I'm not sure if the term Ebonics is the correct reference for what I speak or what others {Black or non-Black such as Mrrzy's children] speak.

I know that sometimes I purposely use "downhome" {i.e. American Southern} language styles to 'color' my speech, making it hipper, "fresher", more informal, and [I think} more ethnic.

I sprinkle some "old school" rhyming sayings in my speech and writing {such as "My name is Bess and I ain't in this mess".{directed to a person or group that asks your opinion about something or want you to involve yourself in a problem or "situation" that has nothing to do with you}.

I also like non-rhyming but clipped sayings that have a recognizable pattern-such as "Don't start none, won't be none" {meaning, if you don't start trouble, there won't be any trouble}.

But I also like the way the hip-hop culture plays with words and phrases. This is "new school" as opposed to "old school". I think that [predominately African American] hip-hop language pratices can be credited with keeping American English fresh. Actually I think Black speech and culture has served this role throughout in the USA since at least the 19th century.

Words & phrases such as "My bad" {"I'm sorry"},"chillin" {relaxing}, and "off the chain" & "the bomb" {very good}, are American slang terms that were popularized {if not created} by hip hop rappers and others associated with that culture. I think that these words and phrases are what most Black Americans and non-Black Americans mean when they say they speak "Ebonics". Many of these words and phrases are updated versions of now retired slang terms. For instance, "chillin" comes from "chill" which comes from "cool" but it is no longer cool to use "cool".

Click Hip Hop Talk for discussion of hip-hop words and sayings.