v. When a person, typically a male youth, overcompensates for low socioeconomic status by listening to hard rock or rap and getting tattoos, attempting to portray himself as an
alpha male, when in
fact he is subservient in the business world due to his poor education and low
IQ. He is, in essence, socially and economically subservient, despite his outward rebellion. Hence the phrase: his cheeks are in the air.
Bob: "That dude is always trying to act hard, but he's stuck in this fast food joint working for the
man with his cheeks in the air."
Jeremy: "True dat,
homie. Word."