Why do people throw up 4s

From the ever-popular Tupac Shakur and Dr.Dre to Snoop Dogg, rappers have popularized the four-finger hand sign. Now, it’s a huge trend and an almost universal emoji on social media, but what does this sign really mean?

Read on to find out why rapers hold up four fingers and the true story behind the hand gesture meaning.

What Is 4 Fingers Up?

Holding up four fingers is also known as throwing up fours or tossing up fours. To make the sign, you hold up four fingers with your palm facing your chest as though to make a huge ‘W.’ 

It is also common for rappers and wannabes to modify the original four-fingers-up sign to a special gesture. They do this by overlacing the ring and middle fingers and leaving the index and pinky fingers up while the thumb is folded into the palm.

This simple gesture was popularized in the 80s and 90s by famous rappers such as Tupac Shakur. Unlike most trends from that era, this type of gesture has outlasted many rappers and is still quite popular even in 2022, many decades since it was first used. 

Why do people throw up 4s

What Does It Mean When Rappers Hold Up Four Fingers?

Urban legend has it that rappers hold four fingers up to ‘represent’ the West Coast or as an alternative gesture for the West Side.

This special gesture was popularized by rappers from the West Coast, including Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, and Tupac Shakur, among others, who would use it along with accented beat gestures while flashing his notorious 5-point star ring.

And let’s not forget about all them gold chains! There is a reason why rappers love showing off their cables!

By holding up four fingers and making a big ‘W’ sign, usually when serenading a crowd, in a music video, or a photograph, a rapper seeks to convey respect for the West Coast homeland or to show solidarity with the people or fans from the West Coast using this type of gesture.

According to a post on the Urban Dictionary, the Westside hand gesture and signal is originally from Florida, where it was used as innocent teenage fun.

People would hold up four fingers, indicating that they represented the block from which they came. These blocks typically include Broward County, Oakland Park, Pompano Beach, and North Lauderdale.

One of the most popular millennial rappers of our times, DaBaby, explained in an interview what he meant when he took a photo with a middle-aged white fan whom he jokingly asked to ”put the fours” up.

Why do people throw up 4s

In a Reddit post referring to the interview with DaBaby, a user explained, “It’s a gang sign; that’s why it is funny a middle-aged white lady was doing it.”

Holding the four fingers up is claimed to be a gang sign that can be traced back to Florida.

But, when famous people start tossing up the fours, you can rest assured that others will start copying this classic hand gesture, which explains why this trend is so popular on social media with other numerous gestures accompanying it.

Holding Up Four Fingers Has Other Meaning 

Although holding up four fingers is mostly popular in pop culture as a musical beat gesture, especially among rappers and street cops, this hand gesture is also used in many other contexts. 

Heading into the fourth quarter of football 

Football players will hold up four fingers on the field to indicate that the game is heading into its final 15 minutes.

Why do people throw up 4s

Team members should apply maximum effort and put in the best game. Players work hard in the fourth quarter during the offseason when they engage in weightlifting and lots of running.

In our day-to-day life, folks hold up four fingers to signal ”beast mode” — a tribute to the hustle culture mantra of working hard and playing harder.

The hand sign emoji encourages people to put in their best efforts in every avenue of their lives. Whatever you do, you should live your life like you are entering the fourth quarter each time.

Why do people throw up 4s

Find out what happened to Fetty Wap after his rise to fame!

Raising awareness about mental health issues 

In 2017, holding up four fingers while taking a selfie was pretty cool. This common gesture was popularized by big-time celebrities such as Tom Hardy, supporting a BBC campaign seeking to raise awareness about mental health issues.

Why do people throw up 4s

It is said that one in four people struggle with mental health problems. Back then, taking a selfie while holding your four fingers up, palm facing chest, and thumb tacked was the correct gesture to use if you want to seem ‘woke.’

Supporting a politico-religious group

In the Middle Eastern context, holding four fingers was a powerful symbol, and the correct gesture was popular in 2013.

Back then, the common gesture of holding up a four-finger hand signal meant that you were a proud Egyptian who loyally supported the Muslim Brotherhood.

