Music
bars
What does bars mean?
As an exclamation, 'bars!' shouted to celebrate an especially good line.
"He hit that punchline and the whole room went 'bars!'"
Origin
From the musical 'bar' (one measure), generalised in hip-hop to mean lyrics, then to mean good lyrics specifically. Heavily used in both US and UK rap, central to grime and drill.
Frequently asked questions
What does bars mean in rap?
It means lyrics, especially clever ones. Saying someone 'has bars' is praising them as a skilled lyricist.
Why are lyrics called bars?
A bar is one measure of music, so a verse is counted in bars. The word then came to stand for the lyrics themselves.
What does 'spit sixteen bars' mean?
It means rap a standard-length verse, which is typically sixteen bars long. It's a common way to describe a verse.
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