The “Wesh” pandemic is ravaging London thanks to this artist!

On the social network TikTok, several Londoners film themselves holding exchanges including the word “wesh“. Remember that this expression is very popular among French Gen Z. It also had its hour of glory during the 2000s with the arrival of many French rappers. And according to French and English linguists, this is the first time that a word from the working class has been so successful in record time in the United Kingdom.

Central Cee: the British rapper from West London known for his drill specialties created the “Wesh” pandemic in the United Kingdom

For lovers of rap music, this name is not new. Central Cee is this British rapper artist specializing in “drill” which has millions of views on YouTube with barely a release. The latter would be at the origin of this pandemic of the expression “wesh” in London. To put things in perspective, who is Central Cee?

Brief presentation of Central Cee: who is this artist?

Central Cee, real name Oakley Neil HT Caesar-Su, is a British rapper from Shepherd’s Bush, a neighborhood in west London. He was born on June 4, 1998 and has established himself as one of the rising figures of the British drill scene. It is a musical genre characterized by dark rhythms and often crude lyrics, depicting the reality of difficult neighborhoods.

Central Cee: an extraordinary rise in recent years!

Central Cee started making a name for himself in 2020 with tracks like Day in the Life et Mollywhich quickly racked up millions of views on YouTube. To date, this title has more than 91 million views. He then confirmed his talent with hit titles such as Loading (179 million views) and Commitment Issues (79 million views), which exploded the streaming counters. These have allowed it to establish itself not only in the United Kingdom, but also internationally. In 2021, he released his first mixtape, Wild Westwhich met with enormous commercial and critical success. It must be said that his texts are very authentic and are mainly inspired by his experiences and street life in London. This is coupled with his keen sense of marketing and communication on social networks. This allowed him to captivate a large audience. Often even beyond the drill scene.

Central Cee: a hybrid musical style that stands out from other “drillers”!

It must also be said that his style is a bit unique to him. Following Drill pioneers like Pop Smoke and others, he managed to impose a unique style. This one mixes percussive flow with melodic soundss. Which made it stand out in an often saturated genre. Moreover, his clips are often elaborate and visually impactful. This is what mainly contributed to his meteoric rise. Today, Central Cee is considered one of the most influential artists of his generation in British rap. He accumulates millions of views on YouTube and streams on online music platforms.

When an artist with millions of views uses a French word, it becomes viral: case of the expression “West” taken up by Central Cee in his featuring with French rapper JRK 19

We only talk about the popularity of this expression in France. During his featuring with French rapper JRK 19, after 1 minute 44 seconds, Central Cee will say “Why she keep on saying “wesh” ?“which translates”Why does she keep saying “Wesh“?”. Some even believe that there may be a pandemic of this expression in London since this release. If the arguments seem a little exaggerated, the fact remains that on social networks, this expression occurs in the language of almost all Londoners who love Central Cee’s rap drill. TikTokers who widely use expressions from English and French slang to make comparisons also use this expression. On Tik Tok and on Instagram, several French media like Loopsider, Konbini, Radio France, 20 Minutesalso show the enthusiasm around this scourge that this expression generates in London. It is therefore a real phenomenon around this word. So, what does “wesh” mean?

What does the expression “wesh” mean?

L’expression “wesh” is a popular term widely used in France, particularly by Generation Z. Generally it occurs as an “interjection” to express surprise in a conversation. But it also occurs in “the greeting” : “Weesh! Where is it going?“. It can also reveal a form of annoyance. However, it should be noted that its use is extremely versatile and can vary depending on context and intonation.

What is the origin of the word “Wesh”?

“Wesh” finds its origin in the Maghreb Arabic language, more precisely in the Algerian word “what a forest“which draws its roots from Berber”ach“who means”quoi“To this day, linguists do not know whether it truly comes from Algerian, Tunisian or Moroccan. In any case.”what a forest” means “what is there?” Imported into France by French men and women of North African origin during the 20th century, the expression gradually became integrated into verlan and the slang of French suburbs, thus becoming a key word in urban language. In the 2000s, it became popular with the rise of French rap and hip-hop.. Thanks to the many artists who used it in their texts to reinforce the authenticity of their speech and their link with the street, it ended up establishing itself as an expression. Originally a simple interjection word, “wesh“has established itself as a symbol of cultural belonging, particularly among young people. And after more than two decades, it is now commonly used to say “hello” (“wesh, are you okay?“) or demonstrate astonishment (“wesh, are you serious?“). In short, “wesh” is a perfect example of the evolution of urban slang which has managed to establish itself in the language of all young people in the city and suburbs.

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