KRS-ONE

created by pi

(person) by Vice_hkpnx (5.1 d) (print) ? (I like it!) 3 C!s Fri Nov 02 2001 at 7:01:23

Born: summer of 1965 (actual date unknown), Brooklyn, NY
Real Name: Lawrence Parker
Quick note about his name. His real name is Lawrence, and his middle name is usually listed as "Krisna". However, according to KRS himself, he has no middle name. The name "Kris" came from his childhood nickname "Krishna", and from the pronunciation of "KRS".

Musician, teacher, and for many one of the pillars of the true Hip Hop.
When KRS was 14, he ran away from his home to escape what he considered the oppresion of his mother and New York's public education system. He ended up staying in a homeless shelter in the South Bronx, spending almost all his time playing basketball and reading. He showed an special interest into Hare Krishna, which earner him the nickname "Krishna". In 1984 Lawrence met a young graffiti artist name "Zore" and quickly began writing under the name KRS (a shortened version of "Krishna"). However, due to the explosion of the graffiti scene in New York, he soon had to add "ONE" to the end of his tag and at the same time created what KRS-ONE stood for: "Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone".

Sometime in 1985 KRS met a social worker named Scott Sterling. The two quickly became friends after learning they both knew "Ced-G" from the Ultra-Magnetic MC's. Not only that, but KRS found out that Scott Sterling was actually DJ Scott La Rock from Club Broadway International. Scott introduced KRS to New York's club scene and agreed to form Boogie Down Productions with him.

1986 saw the release of KRS-ONE's first song, "South Bronx". In reality just a battle album to introduce KRS to the local scene, it also showed the raw roots of hip-hop, and pronounced KRS's credibility as a rapper. It was a very popular single within the scene and it helped KRS develop his skills, as he had to continously defend his stance and style in MC freestyle battles. However, it wasn't until 1987 that Boogie Down Productions released their first album, "Criminal Minded".

Criminal Minded literally blew up. BDP's credibility and popularity soared, and KRS and Scott La Rock both saw their new consciousness of hip-hop spreading through the scene. Sadly, in late 1987, Scott La Rock was killed while trying to break up a dispute in the Bronx. Many people thought that this was the end of BDP, but KRS refused to quit. In 1988 KRS signed with Jive Records to release "By All Means Necessary", an full-force attack against hip-hop's materialism and an attempt to uplift hip-hop and enforce a moral responsibility within hip-hop culture. The album sold fairly well and put KRS dead in the center of hip-hop.

In 1989 KRS was approached to make a song for the "Stop the Violence Movement", who released an anti-violence album. The album sold over 500,000 copies, with all the proceeds going towards the National Urban League. Also, KRS released his third album "Ghetto Music - The Blueprint of Hip-Hop". The album was centered around his religious beliefs, and questioned the public education system in relation the black culture. The album had a huge cultural response, and sold over 500,000 copies. Going from the public response, KRS began focusing on hip-hop as a culture as whole. (breakdancing, turntabalism, graffiti, and MCs) He began recording for his fourth album against the wishes of many of his friends. Many people felt that KRS should just keep his mouth shut, instead of endangering his status of superstar.

"Edutainment" was released in 1991. The album sold well, but because of the emergence of gangsta rap the album wasn't nearly as popular as any of his earlier releases. KRS became sickened about how hip-hop was being depicted in popular media and started a side project entitled "Human Education Against Lies". The project released one album, "Civilization Vs. Technology" and showed KRS in his full role as "The Teacha". Coming off of this album, KRS declared openly his refusal to play "Gansta Rap" and continued to espouse the ideals of a unified hip-hop culture.

However, KRS also juggling his speaking arrangments and recording. By this time he had spoke at over 200 universities (usually under the name "Krist Parker") including Yale, Clark, Harvard, and UCLA. Also, in 1992 he released his fifth album "Sex and Violence". The album was heavy on scathing political and social messages, and combined amazing rhyme flow and knowledge. Sadly, because of the current state of hip-hop, the album only sold about 250,000 copies. Saddened by the current state of affairs, in 1993 KRS declared himself "pure underground" and continued to preach hip-hop as a culture, and not a product. Stemming from this, he released his sixth album "Return of the Boom Bap" in 1994. Around this time, he also began discussing the creation of the Temple of Hiphop.

