A multi-purpose Indianapolis slang phrase meaning “what’s up,” “what are you on,” “what you doing,” or “what’
s going on with you?” depending on tone and context.
It’s a conversational
check-in that blends curiosity, recognition, and
street familiarity.
Origin &
History
First publicly popularized in 2013 through the song “How You What” by Freshduzit, which featured 10 local Indianapolis artists, each representing different sides of the city.
The song was intentionally created to:
Promote Indianapolis lingo
Unite multiple neighborhoods on one record
Put Naptown slang on
wax the same way other cities do (Atlanta, Detroit, Memphis, etc.)
While the phrase existed in
street conversation before, Freshduzit’s record was the first documented, recorded, and distributed use that spread it city-wide.
Aye
nasty , how you what?”
“I just
touched down, how you what tonight?”
“He been moving different, how you what?”
“Call
me when you free, let me know how you what.”