Discussion Forum—A Way with Words, a fun radio show and podcast about language

I am from Cape Cod Massachusetts, I now live in Boston.

Being from Massachusetts I grew up using the word "wicked" as do most people in the MA-NH-RI area. They way it is used it is as an adverb, a synonym for the word "very" or even "hella"

Example: "That was wicked awesome." or "He was wicked sketchy."

My question, I've heard people from other regions say things like, "That was wicked!" as in "That was awesome!"

How did this happen?
And also, anyone know the origin of the use of wicked in the northeast?