- This whole game is just, is based on how ill you are.
Ill
adjective;
Cool, awesome, hip, amazing or good. Possible reason used: This word is very typical in the everyday language usage of African Americans. African Americans as a group are very adept at creative variation of words. This word is perhaps used to make a statement about how good a rapper’s abilities are, but in a way that signifies all the qualities of a good rapper in a succinct word. Instead of listing all the qualities that make up a good rapper, one word, ‘ill’ sums it up.
Etymology : Derivation by semantic shift, amelioration
Source : Heard on the TV show Yo MTV Raps!, the statement was made by a music rapper in an interview
Last modified: 10 June 2008