1. An early version of the term "bebop," i.e., a modern jazz style popularized by Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, and others. The term continued to be popular in England into the 1970s, and is sometimes combined with "bebop" to produce scat-sounding jive talk--e.g. "Bepob with the Rebop."
2. Cab Calloway uses it generally for joyous, intoxicating music, with a hint (as so often in Cab's hep talk) of drugs (see example).
2. Cab Calloway uses it generally for joyous, intoxicating music, with a hint (as so often in Cab's hep talk) of drugs (see example).
Cab Calloway lyrics, from "Hi De Ho Man" (1947): "How'd you like to blow your top?/Dig yourself some fine rebop?/ Hi de hi, he de he,/ It's the Hi de ho man, that's me!"
by Nick Cusa September 23, 2006