Lawrence "Kris" Parker (born August 20, 1965), better known by his stage names KRS-One (; an abbreviation of "Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone") and Teacha, is an American rapper from New York City. He rose to prominence as part of the hip hop group
Boogie Down Productions
Boogie Down Productions (BDP) was an American hip hop group originally composed of KRS-One, D-Nice, and DJ Scott La Rock. DJ Scott La Rock was murdered on August 27, 1987, five months after the release of BDP's debut album, ''Criminal Minded ...
, which he formed with DJ
Scott La Rock
Scott Monroe Sterling (March 2, 1962 – August 27, 1987), known by the stage name DJ Scott La Rock, was an American hip-hop disc jockey and music producer from the Bronx, New York. He was a founding member of the East Coast hip hop group Boogi ...
in the mid-1980s. KRS-One is known for his songs, "
Sound of da Police
In physics, sound is a vibration that propagates as an acoustic wave, through a transmission medium such as a gas, liquid or solid.
In human physiology and psychology, sound is the ''reception'' of such waves and their ''perception'' by the ...
", "Love's Gonna Get'cha (Material Love)", and "My Philosophy". Boogie Down Productions received numerous awards and critical acclaim in their early years. Following the release of the group's debut album, ''
Criminal Minded
''Criminal Minded'' is the debut studio album by hip-hop group Boogie Down Productions, released on March 3, 1987 by B-Boy Records. It is considered a highly influential hip hop album and one of the first in the gangsta rap genre.
Since its rele ...
'', fellow artist
Scott La Rock
Scott Monroe Sterling (March 2, 1962 – August 27, 1987), known by the stage name DJ Scott La Rock, was an American hip-hop disc jockey and music producer from the Bronx, New York. He was a founding member of the East Coast hip hop group Boogi ...
was shot and killed, but KRS-One continued the group, effectively as a solo project. He began releasing records under his own name in 1993. He is
politically
Politics (from , ) is the set of activities that are associated with making decisions in groups, or other forms of power relations among individuals, such as the distribution of resources or status. The branch of social science that studies ...
active, having started the
Stop the Violence Movement
Lawrence "Kris" Parker (born August 20, 1965), better known by his stage names KRS-One (; an abbreviation of "Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone") and Teacha, is an American rapper from New York City. He rose to prominence as part of ...
after Scott's death. He is also a
vegan activist
Veganism involves following a vegan diet, which is a diet that includes no animal products of any kind. It can extend to ethical veganism which avoids or boycotts all products and activities whose production or undertaking is perceived to ...
, expressed in songs such as "Beef".
He is widely considered an influence on many hip-hop artists.
Biography
Lawrence Parker was born in the
New York City borough
New York City is composed of five boroughs: The Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and Staten Island. Each borough is coextensive with a respective county of New York State, making New York City the largest U.S. municipality situated in mult ...
of
Brooklyn
Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...
in 1965 to an American mother. His father is reported to be from the island of
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands of Trinidad and Tobago. The island lies off the northeastern coast of Venezuela and sits on the continental shelf of South America. It is often referred to as the southernmos ...
, and his step-father was Jamaican. At age 16, he left home to become an
MC, and began living at a
homeless shelter
Homeless shelters are a type of homeless service agency which provide temporary residence for homeless individuals and families. Shelters exist to provide residents with safety and protection from exposure to the weather while simultaneously r ...
in the
South Bronx
The South Bronx is an area of the New York City Borough (New York City), borough of the Bronx. The area comprises neighborhoods in the southern part of the Bronx, such as Concourse, Bronx, Concourse, Mott Haven, Bronx, Mott Haven, Melrose, B ...
where he was dubbed "
Krishna
Krishna (; sa, कृष्ण ) is a major deity in Hinduism. He is worshipped as the eighth avatar of Vishnu and also as the Supreme god in his own right. He is the god of protection, compassion, tenderness, and love; and is one ...
" by the residents due to his curiosity in the
Hare Krishna
Hare Krishna may refer to:
* International Society for Krishna Consciousness
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), known Colloquialism, colloquially as the Hare Krishna movement or Hare Krishnas, is a Gaudiya Vaishnav ...
spirituality of some of the anti-poverty workers.
During his stay at the community shelter he encountered youth counselor
Scott Sterling a.k.a. DJ Scott La Rock and there began a
DJ/
MC relationship. He also engaged in the street art activity
graffiti
Graffiti (plural; singular ''graffiti'' or ''graffito'', the latter rarely used except in archeology) is art that is written, painted or drawn on a wall or other surface, usually without permission and within public view. Graffiti ranges from s ...
under the alias KRS-One (Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone). Together he and Sterling created
Boogie Down Productions
Boogie Down Productions (BDP) was an American hip hop group originally composed of KRS-One, D-Nice, and DJ Scott La Rock. DJ Scott La Rock was murdered on August 27, 1987, five months after the release of BDP's debut album, ''Criminal Minded ...
