hit a lick

English

Alternative forms

• hit licks, hit them licks

Etymology

In its basic meaning, a reference to a robbery of a liquor store.

Verb

hit a lick (third-person singular simple present hits a lick, present participle hitting a lick or hittin' a lick, simple past and past participle hit a lick)

1. (African-American Vernacular, MLE) To earn a large sum of money in a short amount of time, usually illegally.
   • 2007, “Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)…”, in American Gangster, performed by Jay-Z:

     I figure frauds never hit a lick before
     So they don't know the feeling when them things get across

   • 2014, “My Nigga”, in My Krazy Life, performed by YG:

     Fucked my first bitch, passed her to my nigga
     Hit my first lick, passed with my nigga

   • 2014, “A Tale of 2 Citiez”, in 2014 Forest Hills Drive, performed by J. Cole:

     Listen up I'm about to go and get rich
     Fuck with me my nigga
     We gon' circle round the Ville and hit a lick

   • 2016 January 15, “Get It In (Remix)”, performed by Nef the Pharaoh, 4:13–4:23:

     Oh shit, the Pharaoh finna trip again
     If I ever go broke I'm hitting licks again
     It ain't shit for me to strip a man
     Back in high school I used to get it in

   • 2021 August 17, “London Scammer (Remix)”‎^[1]performed by Tankz ft. Tarm, 2:17:

     Not banging them clicks and hitting them licks
     I'm probably in uptown fucking your bitch
     I love these bands, I can't go lidge, Imma scam, trap, or hit them licks