Political movements in south-east Asia also used the four-fingers up hand gesture as a sign of unity and resistance against democratic movements.

Secretly asking for help when in distress

Holding up the four fingers became a TikTok trend in 2020 at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic when the Canadian Women’s Foundation popularized it as a silent signal for help.

According to Alyssa Ropell, the development coordinator at the Canadian Domestic Violence Resource Center, the COVID pandemic caused so much isolation for victims of domestic violence.

The hand signal of holding up four hands was a safe and discreet way to communicate that you are in distress and need help.

So, as you can see, the Westside hand gesture is far from a non-referential gesture; it has many interpretations depending on the context.

When it comes to musical entertainment, rappers hold up this Florida-based gang sign because they are representing, honoring, and acknowledging their West Side or West Coast roots.

Have you ever wondered if rappers are actually rich and if yes – how do they make money? We’ve got you covered!

Are you passionate about an up-and-coming rap artist? Here is how to support them.

Why do people throw up 4s

Your browser is no longer supported. Update it to get the best YouTube experience and our latest features. Learn more

  • Why do people throw up 4s
  • Why do people throw up 4s
  • Why do people throw up 4s
  • Why do people throw up 4s
Remind me later

Photo trends have existed since the invention of still camera technology. For some reason, folks back in the day would sternly look at the camera as if they were promised $1 million to sit through an hour-long stand-up comedy routine and not laugh. Or because, you know, they were living in a time where indoor plumbing wasn't promised.

A recently photo/video trend, however, has folks holding up four fingers, and many are wondering: What does it mean?

Article continues below advertisement

What does holding up four fingers mean on TikTok?

There are tons of hand gestures and signs that implement the use of four fingers, but we'll start with some of the most likely origins of how this sign got popular.

During a 2019 Hot Ones interview with DaBaby, the rapper explained the context behind a photo he took with a middle-aged white fan, where he asked her to "put the fours up."

A 2019 post in Urban Dictionary claims that the practice originated in Florida where individuals would use the signal to indicate that they were representing their block, most likely from "North Lauderdale, Pompano Beach, Oakland Park, or Broward County."

In a Reddit post that referenced the interview with DaBaby, one user wrote: "It’s a gang sign, that’s why it’s funny he got a middle aged white lady to do it."

Article continues below advertisement

Why do people throw up 4s

Source: YouTube | @First We Feast

Although it's said to be a Florida-based "gang" sign, it's not hard to imagine that when a few public figures and influential people began tossing up the fours that others would start to emulate it in their own photos and videos.

Article continues below advertisement

However, there are other reasons why people put "four" fingers up.

The sign can translate to "maximum effort" on the football field. Players will hold up four fingers to intone that the final, most crucial 15 minutes of the game are about to be played. The signal is a reminder to everyone to stay frosty and put forth the best game that they can.

Article continues below advertisement

Dictionary.tn writes: "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. 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."

So perhaps folks throwing up four fingers is an homage to that "beast mode" mentality players try to embody while on the field, and people are encouraging others to walk into every avenue of their lives and put forth their best effort. Whether it's going after the career you want or messaging prospective dates on Tinder, remember: You should always live life like you're about to head into the fourth quarter, #blessup.

Article continues below advertisement

Back in 2017, holding up four fingers in a selfie meant that you were helping to bring awareness to mental health issues, as one in four people struggle with them. The BBC campaign saw a litany of celebrities, Tom Hardy included, throwing the fours up to help call attention to mental health issues.

Article continues below advertisement

And if you're digging back to 2013, holding up four fingers means that you're an Egyptian who supports the Muslim Brotherhood.

There's also this 2021 trend — another four finger signal went viral on TikTok — that actually ended up saving someone's life.

The "silent signal" is supposed to communicate that you're in danger and you perform it by tucking your thumb into your palm, holding four fingers up with your palm faced forward and then closing all four fingers down on your fist. A young woman who was kidnapped actually used this signal that was a TikTok trend and was able to reach safety as a result.