Nieve Ella, Jamie T, Rachel Chinouriri and Remi Wolf cover Dork's new issue - order now!•
Tate McRae has announced new single ‘Housewife’•
Slayyyter has announced companion album ‘Wor$t Man in America’ for December•
Welly are going to headline a very special Dork’s Night Out at The 100 Club•
Down With Boring returns tonight with The North, plus bags of new music•
Keo have announced their 2027 UK, European and North American headline tour•
Primavera Sound Barcelona has announced its 2027 anniversary line-up•
Madra Salach have released new single ‘Ribbon Factory’•
Bleech 9:3 have dropped new track 'Tourniquet' and announced their biggest headline tour yet•
Mollie Elizabeth has announced her new EP ‘People Pleaser’ and shared ‘Kiss The Ring’•
Baby Dave and The Works have kicked off a new collaboration with ‘Wings’•
RAYE, Olivia Dean, JADE and more are set to perform at the 2026 Mercury Prize ceremony•
Fontaines D.C. have released ‘Tongue’ and its New York-shot video•
LCD Soundsystem have announced 12 New York residency shows, including their 100th•
Saint Clair have shared new single ‘Dreams’ ahead of sold-out autumn headline tour•
Audrey Hobert has unveiled a new video for 'Sex and the City' as she begins her headline tour•
The Dork 2025 Readers' Poll nominations are in, featuring CMAT, Turnstile, Wolf Alice, Djo, Hayley Williams and loads more•
flowerovlove has released her first-ever first Christmas track, 'wishlist'•
Mighty Hoopla and Olly Alexander have announced Trans Mission, a concert for trans solidarity•
JADE has announced a deluxe edition of her debut album, 'THAT'S SHOWBIZ BABY! THE ENCORE'•
Nieve Ella, Jamie T, Rachel Chinouriri and Remi Wolf cover Dork's new issue - order now!•
Tate McRae has announced new single ‘Housewife’•
Slayyyter has announced companion album ‘Wor$t Man in America’ for December•
Welly are going to headline a very special Dork’s Night Out at The 100 Club•
Down With Boring returns tonight with The North, plus bags of new music•
Keo have announced their 2027 UK, European and North American headline tour•
Primavera Sound Barcelona has announced its 2027 anniversary line-up•
Madra Salach have released new single ‘Ribbon Factory’•
Bleech 9:3 have dropped new track 'Tourniquet' and announced their biggest headline tour yet•
Mollie Elizabeth has announced her new EP ‘People Pleaser’ and shared ‘Kiss The Ring’•
Baby Dave and The Works have kicked off a new collaboration with ‘Wings’•
RAYE, Olivia Dean, JADE and more are set to perform at the 2026 Mercury Prize ceremony•
Fontaines D.C. have released ‘Tongue’ and its New York-shot video•
LCD Soundsystem have announced 12 New York residency shows, including their 100th•
Saint Clair have shared new single ‘Dreams’ ahead of sold-out autumn headline tour•
Audrey Hobert has unveiled a new video for 'Sex and the City' as she begins her headline tour•
The Dork 2025 Readers' Poll nominations are in, featuring CMAT, Turnstile, Wolf Alice, Djo, Hayley Williams and loads more•
flowerovlove has released her first-ever first Christmas track, 'wishlist'•
Mighty Hoopla and Olly Alexander have announced Trans Mission, a concert for trans solidarity•
JADE has announced a deluxe edition of her debut album, 'THAT'S SHOWBIZ BABY! THE ENCORE'•
Dork
News
Features
Reviews
Magazine
  • Dork
  • Popzines
Shop
Listings
Directory
Festivals
Hype-THE BEST NEW NAMES, FIRST
Upset-DORK'S HOME FOR ALL THINGS LOUD
The 19755SOSAlessi RoseArctic MonkeysArlo ParksBastillebeabadoobeeBillie EilishBleachersblink-182BlossomsBlur
Bring Me The HorizonCarly Rae JepsenCavetownChappell RoanCharli xcxCHVRCHESCMATConan GrayDeclan McKennaDjoFall Out BoyFoals
Fontaines D.C.Ghostgirl in redGlass AnimalsGorillazGracie AbramsHAIMHarry StylesHolly HumberstoneInhalerJames MarriottThe Japanese House
The Last Dinner PartyLewis CapaldiLinkin ParkLouis TomlinsonMaggie RogersMaisie PetersMUNAMy Chemical RomanceNiall HoranOasis Live '27Olivia DeanOlivia Rodrigo
Pale WavesParamorePhoebe BridgersPinkPantheressRemi WolfReneé RappSabrina CarpenterSam FenderShameSlipknotTate McRaeTaylor Swift
Twenty One PilotsWallowsWet LegWolf AliceYard ActYUNGBLUDZara Larsson
etc.
Film & TV
Gaming
Literature
Culture
Festival Guides-YOUR ESSENTIAL FESTIVAL COMPANION
Hype-THE BEST NEW NAMES, FIRST
Mixtape-DORK'S BEST NEW TRACKS
Play-DORK'S NEW MUSIC FRIDAY EDIT
Upset-DORK'S HOME FOR ALL THINGS LOUD
Playlist Covers
Playlist Directory
Recommender
Before Doors-LIVE SESSIONS
After Gates-FESTIVAL SESSIONS
Music Video Directory
Down With Boring-THE DORK PODCAST
Chart Attack-UK NUMBER ONES, DISSECTED
Dork Live
Oasis Live ’27Tickets. Dates. What’s the story?Explore the tour
Dork Radio
Live
Live 24/7
Dork Radio
Dork
Down With Boring

