Street
duppy
What does duppy mean?
A ghost, spirit or the returning soul of a dead person; a major figure in Jamaican folklore. Bob Marley's 'Duppy Conqueror' references it.
"Mi frighten fi walk pass di graveyard, duppy deh deh."
Origin
Jamaican Patois, likely from a West African (Ga/Bube) word for ghost. The 'destroy lyrically' sense was popularized by Vybz Kartel's 'Duppy' clashes and later diss culture.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'duppy' mean?
It's a ghost or spirit in Caribbean folklore, and in music slang it means to destroy someone lyrically.
What does it mean to 'duppy' someone?
It means to bury or end them — in a rap clash it means to defeat them so badly their career is finished.
Where does 'duppy' come from?
It's Jamaican Patois with West African roots, used for ghosts in Caribbean folk tradition.
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