, releasing their debut album, ''
Criminal Minded
''Criminal Minded'' is the debut studio album by hip-hop group Boogie Down Productions, released on March 3, 1987 by B-Boy Records. It is considered a highly influential hip hop album and one of the first in the gangsta rap genre.
Since its rele ...
'', in 1987.
Boogie Down Productions
KRS-One began his recording career as one third of the hip hop group Boogie Down Productions, or BDP, alongside DJ Scott La Rock and
Derrick "D-Nice" Jones. Additionally, KRS-One had taken offense to "The Bridge", a song by Marley Marl's protege,
MC Shan
Shawn Moltke (born September 6, 1965) better known by his stage name MC Shan, is an American hip hop and R&B recording artist.
He is best known for his song "The Bridge" produced by Marley Marl, and for collaborating with Snow on "Informer" ...
(KRS-One later reconciled with Marley Marl, producing an album with him in 2007 titled
Hip Hop Lives
''Hip Hop Lives'' is the collaborative studio album by American rapper KRS-One and record producer Marley Marl. It was released on May 22, 2007 via Koch Records. Recording sessions took place at House Of Hits in New York and at Westlake Recordi ...
). The song could be interpreted as a claim that
Queensbridge was the monument of hip-hop, though MC Shan has repeatedly denied this claim. Still, KRS-One "dissed" the song with the BDP record "South Bronx". A second round of volleys ensued with Shan's "Kill That Noise" and BDP's "The Bridge Is Over". KRS-One, demonstrating his nickname "The Blastmaster", gave a live performance against MC Shan, and many conceded he had won the battle. Many believe this live performance to be the first MC
battle
A battle is an occurrence of combat in warfare between opposing military units of any number or size. A war usually consists of multiple battles. In general, a battle is a military engagement that is well defined in duration, area, and force ...
where rappers attack each other, instead of a battle between who can get the crowd more hyped.
Parker and Sterling decided to form a rap group together, initially calling themselves "Scott La Rock and the Celebrity Three". That was short-lived, however, as the two peripheral members quit, leaving Parker (now calling himself KRS-One) and Sterling. They then decided to call themselves "Boogie Down Productions". "Success is the Word", a 12-inch single produced by David Kenneth Eng and Kenny Beck, was released on indie Fresh/Sleeping Bag Records (under the group name "12:41") but did not enjoy commercial success.
Boogie Down Productions released their debut album ''Criminal Minded'' in 1987. Scott La Rock was killed in a shooting later that year, after attempting to mediate a dispute between teenager and BDP member D-Nice and local hoodlums.
During this time KRS-One also gained acclaim as one of the first MCs to incorporate
Jamaica
Jamaica (; ) is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean (after Cuba and Hispaniola). Jamaica lies about south of Cuba, and west of His ...
n style into hip-hop, using the Zung gu zung melody, originally made famous by
Yellowman
Winston Foster , better known by the stage name Yellowman, is a Jamaican reggae and dancehall deejay, also known as King Yellowman. He first became popular in Jamaica in the 1980s, rising to prominence with a series of singles that established ...
in Jamaican dance halls earlier in the decade. While KRS-One used Zunguzung styles in a more powerful and controversial manner, especially in his song titled "Remix for P is Free", he can still be credited as one of the more influential figures to bridge the gap between Jamaican music and American hip-hop.
Following the fatal shooting of Scott La Rock in 1987, KRS was determined to continue Boogie Down Productions through the tragedy, releasing the album ''
By All Means Necessary
''By All Means Necessary'' is the second album from American hip hop group Boogie Down Productions, released in April, 1988 on Jive Records. After the 1987 murder of DJ-producer Scott La Rock, MC KRS-One moved away from the violent themes that do ...
'' in 1988. He was joined by
beatboxer
Beatboxing (also beat boxing) is a form of vocal percussion primarily involving the art of mimicking drum machines (typically a TR-808), using one's mouth, lips, tongue, and voice. D-Nice, rapper
Ramona "Ms. Melodie" Parker (whose marriage to Kris would last from 1988 to 1992), and Kris's younger brother
DJ Kenny Parker, among others. However, Boogie Down Productions would remain KRS' show, and the group's content would become increasingly political through the subsequent releases ''
Ghetto Music: The Blueprint of Hip Hop'', ''
Edutainment
Educational entertainment (also referred to as edutainment) is media designed to educate through entertainment. The term was used as early as 1954 by Walt Disney. Most often it includes content intended to teach but has incidental entertainment ...
