187 (murder) - Definition and Overview

187 is the numeric code for the crime of murder used by law-enforcement officials, particularly in the state of California. This number is used for this purpose because Section 187 of the California Penal Code deals with that crime.

In the early 1990s, the number began to appear in the lyrics of gangsta rap songs, prompting some radio stations to stop playing the songs in which the number was used.

The following is a list of prominent examples of this usage:

• Trigga Gots No Heart, performed by Oakland-based rapper Spice One and included in the soundtrack to the 1993 film Menace II Society.
• It is found in Big Pun's "Twinz (Deep Cover '98)" featuring Fat Joe. Senses Fail also performs a song entitled "One Eight Seven."
• Many songs on Dr. Dre's classic gangsta rap album The Chronic use this slang.