind Closers” have deemed the gestures as “Satan’s work”, and vow to burn any albums that prominently feature artists using the popular gestures.

Bonadio, for one, shrugs off the controversy. “Most of these rappers aren’t concerned with arthritis. If they live long enough to get it, that is”, he adds with a laugh. Jewell also isn’t worried about her opponents. “The power of a good hand gesture is certainly stronger than those wackos.”, she says. “They’re not in the rap industry’s demographic, anyway, so I really don’t care what they think

[A-wreck]

Can you imagine someone trying to tell Keith Richards that he had to imitate the gang sign of a rough posse of english children in order to be cool.

Or beter yet...If Jerry Garcia had to dress like some mafia member from the 70's and 80's (goodfellas style) to be cool.

There was a time when people were more intelligent.

[KQ]

Can you imagine someone trying to tell Keith Richards that he had to imitate the gang sign of a rough posse of english children in order to be cool.

Or beter yet...If Jerry Garcia had to dress like some mafia member from the 70's and 80's (goodfellas style) to be cool.

There was a time when people were more intelligent.

This quote from the article just seems so ridiculous - it MUST be a hoax. I mean really:

So how can a rapper ensure that their hand gestures will excite today’s youth? Like any other big business, rap in enlisting the help of high-priced consultants. One such consultant, Lisa Jewell, is currently on the payroll at four different record companies. Jewell began her career in software sales, but moved to hand gesture consulting after discovering her talent. “I was in my boss’s office, and I had just closed a big deal”, recalls Jewell. “He (Jewell’s boss) was sitting behind his desk, and I said ‘Boss, we got the Harley account!’ He looked up from his computer screen and smiled at me, offered me some kind of automatic congratulation, then looked back down. So, I said it again; ‘Boss, we got the Harley account!’, only this time I had crossed my arms over my chest and spread all ten of my fingers as wide as I could. He looked up at me, and this time, when he saw my (hand) gesture, he jumped out of his chair, came around his desk and gave me a hug. He was ecstatic, and offered me a raise on the spot. That’s when I knew that a good hand gesture can make all the difference in the world.” Jewell smiles as she recalls the story from her expansive downtown office.

[dbp]

It is from a satire site. It almost sounds real though.
http://www.thebluebrick.net/Arts1.html

GIYF

[Beaver]

Can someone please explain to me what this means? Is it the equivalient of or or is it more like . I'm not sure when I became out of touch but I'm pretty sure it happened recently. Feel free to school me on other hand gestures.

I thought those 2 dudes were shop teachers.

[A-wreck]

yes. I agree the story about how her boss changed reactions due to a hand gesture is totally ridiculous. However, rap music itself has become much less intelligent over the years. While it didn't start out at the top of every mensa members list of favorite music, it used to be smarter, and with better beats too. I'm sure it's true that hand gestures are as influential as they say. But what do you expect when one of the most popular types of music in the country is based solely on bad grammer, peoples image, and an ability to spend too much money on worthless objects.

[The AD]

The part about doctors worrying the hand gestures might lead to arthritis pretty much seals the deal that it's a spoof, if it wasn't obvious to that point

And I believe the hand gesture in question is similar to the shocker, except..ahem...none in the pink, and three in the other.

[hoarhey]

Very funny shit.
I'm gonna guess that the HAND SIGN is for the 'M' in MURDER records.

edited for typos during said hand signing.

[A-wreck]

It is from a satire site. It almost sounds real though.
http://www.thebluebrick.net/Arts1.html

GIYF

Thank god that isn't real.


edit for: just read the last two paragraphs in the story. It is damn obvious.

[KQ]

Thank god that isn't real.

but it's real phunny...don't cha think?

Edit: You know...the consultant and arthritis things are BS but when you think about it, it seems the rest isn't really that far off....

[FNG]

That is clearly the hand-sign of the 3...as in 1337. They're 1337 h4x0r5.

[JMO]

Very funny shit.
I'm gonna guess that the HAND SIGN is for the 'M' in MURDER records.

edited for typos during said hand signing.

But when held sideways like the guy on the right, it could be the number "3". If it's "3" I'm guessing it stands for peace, love, and harmony. But if it's held the other way like the guy on the left, if kinda looks like a coffee mug, so maybe the guy really likes coffee.

[freshie247]

This heavily confirms the worst about the so called "culture" of our country.It is a sad day indeed when music is measured by the hand gestures or clothes worn by the alleged artist.The base loving demographic now rules the day.PITIFUL!

[The AD]

The base loving demographic now rules the day.PITIFUL!

Or at least the bass loving demographic

[runethechamp]

It means "Look mom, I cleaned three of my nails today"

[Viva]

I bet this dude can school y'alls on hand signals.

[mildbill.]

they're pantomiming fluffing the wrinkles out of/adjusting their shirts. Personal Hygeine/Clothing gang signs are big in the hip hop world these days.

See: Jay-z's 'Brush your shoulders off', Xzibit's 'You've been pimped-shoulder clothing-pull', Jamaal Capone Corleone Noreaga Reagan's 'Q-tip in yo ear,' Fat Don Capone's 'Dental Floss in muh teefs', Bugsy Corleone's 'Lint roller and wool suit' and of course, Don Gangsta Capone Bin Laden's adaptation of the classic 'hip hop crotch grab' known as the 'muh balls be itchin and i be applyin tinactin'


Ron Artest in the house! I'm out!

[JMO]

Or at least the bass loving demographic

I guess that means me. My car has a killer system in it with a subwoofer. Funny thing is, it originally belonged to my wife. I'm dope.

Edit: Bill, I can now sleep at night. Pantomimes! Why didn't I think of that?

[KQ]

I'm a dope.

Hey now...don't be so hard on yourself!

[JMO]

Hey now...don't be so hard on yourself!

I'll go hide in my corner now.

[tuffy109]

that's "East Coast" for all you country folk.