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Buggin' NY Times Reader Blasts Crossword For Use Of Word "Illin'"

John Del Signore

Published Jan 10, 2012

Modified Jan 10, 2012

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John Del Signore

Published Jan 10, 2012

Modified Jan 10, 2012

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On Saturday freelance writer Julieanne Smolinski was diligently doing the NY Times crossword when she started trippin' on the clue for 28 down, which read "Wack, in hip-hop." According to the Paper of Record, the answer is "ILLIN," but Smolinksi, who identifies herself as "Not Even a Hip-Hop Expert," thought this was a misinterpretation of the word, so she fired off a letter to the Times crossword editor, Will Shortz, insisting that "illin'" is not "wack." Gawker obtained the correspondence, in which Shortz stands his ground:

Thanks for your email regarding the crossword clue for ILLIN ("Wack, in hip-hop"). You didn't mention what distinction you draw between the two words. According to the Dictionary of American Slang, edited by Robert L. Chapman, "illin'" means "stupid, insane." "Wack" is defined as "worthless, stupid."

The Dictionary of Contemporary Slang, by Tony Thorne, defines "illin'" as "bad,
uncool," and says it is a buzzword in the rap and hip-hop cultures. It seems to
me that's roughly the same as "wack" in the sense of worthless or stupid.

In addition, the online Urban Dictionary (which I don't usually use, but I'll
cite as an additional source) provides further corroboration for the clue and
answer. So it seems to me the clue is fine.

Oh no he did not. Smolinski isn't feelin' it, and responds that "in my house" ill has a positive connotation, and someone "illin'" is most likely "chillin"—and most certainly not "acting erratically or inappropriately," as Urban Dictionary defines illin'. Shots fired! Gawker refuses to settle this, but we think this whole debate is pretty retarded, er, stoopid. What do YOU think?

Tagged

hip hop

illin

rap

words with homies

John Del Signore

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Originally from the Albany area, John Del Signore has called NYC home since 1995. In addition to his thousands of meticulously-crafted bespoke blog posts for Gothamist, his writing has also been published in The Awl, Deadspin, The Nervous Breakdown, and performed at The Brick Theater in Brooklyn.

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