Join thousands of music lovers getting the best new tracks, exclusive interviews, and breaking news delivered straight to your inbox every week.

In print now

October 2026

Latest issue variants

View archive
Dork, October 2026 (Cara Delevingne cover)

Cara Delevingne

Dork, October 2026 (Keo cover)

Keo

Dork, October 2026 (Lizzy McAlpine cover)

Lizzy McAlpine

Dork, October 2026 (Tove Lo cover)

Tove Lo

Advertise|Support|About Dork|Editorial standards & corrections|Privacy Policy|Genres|Years|Sitemap|RSS|Cookie settings
© 2026 The Bunker Publishing Ltd. All rights reserved.
Powered by PlaywireAdvertise on this site.
  1. Tracks
  2. AZ
  3. Doe or Die II
  4. Keep It Real

TRACK

AZ

Keep It Real

Release date: 10th September 2021

From Doe or Die II
Spotify
More on AZ

About This Track

"Keep It Real" is a track by AZ, from the album Doe or Die II, released 10th September 2021. Full lyrics are available below.

About the Artist

AZ

AZ

Lyrics

Keep It Real

[Intro: AZ]

Peace to all the playas

Those that got they paper up and

Peddled pass the oppression

From bein trapped in them poverty stricken

Urban, over-populated projects

[Chorus: Keffa & AZ]

What happens to you don't make you a real nigga (Did what you did for the dollars)

How you deal with it dictates a real nigga

Real, you don't even know how that feels, nigga (Sanity over sucka shit)

Tryna keep it real when no one keeps it real with ya (Salute to the real ones)

Re— Re-Re— Re— Re-Rе— Real niggas (Real niggas)

Re— Rе-Re— Re— they keep it real with ya

Re— Re-Re— Re— Re-Re— Real niggas

Re— Re-Re— Re— they keep it trill with ya

[Verse 1: AZ]

Search on, I'm solid, my word bond

The wise acknowledge, I'm polished, my worth long

I get it on, put that on my first born

I'm about it, stand strong, been quenched, the thirst gone

I do this, stay feets away from the duelers

Never fold, was told don't fraternize with the foolish

It's cos', get dollars but don't doze

It shows if you sleepin' or on ya toes

The woes'll worry niggas, the beef'll bury niggas

The grief was in the streets, knee-deep with thirty niggas at least

Seen killers war with they peeps to eat

Seen dealers fall to defeat

Police well-undercover couldn't tell from one another

Me, I was puffin' Ls, makin' sales to jungle brothers

The gutter, you get money and you a sucka, they love ya

And just like that'll cut ya jugular

[Chorus: Keffa]

