Recreationizzle sticky-icky-icky

Lean, also known as purple drank n' several other names, be a recreationizzle sticky-icky-icky beverage, prepared by combinin prescription-grade cough syrup wit a soft drink n' hard candy. Da concoction originated up in Houston, Texas, n' is ghettofab up in tha hip hop culture or dem playas whoz ass reside up in tha southern United Hoods.[1]

Tha 411

A spoonful of promethazine/​codeine syrup showin tha characteristic purple color

Names

Da term lean refers ta "abusers' propensitizzle of havin hang-up up in standin up straight."[2] "Purple drank" references its typically purple hue, as tha cough syrups employed is often purple up in color, n' a African-Gangsta Vernacular Gangsta term fo' a alcatronic beverage or intoxicatin drink. Other names include sizzurp,[3] syrup,[3] drank,[3] barre,[3] purple jelly,[3] wok,[4] Texas tea,[5] dirty Sprite,[6] n' Tsikuni.[7]

Ingredients

Typically, tha base fo' lean has been prescription cold medicine, specifically cough syrup, one dat gotz nuff both promethazine n' codeine yo, but over-the-counter cold medicine dat lists dextromethorphan as tha actizzle ingredient has also been used, as it can produce similar effects n' eliminizzle tha need fo' a thugged-out doctorz visit.[8][9] To create a thugged-out drinkable mixture, tha cough syrup is combined wit Sprite, Mountain Dew, or grape-flavored Fanta n' is typically served up in a foam cup.[10][11][11] A hard candy, probably a Jolly Rancher, may be added ta give tha mixture a thugged-out dopea flavor.[1]

Effects

Da physiological effectz of lean on tha user is ta produce mild "euphoric side effects", which is accompanied by "motor-skill impairment, lethargy, drowsiness, n' a gangbangin' finger-lickin' dissociatizzle feelin from all other partz of tha body."[11] Houston lyricist Lizzle Scott Walker noted dat tha super-sweet combination of soda, cough syrup, n' Jolly Ranchers serves up a gangbangin' flavor n' mouthfeel, which stays on tha tongue fo' a extended duration. I aint talkin' bout chicken n' gravy biatch. This phenomenon is often appealin ta first-time users.[12] Lean is often used up in combination wit alcohol and/or other sticky-icky-ickys.[11]

Hazards

In a article followin tha hospitizzleization of tha rapper Lil Weezy alleged ta be related ta lean, tha Los Angelez Times was rappin ta physician n' hospitizzleist Dr. Shiiit, dis aint no joke. George Fallieras on tha hazardz of tha concoction. I aint talkin' bout chicken n' gravy biatch. Fallieras stated dat up in its intended usage, "Da codeine up in tha medicine serves as a pain reliever n' also suppresses coughing fo' realz. A second sticky-icky-icky up in tha cough syrup, known as promethazine, is used as a antihistamine n' commonly used ta treat motion sickness n' nausea. Well shiiiit, it be also a lil' bit of a sedative�"employed kinda ta keep playas from drankin too much of tha stuff. This be a straight-up common cough syrup that, when taken up in appropriately prescribed quantities, is like safe."[13]

Dangers arise up in higher doses since promethazine be a thugged-out depressant of tha central straight-up trippin system (CNS), n' codeine be a respiratory depressant. When codeine is taken up in straight-up big-ass amounts, it can cause one ta stop breathing.[13] Usin brew n' other sticky-icky-ickys alongside lean increases tha chizzle of respiratory depression.[13] Fallieras stated dat tha concoction do not cause seizures itself yo, but increases they likelihood up in dem susceptible ta dem wild-ass muthafuckas.[13] Da drank includes a massive amount of tha opiate codeine, which can be addictizzle up in high doses, n' Fallieras states dat "promethazine has at least anecdotally been noted ta intensify tha euphoric effectz of codeine up in tha dome."[13]

Da addictizzle nature of tha drank means dat tryin ta discontinue regular usage can brang bout symptomz of withdrawal.[13] In a 2008 rap battle wit MTV Shiznit, Lil Weezy busted lyrics bout tha withdrawal as feelin "like dirtnap up in yo' stomach when you stop. All Y'all wants me ta stop all dis n' all dis shit. Well shiiiit, it ain't dat easy as fuck ."[14]

Lean is confirmed or suspected ta have caused tha dirtnapz of nuff muthafuckin prominent users. Respiratory depression be a potentially straight-up or fatal adverse sticky-icky-icky erection associated wit tha use of codeine yo, but mainly tha dark shiznit lies up in tha much mo' potent n' CNS-depressin phenothiazine-related antihistamine promethazine. This depression is dose-related n' is tha mechanizzle fo' tha potentially fatal consequencez of overdose: respiratory or cardiac arrest fo' realz. As wit most CNS depressants, mixin wit brew pimped outly increases tha risk of respiratory failure n' other complications.[15]

