Street Glossary

Talk like you walk it.

Block talk

Crown up — phrase. Head high, shoulders back, dignity intact. Said as encouragement, greeting, or farewell. “Crown up, kid. Big day.”

Earn wall — phrase. The Upstairs admissions policy, courtesy of Jamal to Kid Comet. Wall space is granted to those who put in the sketchbook hours first.

The grind is the gift — saying. Jamal’s core motto. The work isn’t the price of the dream; it’s part of the dream.

Forward, somehow — saying. The unofficial city motto, sprayed under the overpass at seventeen. Progress without a map.

The 6 train rule — saying. If you can fix it on the 6 train, it’s fixed. Resourcefulness as civic virtue.

Favor economy — noun. The Docks’ real currency. Haircuts, flyers, plumbing, grant-writing — all traded, none invoiced. Jamal is its central bank.

Gray Suits — noun. Harborline Development Group and their ninety-slide decks. Not a slur — a uniform observation.

Ninety slides, nine drawings — saying. The night Jamal’s sketchbook beat the developers’ deck. Shorthand for: the block’s voice beats the boardroom’s volume.

Second chair — noun. Big Tone’s barbershop, second seat from the window. Jamal’s therapist’s office. Bookings: walk in, wait your turn, bring news.

The Upstairs — noun. The free community design studio at 44 Furnace Street, third floor. Also a verb: “We’re upstairsing the old print shop.”

Wall tax — noun. The fines Jamal pays for painting without permission. He considers them a municipal subscription to self-expression.

Rooftop minutes — noun. Ten minutes on the laundromat roof at night, redrawing the day. Non-negotiable.

How to use this glossary

Sprinkle lightly. Mean it always. And if Big Tone offers you the second chair — take it.

Source notes: Fictional glossary invented for this fan guide.