Context

This line is spoken by Youngblood Priest, played by Ron O'Neal, in the film Super Fly, directed by Gordon Parks, Jr. (1972).

Super Fly might sound like he's the groovy counterpart to Spider-Man, but this early 70s movie is about everything but superheroes.

Youngblood Priest, a drug dealer living in New York City, is not just fly—he's super fly! He's also been thinking about taking a break from all the cocaine dealing he's been doing lately. We're thinking that's a good plan.

After a series of adventures, Youngblood is able to take that break, and stick it the The Man in the process. One of his trademark catchphrases along the way is "Can you dig it?" Basically, this is just another way of saying, "Do you understand?" But like way, way cooler.

Super Fly is pretty famous for being what's known as a "blaxploitation" film. Some folks like these movies since they're made primarily for black audiences and because they speak to some aspects of the African-American experience. Other people, however, are less than thrilled by these movies because they are often full of stereotypes—like telling stories about urban drug dealers.

However you feel about Super Fly, the movie and the soundtrack (which actually out-sold the movie) have definitely made their mark on pop culture.

Where you've heard it

"Can you dig it?" was a pretty commonly used phrase in the 60s and 70s. It's kind of fallen out of fashion today, but you might still hear it when people are referencing groovier times.

Additional Notable References:

• Cyrus quotes this line to the crowd in the cult classic, The Warriors. They definitely dig it.
• The song that plays during the end credits of Iron Man 3 is called "Can You Dig It?" Oh, we can.

Pretentious Factor

If you were to drop this quote at a dinner party, would you get an in-unison "awww" or would everyone roll their eyes and never invite you back? Here it is, on a scale of 1-10.

There's nothing cooler than asking someone if they dig you. Definitely not pretentious at all. You dig?