In 1995 he released his seventh album, simply entitled "KRS-ONE". The album itself was again heavy on the spirtuality and the concept of hip hop as culture. While the scene greatly respected KRS as a MC, many thought that he had become monotonous. The true, well remained true. His fan bas became more hardcore about the culture, and reveled in what they called "the true underground". KRS then took a break from recording to publish a "how-to" book on hip hop entitled "The Science of Rap". Soon after leaving the limelight, KRS's critics came out in droves. He was critisized for not selling records and refusing to "accept" the change in hip hop. KRS soon turned the tides and shut just about everyone up with the release of his eigth album "I Got Next" in 1997. He commited his tour for the album to extoll the virtues of hip-hop, hiring B-Boys, graffiti artists, and other MCs to join him onstage for freestyle sessions.

Over the next few years KRS accepted a position as Vice-President of A&R for Warner Records, founded the Los Angeles chapter of the Temple of Hiphop, and began working with the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization. However, in 2000 KRS left his position at Warner Records, saying that modern rap had become nothing but greed and back-stabbing. Feeling the need to bring his voice back to hip hop, he left his contract with Jive Records to release his ninth album, "The Sneak Attack" on March 27, 2001.

He continues to teach, record, and be a true MC and is preparing to release a new album "Spiritual Minded" in 2002. He continues to be fully commited to the preservation of hiphop culture.

Discography as a solo artist:
1. By All Means Necessary - 1987
2. Ghetto Music - The Blueprint of Hip-Hop - 1989
3. Edutainment - 1990
4. Civilization vs. Technology - 1991
5. Sex and Violence - 1992
6. Return of the Boom Bap - 1994
7. KRS-ONE - 1995
8. I Got Next - 1997
9. The Sneak Attack - 2001

If you like KRS, you might want to look into: Poor Righteous Teachers, Talib Kweli, Jurassic 5, Dead Prez, and Public Enemy, naturally.
Personal Side: hip hop good, rap bad.

Temple of Hiphop: www.templeofhiphop.com

(thing) by asterphage (6.8 mon) (print) ? (I like it!) Tue Nov 20 2001 at 6:43:41

"KRS-ONE", a song by Sublime, released on the album 40 Oz. To Freedom. It's mostly just one of those pleasant Sublime tracks with Brad Nowell's vocals accompanied only by acoustic guitar. While the scratching breaks are kinda jarring, they seem to fit just right once you've listened to it a bunch of times. And the lyrics, I love the lyrics. They're true and flow nicely and have this nicely funny, playful sense to them.

By the way, is the phrase "hamburgers or steak" an oblique reference to the difference between rich and poor/upper and lower classes (and thus to not learning about it), or am I reading too much into it?
(Update, one day later: Glowing Fish tells me that "hamburgers or steak" is in fact a reference to KRS-ONE's and Elijah Muhammad's vegetarianism. I still think it makes a good metaphor for haves and have-nots.)

Lyrics:

In school they never taught 'bout hamburgers or steak
Elijah Muhammad or the welfare state
But I know
And I know because of KRS-ONE
Yeah, and I know
And I know because of KRS-ONE

Because he's droppin' droppin' droppin' science, droppin' history
With a whole leap a' style and intelligency
Yes I know
And I know because of KRS-ONE
Yeah, and I know
And I know-

(turntable scratching)

Because we don't wanna pay no money for(?) hear the same old sound
Watch and we'll take hip-hop to a higher ground
'Cause I know
How do I know?
And I know because of KRS-ONE
Yeah, and I know, ooh
And I know because-

here we go now
(more scratching, culminating in a sample from KRS himself)
You - must - learn!

And I know
And I know because of KRS-ONE
Ooh, and I know

And I know, oh, ooh yeah.

printable version
chaos

Hip hop good, rap bad	Boogie Down Productions	Who wants a Yo! MTV Raps Trading Card from the FUNKY FRESH holliman?	KRS One
You Must Learn	Sublime	Hip Hop	Cocaine
Elijah Muhammad	Scott La Rock	Public Enemy	Jurassic 5
Puff Daddy	Intelligency	Modifying the Education in America	Hip-hop quadrant system
Hare Krishna	40 oz. to freedom	Talk broken English and drug sellin'	metaself
Not everyone can give good blowjobs. Sorry.	Saul Williams	Throwing Muses	edutainment

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