Slab (car)

Slab (sometimes in all capital letters) is an acronym for "slow, loud, and bangin'" or for "hitting the slab," as in driving on concrete roads.

It is a slang term for a car with bright candy paint and large chrome wheels, among other customizations. Slabs emerged in the 1980s Houston and saw the most popularity in the 1990s and 2000s, but have faded in popularity. Slabs are synonymous with Texas rap culture, and the drivers of Slabs would usually play loud rap music and drive slowly thus the "Slab" (slow, loud, and bangin') term. Another view is that the term "slab" refers to the slabs of concrete that make up the street, as in taking out a custom car on the concrete slab of a Houston freeway."

Elements

Slabs have bright "candy" paint in colorful hues, contrasting many modern grey, black, and white cars. They often feature gold and whitewall tires on chrome wire wheels which may protrude like a cone horizontally, colloquially called "Swangas" or "elbows." They may also feature "cartoonish" central poker protruding centers, the longest being 24 in (61 cm). A simulated Continental kit that include a fiberglass spare wheel and marching "elbow" are often added to the rear.

The customized cars are typically American brands like Cadillac, Chevrolet, Lincoln, and Buick. Many are retro cars like the Cadillac DeVille or old Chevrolet Impalas. Slabs may have lowered suspension from hydraulics. Some Slabs have constantly open or "popped" trunks that contain neon signs, amplifiers, and speakers. The high-powered sound systems with massive subwoofers can shatter plate glass store windows. Owners also put custom messages under the trunk lid.

Slabs are similar to Californian lowrider cars, with retro American cars, bright colors, low suspension, and association with hip-hop. However, the large wheels, 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 the 1970s "Blaxploitation" films.

In hip-hop culture

Slabs are a part of Texas rap culture, named after how Slab drivers played rap in the car. They were frequently mentioned in and played in 2000s and 1990s 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.