'', ''
Live Hardcore Worldwide
''Live Hardcore Worldwide'' is a live album released by Boogie Down Productions. It is a career-spanning collection that was recorded in the US, Paris and London. The release features KRS-One prominently.
In his review for ''The Source (magazin ...
'' and ''
Sex and Violence''.
KRS-One was the primary initiator behind the ''H.E.A.L.'' compilation and the
Stop the Violence Movement
Lawrence "Kris" Parker (born August 20, 1965), better known by his stage names KRS-One (; an abbreviation of "Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone") and Teacha, is an American rapper from New York City. He rose to prominence as part of ...
; for the latter he would attract many prominent emcees to appear on the 12-inch single "
Self Destruction
Self-destructive behavior is any behavior that is harmful or potentially harmful towards the person who engages in the behavior.
Self-destructive behaviors have been shown by many people throughout the years. It is on a continuum, with one extr ...
". As KRS adopted this "humanist", less defensive approach, he turned away from his "Blastmaster" persona and towards that of "The Teacha", although he has constantly used "Blastmaster" throughout his career.
Solo career
![KRS-One crop](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b4/KRS-One_crop.jpg)
After five largely solo albums under the name "Boogie Down Productions", KRS-One decided to set out on his own. On his first solo album, 1993's ''
Return of the Boom Bap
''Return of the Boom Bap'' is the debut solo studio album by American rapper KRS-One, released on September 28, 1993 by Jive Records. Recording sessions took place at D&D Studios and at Battery Studios in New York City, New York. Production was ha ...
'', he worked together with producers
DJ Premier
Christopher Edward Martin (born March 21, 1966), known professionally as DJ Premier (also known as Preemo), is an American record producer and DJ. He is considered one of the greatest hip hop producers of all time. He was half of the hip hop duo ...
,
Kid Capri
David Anthony Love Jr. (born February 7, 1967) is an American DJ and rapper better known by his stage name Kid Capri.
Early life
Kid Capri's humble roots can be traced back to his parents' home in the Bronx, where ten year old David Antho ...
and
Showbiz, the latter providing the track "
Sound of da Police
In physics, sound is a vibration that propagates as an acoustic wave, through a transmission medium such as a gas, liquid or solid.
In human physiology and psychology, sound is the ''reception'' of such waves and their ''perception'' by the ...
". His second album, 1995's ''
KRS-One
Lawrence "Kris" Parker (born August 20, 1965), better known by his stage names KRS-One (; an abbreviation of "Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone") and Teacha, is an American rapper from New York City. He rose to prominence as part of ...
'', featured
Channel Live
Channel Live is an American hip hop duo composed of Vincent "Tuffy" Morgan and Hakim Green, which recorded for Capitol Records and Flavor Unit Records.
Discovered by KRS-One, the duo released its debut album, ''Station Identification'', in 1995. ...
on "Free Mumia", a song in which they criticize Civil Rights activist
C. Delores Tucker among others. Other prominent guest stars on ''KRS-One'' included
Mad Lion
Oswald Priest, better known as Mad Lion, is a dancehall, ragga musician and rapper.Larkin, Colin (1998) "Mad Lion", in ''The Virgin Encyclopedia of Reggae'', Virgin Books, , p. 178 He frequently collaborates with fellow hip hop artist KRS-On ...
,
Busta Rhymes
Trevor George Smith Jr. (born May 20, 1972), known professionally as Busta Rhymes, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, record producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the moniker Busta Rhymes, after NFL and CFL wide receiver ...
,
Das EFX
Das EFX is an American hip hop duo. It consists of emcees Dray (also known as Krazy Drayz, born Andre Weston, September 9, 1970) and Skoob (also known as Books and Boogie Bang, born William "Willie" Hines, November 27, 1970). They named the ...
and
Fat Joe
Joseph Antonio Cartagena (born August 19, 1970), better known by his stage name Fat Joe, is an American rapper from New York City. He began his music career as a member of hip hop group Diggin' in the Crates Crew (D.I.T.C.), then forged a sol ...
.
In 1991, KRS-One appeared on the
alternative rock
Alternative rock, or alt-rock, is a category of rock music that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1970s and became widely popular in the 1990s. "Alternative" refers to the genre's distinction from Popular culture, mainstre ...
group
R.E.M.
R.E.M. was an American rock band from Athens, Georgia, formed in 1980 by drummer Bill Berry, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and lead vocalist Michael Stipe, who were students at the University of Georgia. One of the first alternati ...
