In high school in the late 1970s, he met Special K and DJ Easy Lee. They formed the influential old school hip hop group The Treacherous Three. It is with The Treacherous Three that Kool Moe Dee performed his freestyle, on stage roast of old school party rapper Busy Bee Starski, a performance frequently cited as a pivotal moment in the development of the battle rap. In 1986, Kool Moe Dee went solo, releasing a self-titled album.
He is also well-known for his long-running feud with LL Cool J; he claims that LL Cool J stole his rapping style. The cover of Kool Moe Dee's 1987 album How Ya Like Me Now features a red Kangol hat (LL Cool J's trademark) being crushed under the wheel of a Jeep.
His song I Go To Work from the album Knowledge Is King is considered by some the pinnacle of his work, with high speed, high energy and intricate lyrics masterfully mixed in to the stacatto sounds of a marching band.
Kool Moe Dee also appeared on Will Smith's #1 pop hit "Wild Wild West" from Smith's 1999 motion picture, on which he re-performs the chorus to his 1987 single of the same name.
In 2003 he authored a book called "There's a God on the Mic" (ISBN 1560255331). The book breaks down his 50 favorite MCs in terms of originality, concepts, versatility, vocabulary, substance, flow, flavor, freestyle, vocal presence, live performance, poetic value, body of work, industry impact, social impact, longevity, lyrics and battle skills.
Keep It Real
Kool Moe Dee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Keepin it real
(Real!)
Keepin it real
Keepin it real
(Real!)
Keepin it real
Keepin it real
Keepin it real
Keepin it real
(Real!)
I know you know I got the hip-hop, non-stop
Body-rockin mad props, I got
Parties clockin minds, not cheap shots
Because I'm droppin flavor
I'm keepin it real
I got to hit you with the fat beats that keeps
The heads shakin as we smash these
Flakes makin cash, we crash these
Straigh fakin gangsters
I'm keepin it real
I'm the educated, underrated, overstated
Suckers made it, suckers played it, suckers raided
Don't you hate it how they faded
All the great except the latest
Style created by the greatest
Rappin, rhymin, rhythmic climbin
Funky timin, rhyme designin
Lyric chimin, hard as diamond
Yes, it's mine and I'm inclinin
Mind to rhyme, and I ain't layin
I'm keepin it real
(Just keep it re-e-e-al)
(Real!)
(Just keep it re-e-e-al)
(Real!)
(Just keep it re-e-e-al)
(Real!)
(Just keep it re-e-e-al)
(Keep it real!)
(Real!)
Keepin it real
Keepin it real
(Real!)
Keepin it real
Keepin it real
(Keep it real!)
(Real!)
Keepin it real
Keepin it real
(Real!)
Keepin it real
Keepin it real
(Real!)
I never hit you with the fake hard barn yard
Country bumpkin facade, bogart
Bunch of frontin upstart, undercarred
Up-and-comin rappers, yo
I'm keepin it real
I'm tired of hearin all the bang-bang
Same thang as everybody shots ring
Gangs gain momentum as the rap game's slang change
And ain't nobody really
Keepin it real
I'm the innovating, motivating
Stimulating, elevating, resonnating
Renovating, emulating, perpetrating
Combinating, denegrading
Escalating, dominating
Insane, mondaine, no name lame brain
Rappers came to entertain
The same game, gain fame
And get a name, but ain't nobody
Keepin it real
(Just keep it re-e-e-al)
(Real!)
(Just keep it re-e-e-al)
(Real!)
(Just keep it re-e-e-al)
(Real!)
(Just keep it re-e-e-al)
(Keep it real!)
(Real!)
Keepin it real
Keepin it real
(Real!)
Keepin it real
Keepin it real
(Keep it real!)
(Real!)
Keepin it real
Keepin it real
(Real!)
Keepin it real
Keepin it real
(Real!)
I'm never comin with the fly guy, get high
Image of a rye dry white lie
Givin us a closed eye, why die
Before I hit the heavens, yo
I'm keepin it real
I got to get it while I'm on Earth, re-birth
My ancestors were here first, dispersed
By what you heard with each verse I reversed
The image of a ghetto, yo
Keepin it real
No stereotypical, nothin is typical
Comin like a God or a mythical figure, my visual's
Somethin like a magical mystical force of residuals
On the mic I'm flier than digital, more like a ???
I drop it like a Amville, stand still
Sit back and watch a man build and chill
As I proceed the plan will slam, kill
Anybody aimin, yo
I'm keepin it real
(Real!)
(Keep it real!)
Keepin it real
(Keep it real!)
(Real!)
The lyrics to Kool Moe Dee’s song “Keep It Real” speak to the importance of staying true, authentic, and genuine. He emphasizes the need for keeping it real in the hip-hop music industry where a lot of artists try to imitate and emulate others in order to gain fame, which ultimately leads to a lack of originality and creativity. Kool Moe Dee's lyrics reflect his belief that in order to create something truly unique, one must stay true to themselves and their artistry.
Throughout the song, Kool Moe Dee emphasizes his own style, which he describes as “educated, underrated, overstated,” and “funky timin, rhyme designin.” He is confident in his own abilities and is not concerned with conforming to industry standards or formulas that may be popular at the time. Instead, he creates his own unique style, which he believes is the key to his success.
One of the most notable themes in the song is Kool Moe Dee’s view on the lack of authenticity in the rap genre. He speaks to the homogenization of the industry, which has led to a lack of originality and creativity. He believes that this is a result of artists trying to emulate other successful artists in order to gain fame, rather than staying true to themselves and their artistry. Overall, Kool Moe Dee's "Keep It Real" emphasizes how authenticity and staying true to oneself is highly valued in the hip hop industry.
