Standing on the sidewalk with your friends under the street light. Not doing anything but leaning against the lamp post. Absolute meaning of this term in the early-1980s.

Powering DJ equipment by the lamp wires did happen, but is not “doing nothing” which lampin represents.

The use of “cold” is like “being cool.” It doesn’t refer to temperature at all. In the early 1980s you could say, “I was cold walking down the street when she came up to my face and dissed me.” Cold, meaning, disconnected, unaffected, cool as a cucumber, not involved in drama, etc.

I was cold chillin, doing my homework before class when…

Cold Lampin should not have any confusion, it means you and your friends were doing nothing but standing under a street light in the dark

We were outside, cold Lampin, when a car drove up with that bumpin bass

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Cold lampin - slang

chilling, relaxing

i aint doin nothin but cold lampin'

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Cold lampin

Tapping into the electrical wires of a street light to power DJ and MC equipment, and sound system, for the use of underground hip-hop performances and battles.

This term was popularized by the Flavor Flav / Public Enemy song of the same name, but since the term is not defined in the song, many assume the phrase to have other meanings.

"Aiyyo, power from the street light made the place dark!
I know a few understand what I’m talkin’ about"
- Mos Def (refering to the practice of cold lampin')

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Cold lampin

Synonymous with lampin. Layin' low, chillin' in the crib, not doing much of anything.

"...I'm lampin, I'm lampin, I'm cold cold lampin'" -Flavor Flav

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