Slab (car)

A Slab (sometimes in all capital letters) is an acronym for "slow, loud, and bangin'". It is a slang term for a car with bright candy paint and large chrome rims, among other customizations. Slabs emerged in the 1980s Houston and saw the most popularity in the 1990s and 2000s, but have faded in popularity since. Slabs are synonymous with Texas rap culture and the drivers of Slabs would usually play loud rap music and drive slowly, which is where the "Slab" (slow, loud, and bangin') term came from. Slabs were also frequently referenced in rap hits from Houston, Texas.

Elements

Slabs have bright "candy" paint in colorful hues, in contrast to many modern grey, black, and white cars. They also have wheels with large chrome rims (over 20 inches) which are sometimes wheels that protrude like a cone horizontally, colloquially called "Swangas" or "elbows". Usually American cars, from brands like Cadillac, Chevrolet, Lincoln, and Buick are cars that are customized into Slabs, many of which being retro cars like the Cadillac DeVille or old Chevrolet Impalas and Slabs may have lowered suspension from hydraulics. Some Slabs have constantly open, or "popped" trunks that contain neon signs, music speakers, or spare wheels. Slab drivers would play loud rap music and drive slowly, which gave rise to the name "Slab", as it is an ancronym for "slow, loud, and bangin'". Slabs are similar to Californian Lowrider cars, with usage of retro American cars, bright colors, low suspension, and association with hip-hop, but some aspects, like large rims, occasional usage of more modern cars, and trunk "popping" makes Slabs distinct from Lowriders. The design of Slab cars borrows inspiration from cars driven by pimps and gangsters in 1970's "Blaxploitation" films.

In hip-hop culture

Slabs are a part of Texas rap culture, being named after the way Slab drivers played rap in the car, were frequently mentioned in and played 2000's and 1990's Texas rap songs. Rappers like Chamillionaire, Pimp C, Bun B, Paul Wall, Slim Thug, Big Pokey, Z-Ro, and Mike Jones would mention Slabs in their songs. Additionally, the chopped and screwed style of Southern rap, which involved slowing rap songs and then repeating or skipping beats, popularized by DJ Screw and DJ Mike Watts, made Slabs more popular as part of Slab culture is slow driving, which fit the style of low tempo chopped and screwed songs.