History

Accordin ta Houston-based lyricist Lizzle Scott Walker, lean pimped up in dat hood round tha 1960s when blues musical muthafuckas would take Robitussin n' cut it wit brew n' shit. Lata when Cristal coolaz came onto tha market, they substituted fo' brew.[12] These blues musical muthafuckas lived up in Houstonz Fifth Ward, Third Ward, n' Downtown Park hoodz n' tha practice was taken up by tha generation of rappers growin up in tha same partz of tha hood.[12] In tha 1980s n' 1990s tha formula chizzled ta rockin codeine promethazine cough syrup, somewhat like tha Glutethimide n' codeine combination dat was ghettofab from tha seventizzles up ta tha early nineties.[12]

Pimp Ronald Peters, also a Houston resident, points up dat lean remained a local Houston phenomenon until tha 1990s rapper DJ Screw busted out nuff muthafuckin tunes mentionin tha drank up in his crazy-ass mixtapes, which was mad ghettofab up in tha Houston area.[12]

Walker holdz dat DJ Screwz noize was particularly appropriate fo' Houstonz climate. Cuz of tha heat n' expanse of tha Houston area gangstas dropped long drives up in they cars, "the noize dat most appropriately complements dat has always been tha noize of DJ Screw, itz slowed down�"and when I say slowed down I mean da thug would record sessions up in his crib wit rappers freestyling over beats n' da thug would make these big-ass mixtapes n' then da thug would straight-up slow dem down even further on his cassette recorder."[12] DJ Screwz invokin lean up in his fuckin lyrics n' his use of slow tempos had caused his steez ta be characterized "[a]s if tha cold lil' woo wop itself has taken too much codeine promethazine".[12] Rappers outside of Houston soon adopted aspectz of his style.[12]

Walker points up dat lean had never been stigmatized up in Houston yo, but wit tha apparently lean-related early dirtnap of DJ Screw, tha concoction became tha focuz of law enforcement up in tha Houston area wit felony charges bein applied fo' some aspects surroundin dat shit.[12]

Popularization

In 2019, rapper Future publicly was rappin bout quittin lean afta peepin' bout how tha fuck his crazy-ass noize hyped up teenagers ta try tha sticky-icky-icky.

Houston balla DJ Screw popularized tha concoction, which is widely attributed as a source of inspiration fo' tha chopped-and-screwed steez of hip hop music.[16][17] Da promethazine n' codeine concoction first gained popularitizzle up in tha underground hip hop scene up in Houston,[17] where musical muthafucka Big Hawk holla'd dat shiznit was consumed as early as tha 1960s n' 1970s, becomin mo' widely used up in tha early 1990s.[18] Because of usage by rap artists up in Houston, it became mo' ghettofab up in tha 1990s.[19] Its use lata spread ta other southern states.[16] In June 2000, Three 6 Mafiaz single "Sippin' on Some Syrup", featurin UGK, brought tha term purple drank ta a nationwide crew.[20]

In 2004, tha Universitizzle of Texas found dat 8.3% of secondary school hustlas up in Texas had taken codeine syrup ta git high.[16] Da Drizzle Enforcement Administration reports busts involvin syrup across tha southern United Hoods, particularly up in Texas n' Florida.[16] Az of 2011, tha price of lean up in Houston is twice tha price as it is up in Los Angelez.[19]

In a 2019 rap battle, Gangsta rapper Future was rappin bout quittin lean n' stated dat da thug was afraid dat his hustlas would believe his crazy-ass noize has chizzled if dat schmoooove muthafucka had publicly admitted ta quittin earlier.[21] Future expressed disappointment afta Gangsta rapper Juice Wrld holla'd at his ass dat da thug was hyped up by his crazy-ass noize ta try lean when da thug was young. Future stated "It’s like, ‘Oh shit.’ How tha fuck nuff other sixth-gradaz did I influence ta drank lean?"[21] Da two artists had busted out a cold-ass lil collaboratizzle mixtape titled Wrld on Drizzles up in October 2018.[21] Lil Nas Xz hit cold lil' woo wop "Oldskool Hood Road" includes tha line "Lean all up in mah bladder", though Lil Nas X has stated da ruffneck do not endorse tha sticky-icky-icky.[22]

Notable incidentz of use

DJ Screw, whoz ass popularized tha codeine-based drink, took a dirt nap of a cold-ass lil codeine�"promethazine-brew overdose on November 16, 2000, nuff muthafuckin months afta tha vizzle of Three 6 Mafiaz single debuted.[23]

Big Moe, a DJ Screw protégé whose mixtapes Citizzle of Syrup n' Purple World was based on tha drank n' whoz ass has been busted lyrics bout as havin "rapped obsessively bout tha sticky-icky-icky",[24] took a dirt nap at age 33 on October 14, 2007, afta sufferin a heart attack one week earlier dat left his ass up in a coma.[25] There was speculation dat lean may have contributed ta his fuckin lil' dirtnap.[26][27]

