What exactly is "keeping it real"?

[CharlieParker]

Hey people,
I got into a heated argument with a few friends about what hip-hoppers use to rate another's authenticity. What constitutes one's 'realness', whether you are a b-boy, an Emcee, a Dj, or a Graf-Writer?
Thoughts?
Comments?

Whatever the result: First and foremost it's got to be about keeping it right.

-Charlie Parker

[switch32]

In my opinion, "keepin' it real" in terms of hip hop stands for not selling out. Doing it for the sake of real hip hop music... staying true to yourself and why you first fell in love with what you are doing in the first place. Looking back and bringing back the true meaning of hip hop and how it made you feel the first time you discovered it. Artists who lose that over time and stay in the industry for the money, the fame, etc... are fake. One could argue that those who are biting other artists style and lyrics are also NOT keeping it real. That is my personal definition of the words. You could probably add to that, and the Urban Dictionary may state something different. I didn't look.

[creptik]

might sound corny but basically being yourself. plain and simple. if you're out there shooting people and selling crack then be that, but if you're not then fucking stop with that shit, we really don't need it, especially if it's just an image. whatever is relevant to your life is what you should be about. another big factor is whether or not you rap in the first person when you do drift from your own experiences. a lot of emcees can tell some amazing stories and don't have to act like it happened to them. a lot of today's dudes could learn something from that.

i think part of the reason a lot of artists seem to leave behind their roots though is because once they become successful they no longer live how they used to. and i absolutely disagree with people who say that that's somehow not keeping it real. i remember people being mad at the wu when they came out in fur coats and shit in one of their videos. well damn, consider how much money these dudes have made. they're spending it. deal with it. are they supposed to stay gutter when they bring in a few million? how would THAT be real if they DID? and you cannot live in the same neighborhood you grew up in when you have that kind of money. it would be suicide. that said, while you make your moves in life you don't have to become a whole nother person just because of this. just depends on how you handle your success. food/clothing/shelter is expected to improve, who you are as a person hopefully doesn't. because then you wouldn't be keeping it real.

[aplusen]

might sound corny but basically being yourself. plain and simple. if you're out there shooting people and selling crack then be that, but if you're not then fucking stop with that shit, we really don't need it, especially if it's just an image. whatever is relevant to your life is what you should be about. another big factor is whether or not you rap in the first person when you do drift from your own experiences. a lot of emcees can tell some amazing stories and don't have to act like it happened to them. a lot of today's dudes could learn something from that.

i think part of the reason a lot of artists seem to leave behind their roots though is because once they become successful they no longer live how they used to. and i absolutely disagree with people who say that that's somehow not keeping it real. i remember people being mad at the wu when they came out in fur coats and shit in one of their videos. well damn, consider how much money these dudes have made. they're spending it. deal with it. are they supposed to stay gutter when they bring in a few million? how would THAT be real if they DID? and you cannot live in the same neighborhood you grew up in when you have that kind of money. it would be suicide. that said, while you make your moves in life you don't have to become a whole nother person just because of this. just depends on how you handle your success. food/clothing/shelter is expected to improve, who you are as a person hopefully doesn't. because then you wouldn't be keeping it real.

I like the part about being yourself...but unfortunately due to lack of education can lead to "dave chappell" versions of keepin' it real. Keep your own world real and hope you run into folks that feel the same way. That's all you can do.

[twisted_harmonix]

Hey people,
I got into a heated argument with a few friends about what hip-hoppers use to rate another's authenticity. What constitutes one's 'realness', whether you are a b-boy, an Emcee, a Dj, or a Graf-Writer?
Thoughts?
Comments?

Whatever the result: First and foremost it's got to be about keeping it right.

-Charlie Parker

what made your argument so heated?
can you break it down and give us a synopsis of the coversation?
thanks, i need to know.

[verbal kint]

you guys are rad.

[S...]

all of you are keepin it so real, i cant even fucking believe it.

PWC is the human emodiment of keeping it real.

Study his lessons... knowledge. Peace sun.

[skibadee]

this is real shit in here...

only the real can survive

:yum:

[the pm]

Please refer all questions in regard to keeping it real to PWC.

I mean I could tell you what I feel, but he's the final word.