Keep It Real

Keeping it real is a phrase that too many people use without knowing what keeping it real is. The idea of keeping it real to what I understand means something of violence, ignorance, and trying to keep up with what the media pawns have defined as keeping it real.

Let me make this clear...what a lot of people think keeping it real is... is NOT.

If you go to jail and people can say he kept it real that's a shame. There's nothing real about going to prison besides the realness of the air leaving your cell once that door closes. There's nothing real leaving your family to worry about you. There's nothing real about wasting valuable time from your life.

What the media says is real...is fake. Most rappers you see don't live and have never lived the life they portray. They just put out what people will but. It's supply and demand. The artist that do keep it real...for real don't get any radio time. Kanye West didn't sell near as many records as he sell now and in my opinion his early works kept it real.

Now, my definition of keeping it real may snatch you out your seat. Everyone in my family at some point has done jail time. Possession charges, money laundering, grand theft larceny, etc. Many of my close friends are in jail today because they tried to keep it real.

Now, I don't hold any of it against them because they all were really keeping it real. If you want to keep it real, you have to first look yourself in the mirror and keep it real with yourself. If you can't keep it real with yourself how can you expect others to be real with you? If you live in the suburbs and want to sell dope that doesn't make you real...it makes you dumb. Here you are blessed and because of external motivation you want to run the risk of throwing that away. On the other hand if you live in the slums and have truly tried to get a real job in attempt to better yourself and your family and you have no other option but to turn to dealing drugs I can't hold anything against that person, because they didn't do it for show. By no means am I saying this justifies anyone breaking the law. It does justify that person being real because they did whatever they could for their family.

Keeping it real means you are real with yourself and you don't try to fit in with others ideas or opinions. Being honest with your woman and not keeping secrets or even lies. Being able to stand on your own two feet and saying to the world "I know you don't like what I am, but this is who I am and I am not afraid of judgment." That's what keeping it real is. If someone threatens you then you have every right to protect yourself until they are no longer a threat. However, when you threaten yourself with jail time or death you are being selfish, because you are not considering those who care about you. Looking like who done it, when, where, why doesn't make you real and failing in school when you are more than capable does not make you real. Finally, owning a gun doesn't make you real ever in any way.

Stand up to the world, be who you are, and don’t care if someone disagrees. Be honest, upstanding, productive, and keep it real with yourself. Then and only then you will be keeping it real and that's real talk people.