After becoming the first hardcore rap group to gain mainstream success, with Efil4zaggin reaching the number one spot on Billboard in 1991, financial conflict between Dr. Dre and Ruthless Records led to the group disbanding. Dr. Dre left to form Death Row Records. MC Ren released his debut EP with the help of Eazy-E in 1992, entitled Kizz My Black Azz. Surprisingly enough, with little commercial promotion, the album went gold. His next album, Life Sentence, was scrapped while converting to the Nation of Islam with guidance from his DJ, DJ Train. Shock of the Hour (1993) was put out the next year containing a few singles, none left any lasting impression.
MC Ren soon found hard times when DJ Train died in a house fire before the release of the ill-fated Villain in Black (1996). Before leaving Ruthless Records, Ren put out Ruthless For Life (1998) which proved a worthy comeback from his last album. He appeared on the posse cut "Some L.A. Niggaz" from Dre's 2001, but only spoke the intro, not rapping on the track. As of 2002, Ren was working on another album; his lyrical abilities have been displayed with many guest appearances with artists from Ice Cube, Kurupt, Snoop Dogg, Paris, Cypress Hill and many more.
Keep It Real
MC Ren Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That real shit nigga'
Living room packed, laid back on the flow
Niggaz can't see me on the madden with Frisco
I'm runnin' fools straight to the dirt
While my man Train talkin' on the phone, the evil curse
Niggaz waste gas drivin' down the same streets
Flag 'em down, like they flaggin' down to get a taxi
Too good to ride a bus, drinkin' is a must
Another day kickin' back, the scientist is hard at work
Thinkin' how to get paid, kickin' back in the shade
Or call Will and Temple where my homie down by Zeenie
With the bald head it's too hot for the beanie
Sittin' on the porch niggaz run the stop sign
Hookers sell they bodies 'round the way ain't hard to find
Right in the corner of McDonald's parkin' lot
Peepin' out their hair 'cause that spot is hot
And that's real
(CHORUS)(2x)
Nigga gotta keep my shit real
Lettin' punk niggaz know how the fuck I feel
Pussy ass niggaz always want to be around
A nigga like Ren when I put that real shit down
Randy up the street cuttin' up the fresh fade
And Compton P.D. around the corner 'bout to raid
The yellow helicopter hangin' 'round like a gnat
And hood rats yellin' out a car where the party at
My robbin' train go and get a duce
And niggaz 'round the way don't give a damn about a gang truce
But I gotta lotta love for my people
And like they ain't tryin', niggaz just keep dyin'
I won't be like most niggaz and just come
And shoot my video in Compton and disappear for a year
We make fools like that shake the spot
One for the treble jack yo ass in the parkin' lot
'Cause handkerchief headed niggaz come around fakin'
Braggin' 'bout that money they be makin'
Boot lickin' butt dancin' niggaz just better chill
Before I tell 'em how I feel and that's real
(CHORUS)
Yeah, uh, break it down
All y'all busta ass niggaz
Do it like this, 1995
Uh, yeah, come all y'all fake ass niggaz to this
Goin' to the pad hit the beach up on the pager
Here comes Korleone up the street in the mini-Blazer
While the dominoes start to get shakin'
The same time that the barbique start bakin'
I don't eat swine, but I take a turkey burger
I can't fade worms, that books' full of terms
Homies pass by, some stop and conversate
On a gang a topics we start to debate
On why in black neighborhoods is always towed down
And white neighborhoods ain't one piece a trash 'round
So we gotta do for self and quit bitchin'
Recycle black dollars so we can roll Impalas
Every street got their own rap artist
On every cover every brother got a gun tryin' to look the hardest
But some deserve a slap 'cause they laid down they strap
When they hear that's a rap and that's real
(CHORUS)
In MC Ren's song "Keep It Real," he talks about the realities of everyday life in Compton, California. He describes how people in his neighborhood waste gas drive down the same streets while the hood rats wish for a passenger seat. Ren raps about sitting on the porch, watching the hookers sell their bodies, and how his friend cuts fresh fades. He also expresses his frustration with the police force with Yellow helicopters hanging 'round like a gnat and Compton PD around the corner 'bout to raid. He promotes black excellence by urging people to recycle black dollars so they can roll Impalas and not complain about how black neighborhoods are always towed down. Ren concludes by saying that he won't be like most niggaz and just come and shoot my video in Compton and disappear for a year. Instead, he wants to shake the spot and tell them how he feels.
Line by Line Meaning
That's what the fuck I'm talkin' about
That real shit nigga'
Expressing a sense of satisfaction, pride, and appreciation over real, genuine, and authentic expressions that Ren is about to deliver.
Living room packed, laid back on the flow
Niggaz can't see me on the madden with Frisco
I'm runnin' fools straight to the dirt
While my man Train talkin' on the phone, the evil curse
Ren casually chilling at his packed living room, playing his best at the Madden football video game. He confidently beats his opponents and sends them to oblivion while his friend Train talks on the phone, oblivious to the chaos he created while doing so.
