[To Be Quite Honest]

##### is slang for my brotha which is slang for my friend...

One of my favorite things I used to do when a new person is around my friends and me is to give my friends a hug saying my #####! I love the reactions.

The "But you're not Black!" look is my favorite.

It's a big part of hip-hop culture. I, and my friends, grew up in the hip-hop culture and subsequently my friends, Black, Asian, East Indian and Caucasian would use it in our environment. Mostly it started while playing basketball. Of course you don't want to offend people so it stays with in your comfort areas. If there was the 6 of us, and you were there for the first time, we'd be comfortable in our environment. It's the application of the use in a public forum were heads turn and people can be offended. Madonna put out the picture on her public forum to millions and people responded much like others in this thread.

There is a funny memory where we were meeting up at my friends house. I came in with the hug and do our "What's up my #####?!" Then release the hug and go around the corner to where my buddy brought his black friend, of whom I never met before. I came in and did the same thing to him and we laughed. He was expecting me to be embarrassed or taken back but the timing of it was priceless. I saw him a few times since and we still laughed about it.