's single "
Radio Song", which appeared on the band's album ''
Out of Time'', released the same year.
In 1992,
Bradley Nowell from
Sublime featured an acoustic song named "KRS-One" with his voice and DJ's samples.
In 1995, KRS organized a group called
Channel Live
Channel Live is an American hip hop duo composed of Vincent "Tuffy" Morgan and Hakim Green, which recorded for Capitol Records and Flavor Unit Records.
Discovered by KRS-One, the duo released its debut album, ''Station Identification'', in 1995. ...
, whose album ''
Station Identification
Station identification (ident, network ID or channel ID or bumper) is the practice of radio and television stations and broadcast network, networks identifying themselves on-air, typically by means of a call sign or brand name (sometimes known, ...
'' he produced most of, along with
Rheji Burrell and
Salaam Remi
Salaam Remi Gibbs (born May 14, 1972) is a Grammy winning American record producer known for his association with Nas, Amy Winehouse, Robby, Fugees, Fergie, Estelle, Black Thought, and Miguel, and for his reggae-tinged (often referred to as ...
.
In 1997, KRS surprised many with his release of the album ''
I Got Next
''I Got Next'' is the third solo studio album by American musician KRS-One. It was released on May 20, 1997 via Jive Records. Production was handled by Domingo, Jesse West, Showbiz, Gordon "Commissioner Gordon" Williams, DJ Cipher, DJ Muggs, T ...
''. The album's lead single, "
Step into a World (Rapture's Delight)", containing an interpolation of
punk
Punk or punks may refer to:
Genres, subculture, and related aspects
* Punk rock, a music genre originating in the 1970s associated with various subgenres
* Punk subculture, a subculture associated with punk rock, or aspects of the subculture s ...
and
new wave group
Blondie, was accompanied by a remix featuring commercial rap icon
Puff Daddy
Puff may refer to:
Science and technology
* Puff, a small quantity of gas or smoke in the air
** Puff, a light gust of wind
** Exhalation
** Inhalation
* Puff model, volcanic ash tracking model developed at the University of Alaska Fairbanks
* PUF ...
; another track was essentially a rock song. While the record would be his best-selling solo album (reaching #3 on the
''Billboard'' 200), such collaborations with notably mainstream artists and prominent, easily recognizable samples took many fans and observers of the vehemently anti-mainstream KRS-One by surprise.
In August 1997, in an appearance on
Tim Westwood
Timothy Westwood (born 3 October 1957) is a British DJ and presenter. He is often referred to by other DJs and artists appearing on his shows simply as Westwood. He was described by ''The Guardian'' in 2022 as "a veteran of the hip-hop scene ...
's
BBC Radio 1
BBC Radio 1 is a British national radio station owned and operated by the BBC. It specialises in modern popular music and current chart hits throughout the day. The station provides alternative genres at night, including electronica, dance, ...
, KRS-One criticized the station for not playing underground hip hop while also crediting Westwood for his promotion of hip hop over time. KRS-One said that
Jive Records
Jive Records was an American independent record label founded by Clive Calder in 1981 as a subsidiary to the Zomba Group. In the US, the label had offices in New York City and Chicago. Jive was best known for its successes with hip hop, R&B, an ...
and Radio 1 did not support him, but finished by saluting Westwood with "you know you're my man".
In 1999, there were tentative plans to release ''Maximum Strength''; a lead single, "5 Boroughs", was released on
''The Corruptor'' soundtrack. However, KRS apparently decided to abort the album's planned release, just as he had secured a position as a Vice-President of
A&R at
Reprise Records
Reprise Records is an American record label founded in 1960 by Frank Sinatra. It is owned by Warner Music Group, and operates through Warner Records, one of its flagship labels.
Artists currently signed to Reprise Records include Enya, Michael ...
. The shelved album was again scheduled to be released in 2008, but ultimately an unrelated album entitled ''Maximum Strength 2008'' was released in its place. He moved to southern California, and stayed there for two years, ending his relationship with
Jive Records
Jive Records was an American independent record label founded by Clive Calder in 1981 as a subsidiary to the Zomba Group. In the US, the label had offices in New York City and Chicago. Jive was best known for its successes with hip hop, R&B, an ...
with ''
A Retrospective'' in 2000.
In 2000, KRS-One and
DJ Tomekk
Tomasz Kuklicz (born 11 October 1975), known professionally as DJ Tomekk, is a Polish-born German-based hip hop DJ and record producer. Rappers who have featured in his songs include Ice-T, Fatman Scoop, Khia, Xzibit, Fler, Sido, Kurupt, Li ...
made a video for their single ''
Return of Hip-Hop'' with German rappers Torch and MC Rene, in which hip-hop was revived by hospital staff. The song stayed in the German charts for nine weeks.