Niggaz waste gas drivin' down the same streets
And hood rats wishin' for the passenger seats
Flag 'em down, like they flaggin' down to get a taxi
Too good to ride a bus, drinkin' is a must
Some people waste time, energy, and resources, driving aimlessly down the same streets without much to do. Meanwhile, there are women who seek a friendly ride, and some people flag a car like hailing a taxi. People see themselves as too good or dignified to ride a bus; drinking, however, is a must for some.
Another day kickin' back, the scientist is hard at work
Thinkin' how to get paid, kickin' back in the shade
Or call Will and Temple where my homie down by Zeenie
With the bald head it's too hot for the beanie
Ren is at peace, enjoying a relaxed day while contemplating on ways to get rich. He is lounging under the shade or might call his friend Will and Temple to hang out at Zeenie. The sun's scorching heat makes Ren's bald-headed friend skip the beanie today.
Sittin' on the porch niggaz run the stop sign
Hookers sell they bodies 'round the way ain't hard to find
Right in the corner of McDonald's parkin' lot
Peepin' out their hair 'cause that spot is hot
And that's real
Ren and his crew sit on the porch, watching people run the stop sign. Prostitutes sell their bodies in plain sight and try to stay hidden at McDonald's parking lot's corner. Ren acknowledges that such a reality is true and genuine.
(CHORUS)(2x)
Nigga gotta keep my shit real
Lettin' punk niggaz know how the fuck I feel
Pussy ass niggaz always want to be around
A nigga like Ren when I put that real shit down
The chorus shows Ren's strong and unapologetic commitment to staying authentic and real. He does not tolerate or entertain fake people who surround themselves around him just for convenience sake.
Randy up the street cuttin' up the fresh fade
And Compton P.D. around the corner 'bout to raid
The yellow helicopter hangin' 'round like a gnat
And hood rats yellin' out a car where the party at
Ren's neighbor Randy is cutting hair on the street while the police are preparing to raid the neighborhood. A yellow helicopter circles overhead like a pesky gnat while local women ask loudly where the party is happening.
My robbin' train go and get a duce
And niggaz 'round the way don't give a damn about a gang truce
But I gotta lotta love for my people
And like they ain't tryin', niggaz just keep dyin'
Ren's robbery crew goes to get some drugs, and he comments on how people don't genuinely care about peace between rival gangs. He, however, shows immense affection for his fellow community members and wishes people try harder to stop senseless killing.
I won't be like most niggaz and just come
And shoot my video in Compton and disappear for a year
We make fools like that shake the spot
One for the treble jack yo ass in the parkin' lot
'Cause handkerchief headed niggaz come around fakin'
Braggin' 'bout that money they be makin'
Ren refuses to be like other artists who show up in Compton, shoot their music video, and then disappear for a year. Ren makes these kinds of people uncomfortable and punishes them, demonstrating his commitment to authenticity & exposing the frauds who brag about their gains with fake gang gestures.
Boot lickin' butt dancin' niggaz just better chill
Before I tell 'em how I feel and that's real
Ren warns people who try to appease others with fake manners to watch out. They better stop before Ren tells them what he genuinely thinks about them and their actions.
Goin' to the pad hit the beach up on the pager
Here comes Korleone up the street in the mini-Blazer
While the dominoes start to get shakin'
The same time that the barbique start bakin'
Ren signals people to head to his place using his pager while one of his people, Korleone, cruises down the street driving a mini-Blazer. He and his friends start shaking the dominoes while cooking up some barbecue.
I don't eat swine, but I take a turkey burger
I can't fade worms, that books' full of terms
Homies pass by, some stop and conversate
On a gang a topics we start to debate
Ren doesn't consume pork but enjoys turkey burgers; he refrains from eating worms for obvious reasons, and he enjoys conversing with his friends, sometimes debating about how to approach gang issues and topics of similar kinds.
On why in black neighborhoods is always towed down
And white neighborhoods ain't one piece a trash 'round
So we gotta do for self and quit bitchin'
Recycle black dollars so we can roll Impalas
Ren's friends discuss why black neighborhoods are always downtrodden, while their white counterparts are pristine. They agree that they need to take responsibility and stop complaining more. They urge each other to rebuild their economy by supporting local black-owned businesses and using their money to buy beautiful cars like Impalas.
Every street got their own rap artist
On every cover every brother got a gun tryin' to look the hardest
But some deserve a slap 'cause they laid down they strap
When they hear that's a rap and that's real
Ren recognizes that every street has its own rapper attempting to capture the audience's attention. However, he also acknowledges that some people who try to be gangster show a sudden loss of courage when they are confronted. This makes them appear foolish and fake, and Ren points out that it is real and that some people deserve to be punished.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: HENRIK MILLING RASMUSSEN, LORENZO JERALD PATTERSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind