Comments on: Explain da Massive, if you could help a brother out

Question: Explain da Massive, if you could help a brother out

schoolgirl report — Sat, 04 Dec 2004 19:42:50 -0800

I was watching da Ali G movie the other night, and the bit at the beginning where his "West Side Massive" faces off against the "East Side Massive" got me wondering: what the heck is a "massive"? I've heard the term used in similar contexts, but can't seem to Google or Wiki up any explanation. Respec!

By: samh23

samh23 — Sat, 04 Dec 2004 19:58:34 -0800

In this context, it seems to refer to a formal gang (a la the Crips, but perhaps slightly less extensive). In other contexts, it could refer to a group of friends, or a loose collective that forms around a scene. ("Respect to the underground hip hop massive.")

By: falconred

falconred — Sat, 04 Dec 2004 20:39:05 -0800

A big rave is also a massive - as in "GateCrasher's New Years Eve 2004 Jungle Massive".

By: cadastral

cadastral — Sat, 04 Dec 2004 20:44:14 -0800

urbandictionary.com is a good resource for this sort of thing.

By: hoboynow

hoboynow — Sat, 04 Dec 2004 21:58:27 -0800

For future reference, it's "respek."

By: floanna

floanna — Sun, 05 Dec 2004 12:23:14 -0800

From an entry in The Cassell Dictionary of Slang:

massive n. [1980s+] (W.I./UK Black teen) a group of people who stick together and have shared social interests, such as a dance-hall crowd; often specified by a geographical name, e.g. the Peckham massive, the Tottenham massive

By: floanna

floanna — Sun, 05 Dec 2004 12:25:28 -0800

Oh and Peckham and Tottenham are dodgy parts of London where you are actually quite likely to run into a massive

By: krunk

krunk — Sun, 05 Dec 2004 13:45:09 -0800

Oh and Peckham and Tottenham are dodgy parts of London where you are actually quite likely to run into a massive

Staines, home of Ali G's massive, is not one of the places where you'd be likely to find one. Nor is Maidenhead, home of one of the Staines Massive's rivals.

By: Frasermoo

Frasermoo — Mon, 06 Dec 2004 04:43:16 -0800

That's cause they all drink in Windsor.

By: rubin421

rubin421 — Mon, 06 Dec 2004 15:41:56 -0800

"Staines, home of Ali G's massive, is not one of the places where you'd be likely to find one. Nor is Maidenhead, home of one of the Staines Massive's rivals."

And the "Ali" in "Ali G" stands for "Alistair.

That's the point of the joke ;)