![KRS-One 2002](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fe/KRS-One_2002.jpg)
KRS resigned from his A&R position at Reprise in 2001, and returned to recording with a string of albums, beginning with 2001's ''
The Sneak Attack'' on
Koch Records
MNRK Music Group (pronounced "monarch", formerly known as Koch Records and eOne Music) is a New York City-based independent record label and music management company. It was formed in 2009 from the music assets of Koch Entertainment, which had b ...
. In 2002, he released a
gospel
Gospel originally meant the Christian message ("the gospel"), but in the 2nd century it came to be used also for the books in which the message was set out. In this sense a gospel can be defined as a loose-knit, episodic narrative of the words an ...
-rap album, ''
Spiritual Minded
''Spiritual Minded'' is the fifth solo studio album by American rapper and record producer KRS-One. It was released on January 22, 2002 through Koch Records. Recording sessions took place at Slammin' Studios. Production was handled by BB Jay, Berv ...
'', surprising many longtime fans; he had once denounced
Christianity
Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world's largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.38 billion followers representing one-third of the global pop ...
as a "
slavemaster
Slavery and enslavement are both the state and the condition of being a slave—someone forbidden to quit one's service for an enslaver, and who is treated by the enslaver as property. Slavery typically involves slaves being made to perf ...
religion" which African-Americans should not follow. During this period, KRS founded the Temple of Hiphop, an organization to preserve and promote "Hiphop Kulture". Subsequent releases included 2003's ''
Kristyles'' and ''D.I.G.I.T.A.L.'', 2004's ''
Keep Right'', and 2006's ''
Life
Life is a quality that distinguishes matter that has biological processes, such as signaling and self-sustaining processes, from that which does not, and is defined by the capacity for growth, reaction to stimuli, metabolism, energ ...
''.
The only latter-day KRS-One album to gain any significant attention has been ''
Hip-Hop Lives
''Hip Hop Lives'' is the collaborative studio album by American rapper KRS-One and record producer Marley Marl. It was released on May 22, 2007 via Koch Records. Recording sessions took place at House Of Hits in New York and at Westlake Recording ...
'', his 2007 collaboration with fellow hip hop veteran
Marley Marl
Marlon Williams (born September 30, 1962), better known by his stage name Marley Marl, is an American DJ, record producer, rapper and record label founder, primarily operating in hip hop music. Marlon grew up in Queensbridge housing projects ...
, partly attributed to
The Bridge Wars
The Bridge Wars was a hip hop music rivalry during the mid-to-late 1980s and early 1990s, that arose from a dispute over the true birthplace of hip hop music and retaliation over the rejecting of a record for airplay.[Nas
Nas (born 1973) is the stage name of American rapper Nasir Jones.
Nas, NaS, or NAS may also refer to:
Aviation
* Nasair, a low-cost airline carrier and subsidiary based in Eritrea
* National Air Services, an airline in Saudi Arabia
** Nas Air ( ...]
' 2006 release ''
Hip-Hop Is Dead''. While many critics have commented they would have been more excited had this collaboration occurred twenty years earlier, the album was met with positive reviews.
KRS-One has collaborated with other artists including Canadian rap group Hellafactz, Jay-Roc N' Jakebeatz and New York producer
Domingo
Domingo may refer to:
People
* Domingo (name), a Spanish name and list of people with that name
* Domingo (producer) (born 1970), American hip-hop producer
* Saint Dominic (1170–1221), Castilian Catholic priest, founder of the Friars popularly ...
. He and Domingo publicly squashed their beef, which started over financial issues, and released a digital single on iTunes on November 25. The single, titled "Radio", also featured Utah up and comer Eneeone and is dedicated to underground MCs that don't get the radio airplay they deserve. In 2009 KRS-One guest-starred on several albums, including ''Arts & Entertainment'' on the song "Pass the Mic" by fellow hip hop veterans Masta Ace and Ed O.G. KRS-One also featured on the posse cut "Mega Fresh X" by
Cormega
Cory McKay (born December 3, 1970), better known by his stage name Cormega, is an American rapper who attained notice when he was shouted out by Nas on his song "One Love", from the critically acclaimed 1994 album ''Illmatic''. The album was re ...
(alongside
DJ Red Alert
Frederick Crute (born November 27, 1956), known professionally as Kool DJ Red Alert, is an American disc jockey who rose to fame on WRKS 98.7 Kiss FM in New York City and is recognized as one of the founding fathers of hip hop music and cultur ...
