Slang dictionary
bollection
[buh-lek-shuhn]
What does bollection mean?
Bollection is slang term for “(seasonal clothing) collection,” popularized by hip-hop artist Cardi B.
Where does bollection come from?
Substituting a B for a C is part of a trend associated with the Bloods gang since the 1990s, e.g., bool (cool), brazy (crazy), or Bompton (Compton, California). This is because the name of their rivals, the Crips, begins with letter C.
Ruling out typos, evidence for this substitution in bollection (for “collection,” in fashion for a special, usually seasonal line of clothing, as a spring collection) can be found online in the early to mid-2010s.
Borth Bace Binter Bollection B014
— O$AP FERG (@KingKultura)
Rapper YG notably used bollection to refer to a line of summer clothing in conjunction with his record label, 4Hunnid, in July 2018.
Summer 18 bollection out now
— STAY DANGEROUS (@YG)
But, bollection was popularized by rapper Cardi B, of聽okurrr fame. The hitmaker partnered with fast-fashion retailer Fashion Nova for her own branded collection. The collection debuted in November 2018 and sold out almost immediately. To promote her new clothes, Cardi B frequently used the term bollection on social media. Her second collection with聽Fashion Nova, “Season 2,” dropped in May 2019.
MY FASHIONNOVA BOLLECTION DROPS AT 12am 馃槺馃槺馃槰馃槰馃槰
— iamcardib (@iamcardib)
Cardi has stated she was previously affiliated with the Bloods, though it should be noted that B-for-C substitutions can be a slang usage that doesn’t necessarily indicate any active Bloods membership or activity鈥攊t can be a cultural or hip-hop signifier.
Examples of bollection
Who uses bollection?
Thanks to her popularity,聽bollection is now closely associated with Cardi B, and聽uses of bollection commonly refer to Cardi B’s Fashion Nova collection. Sometimes, users will playfully make other B-for-C substitutions, e.g., Bardi for Cardi.
def bagging me some of that bardi bollection when she restocks 馃憛
— k$馃専 (@k_estrella_)
Bollection also remains associated with YG and his clothing collections.
RED FRIDAY BOLLECTION
— STAY DANGEROUS (@YG)
Other people familiar with the B-for-C substitution (and its cultural history with the Bloods and influential artists affiliated with them) may use bollection for collection. This is especially true when items are red, the Bloods color.
The Bute & Thick Bollection
— invader sim (@viasimone_)
My son out here tryna be a blood….talkn bout "I need this bumble bee for my bumble bee bollection"馃槀馃槕
— Leonelc (@LeonelContrer12)
Note
This is not meant to be a formal definition of bollection like most terms we define on Dictionary.com, but is rather an informal word summary that hopefully touches upon the key aspects of the meaning and usage of bollection that will help our users expand their word mastery.