Did you know Quilly trademark “No Diddy? Yes, The Philadelphia rapper Quilly’s interview with DJ Akademiks on the “Off the Record” podcast spawned a viral sensation: the phrase “No Diddy.” The phrase, trending heavily on social media, seems to be replacing the controversial “No Homo.”
Coined by Quilly, “No Diddy” quickly gained traction online. Previously, “No Homo” was used to clarify statements or lyrics, dispelling any suggestion of homosexuality. However, “No Homo” itself has come under fire for being dismissive and insensitive. “No Diddy” appears to be a lighter, more playful alternative. Some speculate the phrase might be a playful jab at Sean Combs, better known as Diddy, who has faced multiple lawsuits related to sexual misconduct.
Philly rapper Quilly has officially trademarked the phrase “No Diddy” PIC.TWITTER.COM/RRLNECIQNI
— SAY CHEESE! 👄🧀 (@SaycheeseDGTL) MARCH 26, 2024
Quilly is not the only hip hop artist to trademark a phrase this year. Following the trend highlighted above, an increasing number of artists also see the value of proprietary rights over their creative manifestation. Though it isn’t the first time intellectual property issues have roiled the music industry , the “No Diddy” case is an exception. Indeed, “No Diddy” has all the elements of a slang word, and given current lawsuits against him, it could soon be his intellectual property.
In addition to the fact that the phrase, if associated with the lawsuits, can finally forever ruin his reputation, Diddy has prior experience in battling for alleged proprietary rights.
Questions about the future of slang have abounded as the “No Diddy” case established a precedent and raised concerns about the law . While, conceptually, it is important that hip-hop slang terminology become standardized, legal control of the same would undoubtedly rain on the parade of originality and freedom of expression.
Hip-hop culture war with the legal authorities and the fight for generation-specific lingo is an exhilarating affair. Which way the law would shift has yet to be seen, but it can be said that the distinction between legally protected language and slang would become notably less clear in the future.