,
Parrish Smith
Parrish J. Smith (born May 13, 1968), better known as PMD ('Parrish Mic Doc' or 'Parrish Making Dollars'), is an American rapper from Brentwood, New York, a member of EPMD and Hit Squad.
Career
He attended Brentwood High School, and has rel ...
,
Grand Puba
Maxwell Dixon (born March 4, 1964), known professionally as Grand Puba, is an American rapper and emcee, best known as one of the members of the group Brand Nubian from New Rochelle, New York.
Biography
He made his debut as Grand Puba Maxw ...
, and
Big Daddy Kane
Antonio Hardy (born September 10, 1968), better known by his stage name Big Daddy Kane, is an American rapper who began his career in 1986 as a member of the Juice Crew. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential and skilled MCs in hi ...
) on his album ''
Born and Raised''.
KRS-One and Buckshot announced that they would be collaborating on an album set to be released in 2009. The first single, "ROBOT", was released on May 5, 2009. The music video was directed by
Todd Angkasuwan
Todd Angkasuwan is a Thai-American music video and documentary film director.
Biography
Angkasuwan grew up in Riverside, California and has been making films since he was 9 years old. and debuted as the New Joint of the Day on 106 & Park on September 4, 2009. The album itself, called ''Survival Skills'', leaked on the Internet on September 9, 2009, and the album was officially released on September 15, 2009. It debuted at #62, making it onto the
''Billboard'' 200. It sold around 8,500 copies its first week and was met with generally positive reviews. Steve Juon of RapReviews.com gave the album a flawless 10 out of 10, claiming, "Buckshot and KRS have achieved something rather remarkable here – an album I can't find a single fault with. There's not a bad beat, there's not a whack rhyme, there's not a collaborator on a track that missed the mark, and the disc itself is neither too short nor too long."
In 2010 KRS-One was honored, along with Buckshot, by artists Ruste Juxx, Torae & Skyzoo,
Sha Stimuli
Sha Stimuli (born Sherod Khaalis on August 9, 1978) is an American rapper from Brooklyn, New York City. He is known for his mixtape releases, beginning with ''Let Me Show You the Way'' in 2002, which earned him a spot in ''Source Magazine''s "U ...
, Promise, J.A.M.E.S. Watts and Team Facelift, on their mixtape ''Survival Kit'', an ode to the 2009 album ''Survival Skills''. The mixtape was released for free download on DuckDown.com. The album features new version of KRS classics "South Bronx", "
Sound of da Police
In physics, sound is a vibration that propagates as an acoustic wave, through a transmission medium such as a gas, liquid or solid.
In human physiology and psychology, sound is the ''reception'' of such waves and their ''perception'' by the ...
" and "MC's Act Like They Don't Know", as well as new versions of well-known Buckshot songs and "Past Present Future" from the ''Survival Skills'' album. The MC Fashawn said in his verse on ''MC's Act Like They Don't Know'', "I did it to make Kris smile / I figured he'd appreciate it".
KRS-One was featured as the voice of Chris Cringle in
Nike
Nike often refers to:
* Nike (mythology), a Greek goddess who personifies victory
* Nike, Inc., a major American producer of athletic shoes, apparel, and sports equipment
Nike may also refer to:
People
* Nike (name), a surname and feminine give ...
's Most Valuable Puppets commercials. KRS-One performed in May 2010 at SUNY New Paltz at their annual "Rock Against Racism" concert. He narrated the 2011 film ''Rhyme and Punishment'', a documentary about hip-hop artists who have done jail time. The same year, KRS-One was featured in the title song for the film ''
You Got Served: Beat the World''. The song is entitled "Hip Hop Nation", and features
K'naan
Keinan Abdi Warsame (born 1 February 1978) ( so, Keynaan Cabdi Warsame, ar, كَينَان عَبدِ وَرسَمَ ''Kaynān ʿAbdi Warsama''), better known by his stage name K'naan (), is a Somali-Canadian musician. He rose to prominence ...
and
Lina
Lina (pronounced "Leena") is a feminine given name. Languages of origin include: English, Italian, Lithuanian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Persian, Kurdish, Arabic. It is also the short form of a variety of names ending in -lina including Catalin ...
. It was produced for the film by
Frank Fitzpatrick
Francis Edward Fitzpatrick (born April 13, 1961), more commonly known as Frank Fitzpatrick, is an American composer, music producer, author, filmmaker and social entrepreneur.
Fitzpatrick is best known for his career in the film and music in ...
.
In 2012, KRS-One toured Australia for the first time. He travelled there by cruise ship, as he hates flying.
In December 2020, KRS-One released his 23rd solo album ''Between Da Protests''.
