Doc, You can find me on the subway lip syncing a few bars from Notorious B.I.G. Of course I am from Brooklyn and have more street cred than you anyway.
I also like to think I have a lot of street cred. I interact wih a lot of thugs and gang members. But I am pretty certain they would laugh at me if they knew I used the expression "street cred".
That is actually a really good story. Entertaining, and with a strong message, but not getting preachy.
January 17, 2008 at 7:58 PM
The other day while stopped in bad traffic waiting to turn on to the interstate I saw another car opposite of me that I can only describe as a kind of gang banger car. It was lowered with big chrome rims and there was a 20ish African American male slumped low in the drivers seat sporting cornrow braids. I didn't think anything of it at first as this in itself is not an unusual sight, however I had to take a second look. As I sat there I began to realize that he was singing the the same song that I was hearing on my car radio. I looked again and there was no doubt that he was mouthing the words to Led Zeppelin's Living Loving Maid.
I had two thoughts. First of all maybe just maybe I have more street cred than I thought. Then discarding that as preposterous my second thought was that some prejudice or preconceived notion inside of me automatically assumed that this guy based solely on his appearance would probably enjoy some other kind of music that I was listening to. That made me think. I am certainly not a racist person. I was actually brought up in a very racially and culturally diverse family setting. This situation just helped to remind me that self examination of my own preconceived notions about the other folks we share this planet with is healthy for me. Never make assumptions based on appearances because so often those are wrong. If my window had been down I would have probably said something totally un-cool to him like. "Rock On Man!"
Yeah I really need to work on that street cred thing.
18 Comments
Close this window Jump to comment formDoc, You can find me on the subway lip syncing a few bars from Notorious B.I.G. Of course I am from Brooklyn and have more street cred than you anyway.
January 15, 2008 at 7:58 AM
Rock on Doc. This is cool.
January 15, 2008 at 9:24 AM
Speaking of lack of street cred, Hi Sister Hamptons? hahaha just kidding....
January 15, 2008 at 9:29 AM
Thank you Christine....
January 15, 2008 at 9:47 AM
I wonder if he would have thought the same thing if he had realized you were singing something by Snoop Dogg. Hmm...
January 15, 2008 at 9:53 AM
Never make assumptions based on appearances.
Good advice!
January 15, 2008 at 10:11 AM
Vince - I refuse to enter a street cred battle with you Yankee boy... LOL
Random M - Hmmmm, see there are plenty of angles to think of. It's almost like John Lennon's Imagine.
January 15, 2008 at 10:13 AM
casdok - You got it. You miss out on good experiences when you make make assumptions. Heck I might not have met my buddy Vince if I had.
January 15, 2008 at 10:15 AM
No seriously dude. You have lots of street cred. Okay, probably not.
I think we all have those preconceived notions. No matter how hard we work on not having them.
January 15, 2008 at 10:59 AM
Although, plenty of sounds are merging...Tony Bennett? He's gained some cred, no?
January 15, 2008 at 11:10 AM
Yoko Romo...
LOL!!
January 15, 2008 at 12:51 PM
I also like to think I have a lot of street cred. I interact wih a lot of thugs and gang members. But I am pretty certain they would laugh at me if they knew I used the expression "street cred".
January 15, 2008 at 1:07 PM
Jay - I agree it's hard not to have those preconceived notions.
Christine - I think Tony Bennett left his street cred in San Francisco.
Dirkstar - Thought you might like that one.
Karen - They better not laugh too hard if they want to stay out of the pokey!
January 15, 2008 at 1:23 PM
It's hard not to judge a book by it's cover....
But who doesn't like a little Led Zeppelin?!
January 15, 2008 at 1:59 PM
But Shane, I thought you were "ghetto"? lol
January 15, 2008 at 7:51 PM
Did you think he'd be listening to Bach?
January 16, 2008 at 6:18 AM
Jahooni - Zeppelin Rocks!
Bunkie - Hello and thanks for stopping by... Long time no hear. I deny any unfounded ghetto rumors. I have no idea where you heard that.
Dana - Bach? Hmmmm like "Baby got Bach" ??
January 16, 2008 at 9:26 AM
That is actually a really good story. Entertaining, and with a strong message, but not getting preachy.
January 17, 2008 at 7:58 PM