smoke
noun
trouble, competition, conflict
What does smoke mean?
Smoke refers to trouble, competition, conflict, etc., whether a physical confrontation, a verbal argument, or the figurative “battle” of sports competition.
Examples of smoke
“So stop being petty. Stop being soft. Stop worrying about what people are saying about you and pick a smaller dude next time. Cause you don’t want that smoke.”
—Ryan Clark, quoted in Pro Football Weekly, 27 Nov. 2018
Real talk…I will come off of vacation to kick some DSA ass over Rep Underwood. Y’all keep thinking you want that smoke from us but it’s all … games until we caravan in and knock doors, write mail, and text bank on your asses.
—“We want all the smoke and we ain’t ducking no fades” - Darvin Ham after the Lakers Play-In win last night
—“I can’t have these girls fighting with me on TV for no reason anymore,” Leakes said last month. “I’ve got to move forward. And if that’s all you want from me I have to move on and I got to go. Me and my wig got to leave, honey.” And during the RHOA three-part virtual reunion, which wrapped last month, Leakes brought that smoke to both Burruss and Marcille before yelling “bye!” and closing her laptop.
—In a since-deleted video, Jackson outright accuses Brown of clout chasing. “Everybody wants attention,” he said. “Say Kwame Brown, bruh, I love you to death. I don’t want no smoke with you. […] I wish you the best, little bro. Keep doing your thing. But we’re not gonna put you on. You had your opportunity when you was the No. 1 draft pick and laid an egg.”
—
Where does smoke come from?
This use of smoke originated in African American English slang, and at least one website specifically locates Atlanta, Georgia as a geographic source. While we haven’t confirmed this, Atlanta rappers 21 Savage, Future, Young Thug, and Lil Yachty used the phrases “we want all the smoke” and “want the smoke” in their songs “All the Smoke, “All Da Smoke,” and “Who Want the Smoke.” These songs are from 2017 and 2018 and may have popularized the phrase. This sense of smoke has been in use since at least the early 2010s, and may be related to slang uses of the verb smoke meaning “to kill” or “to defeat or surpass decisively.”
How is smoke used?
To tell someone that they don’t want smoke (often, “that smoke”) is to warn them that they’re not ready for the consequences of a confrontation or competition with you. If you tell someone that you don’t want smoke, you’re not looking for trouble or for a fight. Conversely, especially in the context of sports, saying “we want all the smoke” may be considered analogous to “bring it on.”