Stop the Violence Movement
The Stop the Violence Movement was formed by KRS-One in 1988/1989 in response to violence in the hip hop and
black
Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white have o ...
communities.
During a concert by Boogie Down Productions and Public Enemy (band), Public Enemy, a young fan was killed in a fight. Coming soon after the shooting death of his friend and fellow BDP member
Scott La Rock
Scott Monroe Sterling (March 2, 1962 – August 27, 1987), known by the stage name DJ Scott La Rock, was an American hip-hop disc jockey and music producer from the Bronx, New York. He was a founding member of the East Coast hip hop group Boogi ...
, KRS-One was galvanized into action and formed the Stop the Violence Movement. Composed of some of the biggest stars in contemporary East Coast hip hop, the movement released a single, "
Self Destruction
Self-destructive behavior is any behavior that is harmful or potentially harmful towards the person who engages in the behavior.
Self-destructive behaviors have been shown by many people throughout the years. It is on a continuum, with one extr ...
", in 1989, with all proceeds going to the National Urban League.
[The Stop The Violence Movement – "Self Destruction"](_blank)
discogs.com. A music video was created, and a VHS cassette entitled ''Overcoming Self-Destruction – The Making of the Self-Destruction Video'' was also released.
"Self-Destruction" was produced by KRS-One and D-Nice of Boogie Down Productions (Hank Shocklee of The Bomb Squad is credited as an associate producer).
Temple of Hip Hop
The Temple of Hip Hop is a ministry, archive, school, and society (M.A.S.S.) founded by KRS-One. Its goal is to maintain and promote Hip Hop Kulture.
The Temple of Hip Hop maintains that hip hop is a genuine political movement, religion, and culture. It calls on all fans to celebrate Hip Hop Appreciation Week on the third week of May each year. It encourages DJs and MCs to teach people about the culture of hip hop and to write more socially conscious songs, and radio stations to play more socially conscious hip hop.
Hip Hop History Month (November), founded by the Universal Zulu Nation, is also recognized.
September 11 comments
In 2004, KRS said during a panel discussion hosted by ''The New Yorker'' magazine that "we cheered when September 11, 2001 attacks, 9/11 happened". His comment was criticized by many sources, including the ''New York Daily News'', which called him an "anarchism, anarchist" and said that "If Osama bin Laden ever buys a rap album, he'll probably start with a CD by KRS-One."
![KRS-One by Wade Grayson](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b9/KRS-One_by_Wade_Grayson.jpg)
KRS responded with an editorial written for AllHipHop.com, stating:
In late 2005, KRS was featured alongside Public Enemy's Chuck D on the remix of the song "Bin Laden" by Immortal Technique and DJ Green Lantern, which blames Neoconservatism (United States), American neo-conservatives, the Reagan Doctrine, and U.S. President George W. Bush for the World Trade Center attacks, and indicates a parallel to the devaluation, destruction, and violence of urban housing project communities.
On April 29, 2007, KRS-One again defended his statements on the September 11 attacks when asked about them during an appearance on ''Hannity's America'' on the Fox News network. He stated that he meant that people cheered that the establishment had taken a hit, not that people were dying or had died. He also discussed, among other things, the Don Imus scandal and the use of profanity in hip-hop.
''Gospel of Hip Hop'' comments
In an interview with AllHipHop about his book ''The Gospel of Hip Hop'', KRS-One said:
I'm suggesting that in 100 years, this book will be a new religion on the earth ... I think I have the authority to approach God directly, I don't have to go through any religion [or] train of thought. I can approach God directly myself and so I wrote a book called The Gospel of Hip Hop to free from all this nonsense garbage right now. I respect the Christianity
Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world's largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.38 billion followers representing one-third of the global pop ...
, the Islam, the Judaism but their time is up.
... In a hundred years, everything that I'm saying to you will be common knowledge and people will be like, 'Why did he have to explain this? Wasn't it obvious?'
These comments have been referred to by numerous media outlets such as The A.V. Club, which commented that "KRS-One writes 600-page hip-hop bible; blueprint for rap religion",
and "KRS-One has never been afraid to court controversy and provoke strong reactions. Now the Boogie Down Productions legend has topped himself by writing ''The Gospel of Hip Hop: The First Instrument'', a mammoth treatise on the spirituality of hip-hop he hopes will some day become a sacred text of a new hip-hop religion".
Personal life
KRS-One is a vocal supporter of veganism.
He supported Ron Paul for president during his 2012 run.
KRS-One's step-son (Randy Parker) was found dead in his Atlanta, Georgia (US state), Georgia, apartment on July 6, 2007. The Medical Examiner's office stated that Parker had died of a gunshot wound to the head, and listed the cause of death as suicide.
