"They keep the song as street as it needs to be. It's got a good catchy hook where it can do what it needs to do on the radio, but they keep the song street where it will keep credibility in the hood"

In this quote, Jermaine Dupri is going over the balance in between producing a popular, radio-friendly song and maintaining credibility and trustworthiness within the street or hip-hop neighborhood. He acknowledges the significance of having a memorable hook that will interest a larger audience and potentially acquire airplay on the radio. Nevertheless, he also stresses the value of keeping the tune "street," indicating true to the roots and culture of hip-hop, in order to maintain regard and reliability within the hood or urban community. This quote highlights the delicate balance that artists must navigate in order to attain traditional success while remaining real to their roots.