scraper

n. an automobile, especially a large, unfashionable passenger vehicle that has been customized. Subjects: English, United States, California, Automobiles & Transportation, Slang

Editorial Note: This term appears to originate in and be specific to northern California, especially the San Francisco Bay area. Etymological Note: Despite the obvious suggestion of scraper, automobiles called by this term do not seem to be low-riders or lead sleds.

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Citations: *2003 [ozzie94] @ Oakland, Calif. CarDomain.com (Dec. 10) “Ozzie’s Oldsmobile: ‘The Scraper’”: I got rid of the dubbs on my white scraper cause they rubbed to much so i slapped on the 17” wit vouges from my other scraper. 2004 [Sco Dylan (hex1955@comcast.net)] Usenet: rec.music.hip-hop (Jan. 31) “What’s your area like (in regards to hip-hop)?”: Basically just smashed around with my boy and some other folx in his 77 nova scraper (red, white top, red tints, spinners, man it’s clean). 2004 gigolo_duce_tray (Ivan AKA Mayce De Los Santos) @ "The Bay," California Xanga.com (Feb. 5): Dis bitch hung up on me/dats y i hate her/my nigga toro took me down there in his scraper/i didnt wanna do it/but i had to scrape her. 2004 [ototpnoy4o8] @ Sacramento, Calif. Xanga.com (Mar. 17): I found out AK got locked up…atleast thats what DT told me…he got caught ridin in his scraper i guess and he didnt have his “L’s.” 2004 [Afgoutlaw510@yahoo.com] @ Fremont/Union City, Calif. Craigslist (Nov. 6) “1988 Chrysler Dynasty !!!!SCRAPER!!!!!!!!!80k miles only—$1500”: (title) 2004 Shaheem Reid MTVNews.com (Nov. 8) “Hyphy: Crunk, Northern-California Style”: Minutes later, a vintage Buick—or, as they call them in the Bay, a Scraper—pulls up and all four doors pop open.

Posted 8 Nov 04 | Permalink | Tell a Friend

Reader comments:

This is completely incorrect. As E-40 himself (respected Bay Area slangologist) has explained, a scraper is a point A to point B type of car such as a Maverick or Cutlass with a nice soundsystem and 20+ rims. Basically a cheap old used car with Excessive accesories or unecessary upgrades.

by DDUCT 26 Apr 06, 0330 GMT

WIth all due respect to E-40 for his rhymes and styles, he’s not a reliable source about slang, no matter what he says, not matter what he writes, and no matter what kind of half-assed dictionary he puts out. He regularly makes outrageous and provably false claims about the origins and meanings of slang. My definition is supported by the citations which demonstrate how the term was used as of November 2004. However, since it has been more than a year since I defined this term and since slang meanings do tend to flicker in their intensity and waver between meanings, I’ll dig around for new evidence to see if its usage has changed.

by Grant Barrett 26 Apr 06, 1020 GMT

My apologies homie, I didn’t mean to come off like a hater. I’m from the Bay area (northern cali) and we use this word everyday. I have listened to numerous songs by E-40, Keak da Sneak, Mistah F.A.B, Bun B, Mike Jones, Too $hort, Al Kapone, and 8 ball which have detailed what a scraper is. I would also like to refute your claim that E-40 is not reliable as a slang expert. Although he is at times inconsistant with his rapping he is certainly a credible source when investigating Slang. The reason why is very simple, he has invented roughly 50% of the slang that is currently in use in hiphop culture. Skrilla, Scratch, Dodo, Gouda, Broccoli, Chalupa, Yay, Yay area, and many other words are attributed to him and he even using izzle at the end of a word was popularized by e-40 before snoop picked it up. He has invented more slang words that people widely use than any other individual that I am aware of, if I am incorrect please let me know.

by DDUCT 26 Apr 06, 1115 GMT

“Izzle” is a great example of how E-40 has you snookered. “Izzle” isn’t a slang word on its own, it’s part of a larger nonsense way of speaking in which “iz” inserted in the middle of words. Go listen to “Double-Dutch Bus” and tell me what you hear. That’s right: Frankie Smith using an “(i)z” infix in 1981. That infix also appears in a glossary of tagging/bombing slang from 1982. But like I said: I’ll look into scraper and see if the definition needs to be revised. Just give me some time.

by Grant Barrett 27 Apr 06, 1235 GMT

You knuckle heads have way too much time on your hands. E-Feezy is hands down the inventer of more than 90% of what rappers spit. I mean, foreallado’ this do has created a way of speaking. I live in the PH-Sex and we gig to this dude. It seems too many people want to nail down something that is meant to be vague. This is under-ground music for under-ground folx. Ya’ll cats failize to undadig the point. You stay arguing a point that is pointless. Go and check a breezys oil or be about your scratchmate. Thats it. If you and your homies understand what you tombot, thats all that matters. What you need to do is buy a Hustle collection from start to finish and you will peep what is real. Fashiggado’ By the way, a scraper is whatever the hell you want it to be. It can be an tricked out EXT or a 350$ bucket. Its how you MOB that defines a screezy. Idiots…

by PimpinKen 01 Sep 06, 1044 GMT

wat yall homies saying is wack..i know e 40 and his the illezt rapper alive..who is the best pac nas big e 40.nt no best..but when it comes to west coast.der is one best e 40..fo shizzle ma nizzle..

by memphis slime 28 Sep 07, 0823 GMT