When did "sick" come to mean something good?

[WLJ]

Keep seeing "sick" being used as if to mean something along the lines of slick, when did this start? Did I miss a memo somewhere along the line? It bugs the heck out me as I often take it to mean something is wrong with whatever item the word is being used to describe while the opposite is meant by the writer.

[Ben]

Like 20 years ago? Good morning Rip Van Winkle. 

[230RN]

Gee whiz, didn't George Orwell allude to deliberate disruption of the language in some book with no real title, just a number like "1984" or something?

[dogmush]

Like 20 years ago? Good morning Rip Van Winkle. 

More like 30 now.  Late 80/early 90s.

Go watch Gleaming the Cube or Hackers.

[WLJ]

Like 20 years ago? Good morning Rip Van Winkle. 

About the same time I stopped paying attention 

[zahc]

"sick" as a positive qualifier is probably 90s or 00's slang. Using it now probably dates you. I'm not sure what the kids are using now. I'm starting to hear "goated" a lot but that could be my crowd (gamer slang for "greatest of all time").

[dogmush]

I believe the kids say something is "bussing" at the moment.

If you got that straight drip and Rizz, you can be bussin.

[Tuco]

I believe the kids say something is "bussing" at the moment.
If you got that straight drip and Rizz, you can be bussin.

That.
And it's antonym "Suss" short for suspect or suspicious.
This casserole is suss.
She's acring suss.
Or as a complete commentary on any unpleasant thing or situation - "Suss."

[HeroHog]

That.
And it's antonym "Suss" short for suspect or suspicious.
This casserole is suss.
She's acring suss.
Or as a complete commentary on any unpleasant thing or situation - "Suss."

Ah yes, the "Among Us" game reference.

[Ben]

If you got that straight drip and Rizz, you can be bussin.

I'm still trying to figure out "drip" usage.

[Tuco]

I'm still trying to figure out "drip" usage.

I've had this one explained to me. It refers to a pleasing masculine aesthetic. Consistent success using the word is difficult given our generation's tendency toward traditional grammar.
He's got drip?
That's drip?
Drip hat?
I suspect "Drip" is the possessed quality of the individual, rather than an adjective to describe his wardrobe or appearance.

[dogmush]

Contextually I have also seen drop used to mean nice, or expensive stuff.

Guy shows up to the range with a Crye ACS and real MP-5.  "Man he always got that drip!"

(Yes that's a real quote I overheard)

[WLJ]

He's got drip?

Sounds like he caught a STD

[Perd Hapley]

I've had this one explained to me. It refers to a pleasing masculine aesthetic. Consistent success using the word is difficult given our generation's tendency toward traditional grammar.
He's got drip?
That's drip?
Drip hat?
I suspect "Drip" is the possessed quality of the individual, rather than an adjective to describe his wardrobe or appearance.

Usually when I hear/see it, drip refers to the actual clothing (or stuff).

[Ben]

Even with you guys explaining it, the usage makes no sense to me. I mean, "sick" doesn't relate to "good" in any non-slang usage, but I can still make a connection with it's use in a slang sentence. I can't seem to do so with "drip". If "drip" was slang for something undesirable, it would make a lot more sense to me.

[dogmush]

I believe, but don't quote me, that it started with a take on "dripping with wealth" or "dripping with attitude/ swagger/ panache " whatever.

To have so much of a good attribute the excess is (metaphorically) dripping off you.  Then the various rap scenes got a hold of it and here we are.

[Perd Hapley]

Sick Wid It Records was founded in 1989.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-40#Sick_Wid_It_Records

Of course, I don't know if it's exactly same sense.

Also:
https://english.stackexchange.com/questions/75017/origin-of-current-slang-usage-of-the-word-sick-to-mean-great

[Ben]

I believe, but don't quote me, that it started with a take on "dripping with wealth" or "dripping with attitude/ swagger/ panache " whatever.

To have so much of a good attribute the excess is (metaphorically) dripping off you.  Then the various rap scenes got a hold of it and here we are.

Okay, now I get it.

[230RN]

Even with you guys explaining it, the usage makes no sense to me. I mean, "sick" doesn't relate to "good" in any non-slang usage, but I can still make a connection with it's use in a slang sentence. I can't seem to do so with "drip". If "drip" was slang for something undesirable, it would make a lot more sense to me.

Newspeak.  Alluded to above in respect to the book with a number for a title.


I believe dogmush might have the drippest analysis.

[cordex]

Okay, now I get it.

Now that you get it, I kind of hope that you start to use it regularly.

[Northwoods]

That.
And it's antonym "Suss" short for suspect or suspicious.
This casserole is suss.
She's acring suss.
Or as a complete commentary on any unpleasant thing or situation - "Suss."

I use suss in the kiwi/brit meaning of figuring something out.   "I was finally able to suss out how work that gadget."

[gunsmith]

Gee whiz, didn't George Orwell allude to deliberate disruption of the language in some book with no real title, just a number like "1984" or something?

George was sick dude!

[Perd Hapley]

I use suss in the kiwi/brit meaning of figuring something out.   "I was finally able to suss out how work that gadget."

I don't think that's a Britishism anymore, if it ever was. It's fairly common in the US.

[griz]

You kids and your newspeak.  You're so 1985.

[Ben]

Now that you get it, I kind of hope that you start to use it regularly.

If anyone here is based enough to use it, it's me.