Like I said earlier, as someone who was raised in The South Bronx and 145th/7th ave in Harlem, I'm gonna just assume that my version of "street" is totally different from the average squares version. I have never ever in my life heard someone refer to "regular" people as "street." This is that twilight zone bullshyt I was referring to that only a square would say.
Yes, "streets" = criminals/criminal activity. That's why Azie said "stay the fukk out the streets" because he's referring to regular people getting involved in the street life when they have no business jumping into that world. Being from the ghetto or the hood does not make you automatically "street." The old lady coming from church who lives in the hood is not "street."
BINGO! Too many people mistakenly think the "streets" or the "hood" = criminals/criminal activity; when in fact, the streets/hood is mainly "regular" people.
I agree with both points made, but I think when Benny talks about "the streets" he is literally talking about the criminal/prison element. That's the most common theme in his music: "If you didn't do it, then you can't really relate". He's a Jay Z baby, he still swears by that outdated "mouthpiece for the hustlers" mantra