keeping it real
Being truly yourself
Keeping it real means staying authentic and true to oneself, especially by refusing to adopt pretentious behaviors or forget one's origins despite changed circumstances.
The phrase emerged from hip-hop culture and suggests maintaining honesty and genuineness: I don't care what people think—I'm just keeping it real.
Sometimes used ironically when blunt honesty causes problems: I was just keeping it real, and now nobody's talking to me.
- authenticVerified as original
- genuineTruly what it claims
- honestFree from deception
- tell it like it isSpeak with complete candor
- rawIn original state
unfiltered · no cap · street · street cred · truth · realness · sincere · from the heart · blunt · straight up · straightforward · gritty · down-to-earth · unpretentious · candid · legit · true · walk the walk
keeping it realfronting
Being at the forefront
faking it · putting on an act · selling out · playing a role · playing games
keeping it realselling out
Abandoning principles for gain
losing touch · airs and graces · social climbing · name-dropping · flexing
keeping it realsugarcoating
Making unpleasant seem pleasant
lying · bullshitting · blowing smoke · beating around the bush · holding back
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