Jonathon Lyndale Kirk, aka DaBaby, seen holding up four fingers in October 2022Credit: Getty

Why do rappers hold four fingers up?

Rappers have been holding up four fingers for decades but the trend has now hit TikTok, causing users to question what it means.

Unfortunately, there is not one answer to this question and the gesture means different things to different people.

For example, Urban Dictionary states that “4s Up” is a Florida-based “gang” sign that represents the “hood” or “block” of residents in North Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Oakland Park, or Broward County.

While some might associate it with gangs, in 2017, holding up four fingers was used to help bring awareness to mental health issues, according to Distractify.

The campaign was started by BBC and saw several celebrities, including Tom Hardy, hold up four fingers in various pictures.

In 2021, the sign then got another new meaning and ultimately saved someone’s life after it went viral on TikTok.

Known as the “silent signal,” the trend saw users tucking in their thumbs into their palms, holding four fingers up faced forward, and then closing them into a fist. This is meant to signal that someone is in danger, according to Distractify.

A missing teenager from North Carolina was able to use this trick to help get rescued while in Kentucky, ABC’s KOLO8 reports.

Another common conception is that holding up four fingers represents the West Coast. This is because rappers like Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre, who are both from the West Coast, have been seen doing it over the years.

Chubbs, Drake, and Lil Baby at Lil Baby’s “It’s Only Me” album release in October 2022Credit: Getty

What does holding up four fingers mean in sports?

Along with having several meanings in the entertainment industry, holding up four fingers also means something in the sports community, especially on the football field.

Holding up four fingers on the field often means that the game is in the most crucial 15 minutes, according to Distractify.

“When the clock expires at the end of the third quarter, teams hold up four fingers to signify the beginning of the most important 15 minutes of the game,” according to Dictionary.tn.

“The fourth quarter is when games are won, and legends are made. Fourth quarters are why players work so hard in the offseason with the weightlifting and the running.”