His son Kris Parker (born 1992) is an aspiring music producer and DJ known as Predator Prime.
Awards
Vh1 Hip Hop Honors, VH1
* 2004, VH1 Hip Hop Honors
BET Hip Hop Awards
* 2007, I am Hip Hop
* 2007, Lifetime Achievement
Urban Music Awards
* 2009, Living Legend Award
*Bronx Walk of Fame (2001)
Discography
Studio albums
*''
Return of the Boom Bap
''Return of the Boom Bap'' is the debut solo studio album by American rapper KRS-One, released on September 28, 1993 by Jive Records. Recording sessions took place at D&D Studios and at Battery Studios in New York City, New York. Production was ha ...
'' (1993)
*''
KRS-One
Lawrence "Kris" Parker (born August 20, 1965), better known by his stage names KRS-One (; an abbreviation of "Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone") and Teacha, is an American rapper from New York City. He rose to prominence as part of ...
'' (1995)
*''
I Got Next
''I Got Next'' is the third solo studio album by American musician KRS-One. It was released on May 20, 1997 via Jive Records. Production was handled by Domingo, Jesse West, Showbiz, Gordon "Commissioner Gordon" Williams, DJ Cipher, DJ Muggs, T ...
'' (1997)
*''
The Sneak Attack'' (2001)
*''
Spiritual Minded
''Spiritual Minded'' is the fifth solo studio album by American rapper and record producer KRS-One. It was released on January 22, 2002 through Koch Records. Recording sessions took place at Slammin' Studios. Production was handled by BB Jay, Berv ...
'' (2002)
*''
Kristyles'' (2003)
*''
Keep Right'' (2004)
*''
Life
Life is a quality that distinguishes matter that has biological processes, such as signaling and self-sustaining processes, from that which does not, and is defined by the capacity for growth, reaction to stimuli, metabolism, energ ...
'' (2006)
*''Adventures in Emceein'' (2008)
*''Maximum Strength'' (2008)
*''The BDP Album'' (2012)
*''Never Forget'' (2013)
*''Now Hear This (KRS-One album), Now Hear This'' (2015)
*''The World Is Mind'' (2017)
*''Street Light (First Edition)'' (2019)
*''Between Da Protests'' (2020)
*''I M A M C R U 1 2'' (2022)
Boogie Down Productions albums
*''
Criminal Minded
''Criminal Minded'' is the debut studio album by hip-hop group Boogie Down Productions, released on March 3, 1987 by B-Boy Records. It is considered a highly influential hip hop album and one of the first in the gangsta rap genre.
Since its rele ...
'' (1987)
*''
By All Means Necessary
''By All Means Necessary'' is the second album from American hip hop group Boogie Down Productions, released in April, 1988 on Jive Records. After the 1987 murder of DJ-producer Scott La Rock, MC KRS-One moved away from the violent themes that do ...
'' (1988)
*''
Ghetto Music: The Blueprint of Hip Hop'' (1989)
*''
Edutainment
Educational entertainment (also referred to as edutainment) is media designed to educate through entertainment. The term was used as early as 1954 by Walt Disney. Most often it includes content intended to teach but has incidental entertainment ...
'' (1990)
*''
Sex and Violence'' (1992)
Collaboration albums
*''
Hip Hop Lives
''Hip Hop Lives'' is the collaborative studio album by American rapper KRS-One and record producer Marley Marl. It was released on May 22, 2007 via Koch Records. Recording sessions took place at House Of Hits in New York and at Westlake Recordi ...
'' with
Marley Marl
Marlon Williams (born September 30, 1962), better known by his stage name Marley Marl, is an American DJ, record producer, rapper and record label founder, primarily operating in hip hop music. Marlon grew up in Queensbridge housing projects ...
(2007)
*''Survival Skills'' with Buckshot (rapper), Buckshot (2009)
*''Meta-Historical'' with True Master (2010)
*''Godsville'' with
Showbiz (2011)
*''Royalty Check'' with Freddie Foxxx, Bumpy Knuckles (2011)
Filmography
Publications
See also
* Suicide, it's a suicide
References
Further reading
*
*
External links
*
*
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{{Authority control
1965 births
Living people
People from the Bronx
21st-century American rappers
21st-century American male musicians
African-American male rappers
American male film actors
American graffiti artists
Artists from New York City
East Coast hip hop musicians
MNRK Music Group artists
Hardcore hip hop artists
Hip hop activists
Jive Records artists
Male actors from New York City
Rappers from the Bronx
Songwriters from New York (state)
African-American songwriters
21st-century African-American musicians
20th-century African-American people
American male songwriters