Pimp C, widely influential Port Arthur, Texas, rapper n' a gangmember of rap duo UGK, was found chillin wit tha fishes on December 4, 2007, all up in tha Mondrian Hotel up in Westside Hollywood, California. Da Los Angelez County Coronerz Office reported dat tha rapperz dirtnap was "due ta promethazine-codeine effects n' other unestablished factors." Ed Winter, assistant chizzle of tha Coronerz Office, holla'd tha levelz of tha medication was elevated yo, but not enough ta deem tha dirtnap a overdose. But fuck dat shiznit yo, tha word on tha street is dat Pimp C had a history of sleep apnea, a cold-ass lil condizzle dat causes one ta stop breathang fo' short periodz durin chill fo' realz. A spokesman fo' tha coronerz crib holla'd dat tha combination of chill apnea n' cough medication probably suppressed Pimp Cz breathang long enough ta brang on his fuckin lil' dirtnap.[28][24]

Fredo Gangstana, a Gangsta rapper whoz ass frequently made references ta tha drank up in his crazy-ass beatz, took a dirt nap of a seizure on January 19, 2018 fo' realz. Accordin ta TMZ, dat schmoooove muthafucka had been sufferin from liver n' kidney problems, which was believed ta be tha result of his thugged-out addiction.[29]

In September 2006, Terrence Kiel, a San Diego Chargers playa, was caught at it durin practice fo' tha possession wit intent ta push prescription cough syrup fo' use up in makin tha drink.[16] Kiel was caught tryin ta shizzle a cold-ass lil case of syrup ta a gangbangin' playa via FedEx. Kiel was charged wit two felony countz of transportin a cold-ass lil controlled substizzle n' three countz of possession fo' sale of a cold-ass lil controlled substance.[30]

On July 8, 2008, Jizzy Jolly, a Chronic Bizzle Packers playa, was pulled over up in his hoopty by tha five-o fo' playin a excessive level of noize up in a nightclub parkin lot. Da fools found a Dr Pepper forty up in a holda next ta two Styrofoam cups containin soda n' ice. Da fools holla'd tha cups n' tha forty all emitted "strong odorz of codeine"[31] even though tha codeine is odorless accordin ta Nationizzle Institutez of Health.[32] Da case was dismissed,[33] but charges was refiled up in December 2009 afta tha Houston Popo Department acquired freshly smoked up shiznit dat allowed tha five-o ta test tha evidence again. I aint talkin' bout chicken n' gravy biatch. Jolly faced a possible maximum sentence of up ta 20 muthafuckin years on lockdown yo, but as a last time offender da thug would be eligible fo' probation.[34]

On July 5, 2010, forma Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell was caught at it at his home up in Mobile, Alabama, fo' possession of codeine syrup without a prescription. I aint talkin' bout chicken n' gravy biatch yo. Dude was caught at it as part of a undercover narcotics investigation. I aint talkin' bout chicken n' gravy biatch. Russell was booked tha fuck into hood jail n' busted out soon afterwardz afta makin his bail.[35]

On March 15, 2013, Lil Weezy was hospitizzleized wit seizures allegedly afta takin tha sticky-icky-icky.[36] Fellow rapper Birdman, however denied dat tha seizures was up in any way connected ta sticky-icky-ickys.[37]

On June 11, 2013, just minutes afta bein robbed at gunpoint up in San Frankieco, rapper 2 Chainz was caught at it at Los Angelez Internationistic Airport on chargez of possessin promethazine n' codeine (the primary ingredientz of lean) along wit marijuana.[38]

Mac Miller, whoz ass took a dirt nap of a thugged-out sticky-icky-icky overdose not involvin lean, was rappin openly of his thugged-out addiction ta lean.[39]

Commercial shizzle

Advertisin fo' one commercial thang wit marketin based on tha "purple drank" name.

Yo, nuff muthafuckin legal commercial shizzle loosely based on tha concept of "purple drank" is marketed up in tha United Hoods. In June 2008, Innovatizzle Beverage Group, a Houston, Texas-based company, busted out a funky-ass beverage called "Drank". Da commercial thang gotz nuff no codeine or promethazine yo, but fronts ta "Slow Yo crazy-ass Roll" wit a cold-ass lil combination of herbal ingredients like fuckin valerian root n' rose hips as well as tha hormone melatonin.[40][41] Similar "anti-energy" or relaxation drinks on tha commercial market use tha names "Purple Stuff", "Sippin Syrup", n' "Lean".[42][43][44]

Criticism

These commercial shizzle done been dissed fo' they potential ta serve as gateways ta tha fucked up illegal concoction.[43][44][45] At a menstrual game conference up in February 2010, Dr. Shiiit, dis aint no joke. Ronald Peters, Jr., of tha Universitizzle of Texas Game Science Centa holla'd of "Drank": "They're takin tha name, n' they tryin ta market it ta lil' people." Dude busted lyrics bout tha beverage as "da most thugged-out shitty thang I've eva peeped on tha street since tha makin of candy blunts".[45]