Street Cred

Hi and welcome! I released the "Street Cred" video a long time ago, and the song is even older; I wrote it in 2007 or 2008. But while I think some of the lyrics are clever, and the hook is catchy, and I'm happy to have worked with my dear friend and collaborator Ian Brownell on the big, year-long endeavor of making this video, I don't stand by a lot of the lyrical content in here - and not just because it’s a ripoff of Weird Al's "White & Nerdy," which came out not too long before I wrote this and was unquestionably an influence! The real problem with "Street Cred" is that it has racist lyrics, most conspicuously, the term "thugged out." The word "thug" has been weaponized by white people to characterize Black people, and especially Black men, as dangerous criminals. I’d never use it in a lyric or even in everyday speech today. The rhymes about "rappers" (by which I definitely meant Black people) being drug dealers and robbing stores and shooting guns trade on some very ugly old stereotypes. And using an art form that Black people created in order to chuckle merrily about how nice and easy my own life has been smacks of privilege and obliviousness. It's notable that I never say the word "white" at any point in the song. I thought about taking the video down altogether, but I've decided to leave it up, because I'd rather acknowledge all this and have a conversation with anyone who's interested and thinking about some of these same issues. I check these comments once a month, so if you post thoughts about any of the stuff I've said here, I'll read them and respond, or at least acknowledge you. Thanks! -Zach, June 27, 2025 The original credits: Written & performed by Zach Sherwin. https://twitter.com/zachsherwin Beat by Upryz. http://upryz.com/ Directed by Ian Brownell. Photographed & edited by Ian Brownell. http://www.btifilms.com Scrapbook animation by Raj Kottamasu. http://rajworks.com Featuring: Julia Prescott and Dave Ross (onlookers), Chris Walsh (drug dealer), Joe List (buyer), Nova Deyo and Mary Pierce (jump rope girls), Kid Spin + crew (dancers), Joshua Silverstein (beatboxer), Michelle Zeitler, Staci Hopkin, Olinde Mandell, and Mark Lipman (a cappella singers), Henry Kasdon, Shaun Bedgood, and Lamont Price (judges). Special thanks: Jon Berkas, EpicLloyd, Nice Peter, Jack Vaughn and Ian Stearns at Comedy Central Records, Rita Sherwin, Kippy Dewey, Aleta Deyo, Camilo Aladro, Robby Roadsteamer, Dylan Callahan, Brian Agosta, Seth Reibstein, Seville Krause, Ellen Epstein, Brett Miller, Tanit Sakakini, Jackson Adams, Lorenzo Hodges, Rick Jenkins and the Comedy Studio, all the people in my old photos who didn't know they were going to be in this, and everyone who posts comments asking me to make more YouTube videos. I hear you guys. Lyrics: "Napkins?" THAT'S his name?! Look at those black thick plastic glasses frames! Get a load of him bustin' raps, With his goofy-ass hair And his Western shirts with the button snaps. He oughta keep his food chute shut - Rhymin' in his H&M denims with the boot cut. From his feet, to his head, That dude doesn't have any street cred. Street cred... I don't have a lot of street cred... And I don't think that it's a secret... It's clear I'm not a hard MC With S T R E E T C R E D It can be difficult hip-hop singing When you didn't have a typical rap upbringing I never sold coke or PCP I moved fro-yo at the TCBY Never shot a proper gun Just the Nintendo Duck Hunt one And a Super Soaker water gun The Crip gang? I wasn't in it, dog Just the youth group at my synagogue Yeah Thugged out? Not even close. Cub scouts. Webelos! I didn't battle like 8 Mile. Oh, I competed, But high school team debate style Never wrote no graffiti! Just thank you notes, for gifts on my b-day! Prob'ly should have gone pre-med Instead I'm an MC without a shred of Street cred... I was not a little street kid... No, I was wholesome like whole wheat bread... And now I rock the party With no S T R E E T C R E D I can't pop like a zit can I can't lock like a kickstand But in fifth grade, I played Tevye And danced and lip synched To "If I Were A Rich Man" (Raise the roof!) And I got to tell ya: My beat box? Not stellar. But, I did do vocal percussion In college a cappella Did I ever rob a store? No. I did once shoplift a soft-core porno mag From a news stand at the airport I was scared I'd be sent off to jail for it But do you think that they caught me And threw me in juvie? Not me! I got away scot-free! My face would have been beet red But at least with a jail bid I'd have had a little bit of Street cred! I am not a foolish meathead! And I'm also not conceited.... I know that there's no part of me With S T R E E T C R E D! Street cred, oooh! Jim jim jow a jim a jang jow Street cred, oooh! Ahh, ahh... Streeet cred, oooh Dim dim dim dim dim dim dim! Street cred, ooooh Yabba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dibba dum Bum bum!