So, why do rappers hold up 4 fingers? Tossing up fours or Throwing up fours are two terms for holding up four fingers. To create a hand sign, raise four fingers with the palm facing forward as if making a large ‘W.’
Rappers and want tobes frequently alter the essential four-fingers-up sign to make a unique motion. They achieve this by folding the thumb into the palm and overlapping both ring and middle and ring finger while keeping the index and little fingers up.
Famous rappers like Tupac Shakur popularised this essential gesture in the 1980s and 1990s. But, unlike most historical fads, this gesture style has survived numerous rappers and remains popular in 2022.
What Does It Mean When Rappers Hold Up 4 Fingers?
It is known that rappers hold up four fingers to ‘represent’ the West Coast or the West Side. Rappers, including Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and Tupac Shakur, popularized this gesture with accented beat gestures. They’re all from West Cost!
Making a big ‘W’ sign holding up the four fingers, usually when serenading a crowd, seeks to convey respect for the West Coast homeland or show solidarity with the people or fans from the West Coast.
An Urban Dictionary user must be aware, as it mentions, that the Westside hand gesture symbolizes innocent teenage fun, and the signal is originally from Florida.
People would raise their four fingers to indicate the blocks from which they had come. Broward County, Pompano Beach, Oakland Park, and North Lauderdale are typical examples of these areas.
DaBaby, one of the most successful young rappers of our time, clarified precisely what he intended when he urged a middle-aged white fan to “put the fours” with ring and middle fingers in a photo.
Holding up four fingers is thought to be a gang sign that originated in Florida, and it’s hilarious when a Middle-aged white lady makes this gesture. Also, a four-finger holds maximum effort, indicating the fourth quarter in games. It is a sign to bring mental health issues awareness. Holding four-finger is a silent signal of danger too popularized by the Canadian women’s foundation.
However, if celebrities start throwing up the fours, one can bet that others will follow suit, which is why this fad is so prevalent on social media, complete with a slew of additional hand signals.
Final Words – Why Do Rappers Hold up 4 Fingers?
Rappers frequently give the West Coast hand signal by holding up four fingers. Cross your ring and middle finger and tuck your thumb into your palm. Rappers on the west coast utilize this gesture to express camaraderie and appreciation.
Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Ice Cube, and Tupac Shakur have all utilized this hand symbol. Unfortunately, people misinterpreted this gesture as a gang sign; although no actual gangs have claimed the four-finger West Coast hand gesture, it is frequently.