Line by Line Meaning
Keepin it real
Maintaining authenticity
Keepin it real
Maintaining authenticity
(Real!)
Emphasizing the importance of authenticity
I know you know I got the hip-hop, non-stop
Acknowledging reputation for hip-hop
Body-rockin mad props, I got
Acknowledging talent in hip-hop
Parties clockin minds, not cheap shots
Distinguishing success from aggression
Because I'm droppin flavor
Acknowledging hip-hop style and talent
I'm keepin it real
Maintaining authenticity
I got to hit you with the fat beats that keeps
Explaining hip-hop style and talent
The heads shakin as we smash these
Distinguishing success from aggression
Flakes makin cash, we crash these
Distinguishing success from manipulation
Straigh fakin gangsters
Calling out false identity
I'm keepin it real
Maintaining authenticity
I'm the educated, underrated, overstated
Acknowledging personal talent and reputation
Suckers made it, suckers played it, suckers raided
Calling out insecurity and competition
Don't you hate it how they faded
Commenting on the ephemeral nature of fame
All the great except the latest
Commenting on the tendency to forget past talent
Style created by the greatest
Acknowledging hip-hop origins and talent
Rappin, rhymin, rhythmic climbin
Listing hip-hop skills and talents
Funky timin, rhyme designin
Listing hip-hop skills and talents
Lyric chimin, hard as diamond
Listing hip-hop skills and talents
Yes, it's mine and I'm inclinin
Acknowledging personal hip-hop talent
Mind to rhyme, and I ain't layin
Proudly declaring hip-hop talent
I'm keepin it real
Maintaining authenticity
(Just keep it re-e-e-al)
Emphasizing the importance of authenticity
(Real!)
Emphasizing the importance of authenticity
I never hit you with the fake hard barn yard
Refusing to present false identity
Country bumpkin facade, bogart
Calling out false identity
Bunch of frontin upstart, undercarred
Calling out false identity and lack of experience
Up-and-comin rappers, yo
Calling out inexperienced rappers
I'm keepin it real
Maintaining authenticity
I'm tired of hearin all the bang-bang
Commenting on the violent themes of some hip-hop
Same thang as everybody shots ring
Commenting on the unoriginality of some hip-hop
Gangs gain momentum as the rap game's slang change
Commenting on the influence of hip-hop on culture
And ain't nobody really
Commenting on the lack of authenticity in the scene
Keepin it real
Maintaining authenticity
I'm the innovating, motivating
Acknowledging personal hip-hop talent
Stimulating, elevating, resonnating
Listing hip-hop skills and talents
Renovating, emulating, perpetrating
Listing hip-hop skills and talents
Combinating, denegrading
Listing hip-hop skills and talents
Escalating, dominating
Listing hip-hop skills and talents
Insane, mondaine, no name lame brain
Playfully listing hip-hop skills and talents
Rappers came to entertain
Defining the role of hip-hop
The same game, gain fame
Critiquing the focus on fame in hip-hop
And get a name, but ain't nobody
Calling out the lack of authenticity in the scene
Keepin it real
Maintaining authenticity
(Just keep it re-e-e-al)
Emphasizing the importance of authenticity
(Real!)
Emphasizing the importance of authenticity
I'm never comin with the fly guy, get high
Refusing to present false identity
Image of a rye dry white lie
Acknowledging superficiality and falseness in hip-hop
Givin us a closed eye, why die
Questioning the influence of misleading hip-hop on listeners
Before I hit the heavens, yo
Acknowledging mortality and personal goals
I'm keepin it real
Maintaining authenticity
I got to get it while I'm on Earth, re-birth
Acknowledging personal goals and values
My ancestors were here first, dispersed
Proudly acknowledging heritage
By what you heard with each verse I reversed
Playing with language and rhythm
The image of a ghetto, yo
Exploring themes of hip-hop identity
Keepin it real
Maintaining authenticity
No stereotypical, nothin is typical
Refusing to conform to hip-hop expectations
Comin like a God or a mythical figure, my visual's
Asserting personal talent and status
Somethin like a magical mystical force of residuals
Envisioning hip-hop as transformative
On the mic I'm flier than digital, more like a ???
Boasting personal hip-hop talent
I drop it like a Amville, stand still
Playing with language and rhythm
Sit back and watch a man build and chill
Claiming personal progression and achievement
As I proceed the plan will slam, kill
Proudly asserting personal plans and goals
Anybody aimin, yo
Asserting dominance in hip-hop
I'm keepin it real
Maintaining authenticity
(Keep it real!)
Emphasizing the importance of authenticity
(Real!)
Emphasizing the importance of authenticity
Keepin it real
Maintaining authenticity
Keepin it real
Maintaining authenticity
(Real!)
Emphasizing the importance of authenticity
Keepin it real
Maintaining authenticity
Keepin it real
Maintaining authenticity
(Keep it real!)
Emphasizing the importance of authenticity
(Real!)
Emphasizing the importance of authenticity
Keepin it real
Maintaining authenticity
Keepin it real
Maintaining authenticity
(Real!)
Emphasizing the importance of authenticity
Keepin it real
Maintaining authenticity
Keepin it real
Maintaining authenticity
(Real!)
Emphasizing the importance of authenticity
Lyrics © Royalty Network
Written by: MAURICE JOHNSON, MICHAEL TAYLOR
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind