Alright, this certainly isn't a significant question but one that has puzzled me for some time, even more so since "Surreal Life" has been on tv. I've heard a lot of african american men refer to men (and women) as "G" as in:
"I've got your back, G"
"You're the man, G"
"I love you G"- Flavor Flav to Brigette Nelson

I know it's certainly not short for a person's name as I hear the male cyber reps here at work use it on everyone. Could it be short for "guy"? Is it just a fad phrase? Anyone care other than me?

As I understand it, the original meaning of "G" was "gangsta". Someone who had done time or could have been confirmed to have committed a crime. Don't know if that still holds true or not though. It may have evolved into a more benevolent/generic meaning.

Georgia
It means:a term for an unfamiliar male
I found that on a West African Slang site

Yeah, I think Tee has it. I think it started as a short form of 'gangsta.' As for now a days (i.e. around the mid-80s and after since it's on one of PE's earlier albums and I'd assume that's where Kool G Rap got his 'G' from), rapdict has it defined as "(n) anything that starts with a G. E.g. God, Gangsta, Girl, Guy. As in 'Whatup, G?'." So like Tee said, it definitely evolved into more of a benevolent/generic meaning and that's obviously what Flavor Flav meant.

Bedstor, what was the site you found it at?

jusork
Check your email!
Good reason why I cannot post here (as you'll see)

Thanks, Bedstor. As I said in the e-mail, I don't see where you got that it's West African Slang from.

And I'm pretty sure you can post drug slang on here.

Thanks everyone. Interesting why one doesn't have the inclination to say "girl" or "guy" and have to abbreviate it to G. Makes no sense to me at all. Maybe it's all about like the sound of it.

Perhaps calling it an abbreviation is the wrong idea. I'd say think of it more like an alternative to saying something else. Slang does it all the time, if you notice. It's rarely used for abreviation.

Man, dude, bro, guy, Mac, buddy, dog... the cool slang for addressing another person has always been male. 'Girl' just isn't in the same league.

The unisex 'G' is maybe a positive move - something like saying 'police officer' instead of 'policeman' or 'flight attendant' instead of 'stewardess'.