Comments on: What’s in a Nickname? Or a Half-Dozen of them? http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/05/13/whats-in-a-nickname-or-a-half-dozen-of-them/ Overthinking It subjects the popular culture to a level of scrutiny it probably doesn't deserve. Tue, 14 Feb 2012 04:53:58 +0000 hourly 1 By: Rob http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/05/13/whats-in-a-nickname-or-a-half-dozen-of-them/#comment-9096 Rob Sat, 16 May 2009 23:16:39 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=7550#comment-9096 I suggest y'all check out the Wu-Tang Manual, available in paperback at fine booksellers everywhere. It subjects the Wu to a level of scrutiny it definitely deserves, on matters philosophical, matters musical, and matters otherwise cultural. One of the points that RZA raises in this tract is that a nickname is not merely an appellation; it is a way to develop a new aspect of one's identity. With that in mind, and in reply to Shechner's piece and the other comments, I'll refer to Book One, First Chamber: The RZA's aliases include The Abbot, Bobby Digital, Bobby Steels, Prince Rakeem, the RZA-recta, the Scientist, Prince Delight, Prince Dynamite, and Ruler Zig-Zag-Zig Allah. (His birth name, for what it's worth, is Robert Diggs.) (N.B. that the GZA also sometimes goes by the Scientist, and he is uniquely known as The Genius, Allah Justice, Maximillion, and the Head.) And Book One, Third Chamber: Ol' Dirty Bastard's aliases include Dirty, the Professor, the Bebop Specialist, the Specialist, Prince Delight, Ason Unique, Unique Ason, Osiris, Cyrus, Big Baby Jesus, Dirt McGirt, Dirt Schultz, Ol' Dirt Dawg, Joe Bananas, and Freeloading Rusty. P.E.A.C.E., Rob I suggest y’all check out the Wu-Tang Manual, available in paperback at fine booksellers everywhere. It subjects the Wu to a level of scrutiny it definitely deserves, on matters philosophical, matters musical, and matters otherwise cultural.
One of the points that RZA raises in this tract is that a nickname is not merely an appellation; it is a way to develop a new aspect of one’s identity.

With that in mind, and in reply to Shechner’s piece and the other comments, I’ll refer to Book One, First Chamber:
The RZA’s aliases include The Abbot, Bobby Digital, Bobby Steels, Prince Rakeem, the RZA-recta, the Scientist, Prince Delight, Prince Dynamite, and Ruler Zig-Zag-Zig Allah.
(His birth name, for what it’s worth, is Robert Diggs.)
(N.B. that the GZA also sometimes goes by the Scientist, and he is uniquely known as The Genius, Allah Justice, Maximillion, and the Head.)

And Book One, Third Chamber:
Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s aliases include Dirty, the Professor, the Bebop Specialist, the Specialist, Prince Delight, Ason Unique, Unique Ason, Osiris, Cyrus, Big Baby Jesus, Dirt McGirt, Dirt Schultz, Ol’ Dirt Dawg, Joe Bananas, and Freeloading Rusty.

P.E.A.C.E.,
Rob

]]> By: Tiffany http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/05/13/whats-in-a-nickname-or-a-half-dozen-of-them/#comment-9091 Tiffany Sat, 16 May 2009 20:36:26 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=7550#comment-9091 Eminem/Marshall Mathers/Slime Shady/Slim/Shady/Stan... Am I missing any? Not as many nicknames as ol' Kool though... wow. Eminem/Marshall Mathers/Slime Shady/Slim/Shady/Stan… Am I missing any?

Not as many nicknames as ol’ Kool though… wow.

]]> By: Nick http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/05/13/whats-in-a-nickname-or-a-half-dozen-of-them/#comment-9003 Nick Thu, 14 May 2009 03:23:33 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=7550#comment-9003 "...he just might literally have ants in his pants" I cringed. I really did. Loved the graphic though. Especially the "Godfather of soul" and the "hardest working man in showbusiness". Brilliance. “…he just might literally have ants in his pants”
I cringed. I really did.

Loved the graphic though. Especially the “Godfather of soul” and the “hardest working man in showbusiness”. Brilliance.

]]> By: shechner http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/05/13/whats-in-a-nickname-or-a-half-dozen-of-them/#comment-8997 shechner Thu, 14 May 2009 00:19:21 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=7550#comment-8997 @Rob. Thanks, man! Yeah, it only occurred to me to go with "96" after the graphic had already been finished. Silly me, I confused rotational symmetry with reflective, and assumed there was no visual pun available. Instead, I decided to go HAL-style on it, and just subtract 1 from the original numbers. Still, maybe it's time to start printing up "Support local 96" T-shirts... @Rob. Thanks, man! Yeah, it only occurred to me to go with “96″ after the graphic had already been finished. Silly me, I confused rotational symmetry with reflective, and assumed there was no visual pun available. Instead, I decided to go HAL-style on it, and just subtract 1 from the original numbers.

Still, maybe it’s time to start printing up “Support local 96″ T-shirts…

]]> By: Rob http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/05/13/whats-in-a-nickname-or-a-half-dozen-of-them/#comment-8995 Rob Wed, 13 May 2009 23:34:57 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=7550#comment-8995 fantastic graphic, sheq, but how is that union not local 96? fantastic graphic, sheq, but how is that union not local 96?

]]> By: Chris http://www.overthinkingit.com/2009/05/13/whats-in-a-nickname-or-a-half-dozen-of-them/#comment-8994 Chris Wed, 13 May 2009 23:05:33 +0000 http://www.overthinkingit.com/?p=7550#comment-8994 James Brown as Jean Valjean? Now that's overthinking it. James Brown as Jean Valjean?

Now that’s overthinking it.

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