Originally used to mean a young man, new to the game. By new to the game, I don't mean he just meant a rapper, but he just started
selling crack, just started
rapping, whatever, but even
simpler it was a term used to mean just a person much younger than you.
Now, commercial rappers have turned the meaning upside down to mean a 'fine female', apparently.
"
shorty's laugh was
cold blooded as he spoke so foul,
Only twelve trying to tell me that he liked my style"
-NaS, 1994
"Shorty
is shaking her ass on my Hummer with spinning rims, or something."
-average commercialized rapper today