If you’ve got a kid belting out “six seven” over and over, and they can’t quite tell you what it means, don’t despair. For once, the answer isn’t anything too horrifying, explicit, or concerning.
If your kid is on TikTok, YouTube, Reels, or any other video app, or they interact with kids who use those apps, you’ve probably heard more than one phrase pop up that made no sense to you. It’s been “skibbidi toilet,” “vibe check,” “Ohio,” “alpha,” and probably more than you can count, and this time, it’s “six seven.”
The Origin Of Six Seven
The “six seven” phrase originates from a rap lyric.
Skrilla’s song, “Doot Doot,” has the following lyrics (via Lyrics On Demand):
Shades on, I roll with the glasses
Bro say er ’cause he a savage
So many dead opps, so many ashes
You ain’t catch that I can’t pass this
Shooters stay strapped, I don’t need mine
Bro put belt right to they behind
The way that switch brrt I know he dyin
Six seven
The “six seven” part merely refers to Chicago’s 67th street — so you don’t need to worry that your child is intentionally or unknowingly saying something dirty or problematic.
The TikTok Takeover
Each parent can make their own decision regarding how to feel about the rest of the lyrics in a rap that Lyncil describes as “a gritty street anthem, filled with coded street slang, braggadocio, and an unapologetic tone” that “showcase[s] themes of street life, retaliation, fast living, and the glorification of violence.”
However, you should know that if your kid has encountered this on TikTok, they probably aren’t hearing the entire lyrics. Specifically, in the clip used with TikTok videos, the focus is heavily on the numbers, which are set apart from the rest of the words in a way that gives them emphasis.
The video below is a great example; the teen may be lip-syncing, but it’s clear that the link for her is the numbers that remind her of the song.
The Lamelo Ball Angle
A specific subset of memes and videos has gone viral, linking the lyrics to Charlotte Hornets player LaMelo Ball.
What’s the link? Mainly that he’s 6 feet 7 inches tall, according to Know Your Meme, although lines like “you ain’t catch that I can’t pass” may also evoke sports images. They apparently originate with one video clip in which a commentator describes Ball as a player who “moves like he’s six-one or six-two even though he’s six-seven,” after which someone dubbed in the song — again, presumably just because the lyrics stood out and forged a connection.
The video (and numerous versions that followed) went viral, further spreading the lyric to kids who may not have ever encountered the original song.
Checking In With Your Kids
Okay, so the ‘six seven’ lyric isn’t anything to be concerned about, and the rest of the lyrics — well, maybe “so many dead opps” and “stay strapped” aren’t exactly the goals you’ve imagined for your kids. Still, they’re no more horrifying or explicit than many other popular music genres.
Similarly, if you find yourself concerned, especially for younger kids, it’s a great idea to sit down and talk to them about the pop culture they’re exposed to whether it’s on the radio, TikTok, television, or across the internet.
Start with questions, rather than directives, and listen to what your kids share. Then invite them to discuss what they think about what they’re hearing, and how they feel about it.
You can reach decisions for your family about media exposure, but it starts with listening!
In the meantime, we’ll certainly take this TikTok trend over the recent uptick in the Bigorexia trend, often engaged in by teen boys, or the SkinnyTok trend that could be dangerous for children and teens, especially among young women.