Are You Too Old For This?
Before You Say ‘No Cap,’
Slang is emotional, nostalgic, and always changing — but how long do you change along with it?
Update 6/7/22: Level has a new home. You can read this article and other new articles by visiting LEVELMAN.com.
I’m 33 years old. It’s a weird age, teetering between being in touch and stuck in my ways. And I know I’m not the only one standing at the intersection of young buck and old head. Every time something comes along, whether it’s slang or pop culture or a new tech platform, you confront the same question: Am I too old for this? That’s why I’m here — to work through these conundrums on your behalf on a weekly basis. Together, hopefully, we can face some harsh truths about our own washed-ness.
Last semester, I was talking to my Morehouse students about the upcoming homecoming celebrations. This is a ritual of sorts for me; as a relatively young professor, I get to talk to my students about things they actually care about, whether it’s a Young Thug campus concert or more casual plans. Partying in college wasn’t that long ago for me, so these conversations help me connect. I love them.
This particular homecoming conversation, though, took a turn that I wasn’t prepared for.
