Lexico-Semantic Features of Cybercrime Slangs in Nigerian Hip-Hop Songs

Abstract

This study examines aspects of lexico-semantic features of cybercrime slang in Nigerian Hip-hop music. It has been observed that contemporary Nigerian hip-hop songs are intertwined with perpetrators of cybercrime, otherwise known as Yahoo Boys. Apart from these songs being a medium of entertainment in their clubs and parties, these musicians also appropriate cybercrime language in their songs. Most prominent in these songs is cybercrime slang. Therefore, this study investigates the lexico-semantics of cybercrime slang in Nigerian hip-hop songs. Extracts were selected from eight cybercrime songs randomly selected for this study and lexico-semantic features of slang inherent in the songs were analyzed. The findings revealed that through the slang words, the musicians see nothing wrong in cybercrime as they glamorize both the perpetrator and the act itself.