verb Music Slang

Biting

/ˈbaɪtɪŋ/ · verb · slang

Stealing somebody's rhymes, moves, or style and trying to pass it off as your own.

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Definitions

1

More generally, copying any idea or move and claiming it as original.

“That crew's been biting our routine all season.”
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2

Copying another artist's lyrics, flow, style, or moves without credit, considered a serious offense in hip-hop.

“Everybody knew he was biting that other MC's whole rhyme scheme.”
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3

Imitating someone's fashion or swagger in a way that's seen as unoriginal.

“Stop biting my look, get your own gear.”
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Biting In A Sentence

You got caught biting, now your whole rep is shot.
He swore he wasn't biting, but the lines were identical.
Real b-boys don't bite, they innovate.

Origin & Usage

A core ethic of late-70s and 80s hip-hop, where originality was everything; 'biting' named the cardinal sin of stealing another's rhymes, dance moves, or style.

Variants bitebiterbit

People Also Ask

What does biting mean in slang?

It means copying or stealing someone else's rhymes, style, or moves and passing them off as your own, a major taboo in hip-hop.

Where did biting come from?

From 70s-80s hip-hop culture, which prized originality above all; biting became the word for the unforgivable act of copying.

Why is biting such an insult in hip-hop?

Because the culture was built on innovation and proving your own skill, so stealing another's work destroyed your credibility.

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