Shorty Got High Like a G-6

Because my parents are discerning music-listeners, I was raised on a steady diet of Tom Petty, The Eagles, The Beastie Boys and Warren Zevon. When confronted with a country and western version of Pink Floyd's The Wall done by Luther Wright and the Wrongs (yes, I'm serious), one doesn't feel the need to venture out into popular music much, or if you do, it's quality controlled by the same musically discerning parents.

As a result, the depth of my understanding of popular music is limited, at best, to the genres I have developed a particular taste for. I am, however, an equal opportunity music connoisseur and will give anything at least a cursory listen.

As I have been testing the heretofore uncharted waters of popular rap and hip-hop, I have come up with two questions that I feel must be answered in order for my listening to continue.

What is a G6? And who the heck is Shorty?

Like the able-bodied internet user I am, I did a quick Wikipedia search and here's what I came up with:

-The six largest members of the European Union.
-An airplane.
-A Ford or a Pontiac.
-A howitzer.
-A Chess move (pawn to G-6).

Using context clues (and consequently getting exposed to words like "sizzurp". Don't get me started.), I would assume that they're referring to the airplane. Some further Wikipedia-ing provided me with a picture of said airplane. It's a 12 passenger puddle jumper.

Yep. That's my idea of being fly.

I will say this, however. Having heard this phrase in at least two different songs, I assumed that another band/artist was just copying the first. I was relieved to find out that it was simply two songs by the same band. Kudos to Far East Movement for practicing continuity.

Speaking of continuity, very few characters have been serialized quite as effectively as the elusive "Shorty" (variation: Shawty). After a quick Google search and some analytical lyric comparison, I determined that there are no less than six songs named after this ambiguous female of small stature, not to mention however many times she is simply mentioned in the song.

All I have to say is: "Dang, girl!"