What happens to you don't make you a real nigga

How you deal with it dictates a real nigga

Real, you don't even know how that feels, nigga

Tryna keep it real when no one keeps it real with ya

Re— Re-Re— Re— Re-Re— Real niggas

Re— Re-Re— Re— they keep it real with ya

Re— Re-Re— Re— Re-Re— Real niggas

Re— Re-Re— Re— they keep it trill with ya

[Verse 2: AZ]

Civilize from 85er, it made me liver

Legitimized illegal ties that made me dollars

Mercedes driver, mama bear, she raised a rider

So say the saga, gully niggas do what they gotta

Don't get tired, I'm righteous, but still'll riot

Pressure, apply it when necessary, though admire

My men of honor, the killers address the drama

Never question karma, know them feds'll arrest ya mama

The streets watchin', play sleep or keep options

It's that or either trial, you coppin' or detoxin'

Few will duck it, sources choose on who you fuck with

My moves adjusted on hammer time, you can't touch this

Top-tier, I'm official, I rock wears

I do not fear, I'm like ahk on his salat prayers

Stops here, accept it or reject it

I rest on ethics, nothin' left but to respect it

[Chorus: Keffa]

What happens to you don't make you a real nigga

How you deal with it dictates a real nigga

Real, you don't even know how that feels, nigga

Tryna keep it real when no one keeps it real with ya

Re— Re-Re— Re— Re-Re— Real niggas

Re— Re-Re— Re— they keep it real with ya

Re— Re-Re— Re— Re-Re— Real niggas

Re— Re-Re— Re— they keep it trill with ya

[Post-Chorus: AZ]

You pay dues, you learn, you get schooled (Get schooled)

You chew your food and return, you live smooth (Live smooth)

The last jewels of concern is cash rules

Act fool if you choose, but that's you, haha

[Outro: AZ]

I'm tryna get it all, stay in the cut

And live the dream for all my peeps that never made it

I rep for you, I ride for you

I rap for you (Go off)

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

From Doe or Die II

2021
Listen
Album
Doe or Die II
Doe or Die II
AZ
Release year
2021
  1. —The Wheel
  2. —Different
  3. —Never Enough
  4. —Ritual
  5. —Bulletproof
  6. —Found My Niche
  7. —Just 4 U
  8. —Keep It Real
  9. —Time to Answer
  10. —Check Me Out
  11. —Conversations with God (Intro)
  12. —What's Good
  13. —Blow That Shit

More from AZ

Albums & EPs

Special Edition
2002
Only for the Real Dj: A Premier Selection of Hip Hop Inspired by the Boom Bap Sound - Volume 3
Only for the Real Dj: A Premier Selection of Hip Hop Inspired by the Boom Bap Sound - Volume 3
2001
Doe or Die
Doe or Die
1995
9 Lives
9 Lives
Greatest Hits, Vol.1
Greatest Hits, Vol.1

Explore

More tracks by AZ

  1. DifferentDoe or Die II
  2. Motorola Era
  3. This Is the End
  4. Amazing
  5. Blood Missile
  6. Blow That ShitDoe or Die II
  7. Bouncemasta (Interlude)
  8. BulletproofDoe or Die II
  9. Check Me OutDoe or Die II
  10. Conversations with God (Intro)Doe or Die II

Showing 10 of 50

If you like AZ

Nas

Nas

Cormega

Kool G Rap

Kool G Rap

Mobb Deep

Mobb Deep

Capone-N-Noreaga

Capone-N-Noreaga

Big L

Big L

Credits

Production & Engineering

Writer
Alfons Kettner, AZ, Baby Paul, Bobby Caldwell, Bobby Robinson, Keffa, Spoonie Gee
Producer
Baby Paul
Additional Vocals
Keffa
READ MORE ABOUT AZREAD MORE ABOUT AZ
READ MORE ABOUT AZREAD MORE ABOUT AZ

No coverage available for AZ yet.