What is the proper definition of “Grindin” ?
According to Merriam-Webster, the word ‘Grind’ has several meanings. Ironically one of those definitions could relate to this week’s most talked about story (more on that at the end of this article)
The word grinding, often switched up and written as grindin’, has been used in music often over the last ten years. You heard it on DJ Khaled’s hit “Out Here Grindin’; The Clipse’s “Grindin” years back and when Miami based group Pretty Ricky first hit the scene with “Grind On Me (Grind With Me)” back in 2005. So it should come as no surprise that the latter of the three revisit the word, right ?
Fortunately and unfortunately, depending on who you ask, Pretty Ricky’s Spectacular aka “Sexy Spec” redefined the word grindin’ with his now infamous video challenge. In case you were living under a rock over the last week or two, the group’s most infamous member decided to challenge Omarion, Trey Songz and Day 26 to a “Grind Off”. If you’re not sure what a grind off is, you aren’t the only one. Once you see the video (here), you will gain a new level of understanding. Nonetheless, this whole ‘grindin’ challenge, as hilarious as it is, is working for Spectacular and his group members.
Not only have “Sexy Spec” and Pretty Ricky been upgraded on search engines like Google and Yahoo, but there are well over 1,300 parody or “answering the challenge” videos on Youtube alone ! Plus they’ve managed to do what few can do for an extended time, which is become a highly discussed watercooler topic. Yes, it may not be as discussed as much as an American Idol finale or Chris Brown and Rihanna story, but like it or not you probably know the words to at least the chorus of “Tipsy” — the whole point of the video.
Radio has also picked up the story interviewing Spec all week as have other entertainment journalists who have asked Omarion, Trey Songz and Day 26 if they were going to take up the challenged — they all said no! At this point the only person who said yes is Tila Tequila (as pictured) and the aforementioned Youtubers who had no problem answering the challenge.
So while you might be giving side eyes, “what are you thinking” looks and hysterically laughing, Sexy Spec is living it up and putting Pretty Ricky on a map somewhere. Of course it’s unclear if that map will bring them back to life after two vocalists packed their bags and hit it. As heard in the video Spec shouts out Lingerie, not 4 Play or Pleasure P (whose album is in stores ironically, Tuesday June 9.).
Now that Sexy Spec has redefined grindin’ lets hope it goes away, the “out here grindin” from DJ Khaled sounds better. That grindin’ means getting your money, business, and personal life right while staying true to yourself.
If Spectacular, aka Sexy Spec, comes close to any official definition of the word “grind,” which is expanded to grind-‘ing’ in present tense, it is the following:
“To weaken or destroy gradually” — depending on your opinion of the video and music, that definition may or may not be ironic.
Somehow there is this belief that his part 2 video will not be the last.
—— By: Njai Joszor
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