KRS-One, originally a member of the hip hop crew Boogie Down Productions, is known for setting the path for both hardcore rap and socially conscious political rap.
Youth and early career
Born Lawrence Parker in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn in 1965, the future KRS-One grew up with his brother Kenny and their single mother in assorted inner city neighborhoods of Brooklyn and the Bronx. According to interviews with The Source Magazine, one fateful day when he was 12 years old, he and his brother Kenny prepared a pan of flavored rice, which was to be the family's dinner for the evening. The hungry pair ate the whole thing, and when their mother came home from work, she kicked them out of the apartment in a fit of anger. They stayed away for two days before younger Kenny decided to go back home, while Lawrence opted not to return. He spent the better part of the next seven years homeless, much of it at local libraries.
In his late teen years, Lawrence Parker fell in with some illegal drug dealers and became a courier. Using a bread delivery truck as a cover, Parker and his partner drove around town to make drops. During one of their trips, a police car pulled up behind them with flashing lights. Parker's partner panicked, and led the cops on a chase for several miles which ended with the truck crashing and the two being apprehended. At the trial, the judge made the commentary that the only reason the police had initially tried to pull them over was because they had private plates on a commercial vehicle, there was no original intent to search for drugs.
Parker, still a minor, claimed he was a ward of the state, and got sent to a juvenile home for his sentencing, after which he was moved to a Covenant House youth homeless shelter. It was there that he met Scott Sterling, a recent college graduate who just started working at the shelter as a social worker. Parker discovered that Sterling moonlighted as a hip hop DJ under the name Scott La Rock. By this time, Parker had earned the nickname "Kris" from the relationship he had developed with local Hare Krishnas that evangelized near the shelter. Heavily influenced by Eastern philosophies, he was also an aspiring rapper, and practiced routines in verbal spars with the other shelter residents.
Parker and Sterling, along with two other fellows, 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 release on indie Fresh/Sleeping Bag Records (under the group name "12:41") did not enjoy commercial success. Soon after, the pair approached another NY indie, Rock Candy Productions, for a deal. As it turns out, the entertainment company was allegedly a front for a pornography operation, but Parker and Sterling convinced the boss to front them the money to record an album, under the newly created subsidiary label, B-Boy Records. After a few 12-inch single releases, the Criminal Minded album finally surfaced in 1987.
Criminal Minded featured many dis tracks that attacked other hip hop emcees and tracks about street crime ("wa da da deng wa da da da deng, listen to my nine millimeter go bang"). KRS One and La Rock appeared on the cover of the album holding firearms, a controversial precedent that would be followed by many rap artists in the years to follow. Musically, the album was based around James Brown samples and reggae influences. They also sampled hard-rock band AC/DC on "Dope Beat". During these years, KRS-One was also famously involved in a hip hop battle with MC Shan, of Queensbridge. KRS objected to MC Shan calling Queensbridge the home of hip hop, and attacked him viciously on a seminal battle rap, The Bridge Is Over.
Later career and emphasis on political issues
Following the fatal shooting of Scott La Rock in 1987, Boogie Down Productions (BDP) became increasingly political. KRS One was the primary motivation behind the HEAL compilation and the Stop the Violence Movement. KRS One attracted many prominent emcees to appear on the 12-inch single "Self Destruction." As Parker adopted this more conscientious, less violent approach, he stopped calling himself "The Blastmaster" (his battle rap nickname), and instead began calling himself "The Teacha", turning the nickname KRS-ONE into the backronym "Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone".
On his first solo album, 1993's Return of the Boombap, KRS worked together with producers DJ Premier (Gang Starr), Showbiz and Kid Capri. The catchy yet very hardcore track "Sound of da Police" is featured on this album. His second album, KRS One featured Channel Live on the track "Free Mumia", a political protest song about Mumia Abu-Jamal, an imprisoned African-American and Black Panther member who a vocal group of activists on the political Left claim is innocent of the crime of which he was convicted. Other prominent guest artists on KRS One included Mad Lion, Busta Rhymes, Das EFX and Fat Joe.
In 1997, Parker surprised many with his release of the album I Got Next. The record included a remix of the single "Step into a World" which featured a sample from the 1970s rock group Blondie by commercial rap icon Puff Daddy. "Heartbeat", featuring Angie Martinez and Redman, was based on the old school classic "Feel the Heartbeat" by the Treacherous Three. These collaborations with notably mainstream artists took many fans and observers of the vehemently anti-mainstream KRS One by surprise. However, in August 1997 KRS One appeared on Tim Westwood's BBC Radio 1 show and vociferously denounced the DJ and the radio station more generally, accusing them of ignoring his style of hip-hop in favour of commercial artists such as Puff Daddy.
In 1999, there were tentative plans to release an album called "Maximum Strength"; a lead single, "5 Boroughs", was released on The Corruptor movie 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. KRS moved to southern California, and stayed there for two years, finally ending his relationship with Jive Records with A Retrospective in 2000. The next year, he resigned his position at Reprise and in 2001 The Sneak Attack was released on Koch Records. In 2002, he released a gospel-rap album, Spiritual Minded, surprising many longtime fans. Parker had once denounced Christianity as a "slavemaster religion" which African-Americans should not follow. He founded the Temple of Hiphop, and released a new album, Kristyles, in mid- 2003, which was preceded by KRS-One: The Mixtape. In the summer of 2004 he released Keep Right.
KRS One's latest CD Life, was released in June 2006, and another CD, Adventures in Emceein on Koch Records is slated for later in the year. KRS has also confirmed for his next album of new material, expected to be out in 2007, he will be working with Marley Marl.
September 11 comments and ensuing controversy
In 2004, KRS engendered a controversy when he was quoted in a panel discussion hosted by New Yorker Magazine as saying that Blacks "cheered when 911 happened". The comment drew criticism from many sources, including a pointed barb by the New York Daily News that called Parker an "anarchist" and said that "If Osama bin Laden ever buys a rap album, he'll probably start with a CD by KRS-One."
Parker responded to the furor surrounding his comments with an editorial written for AllHipHop.com. In it, Parker said "I was asked about why hiphop has not engaged the current situation more (meaning 911), my response was 'because it does not affect us, or at least we don’t perceive that it affects us, 911 happened to them'. I went on to say that 'I am speaking for the culture now; I am not speaking my personal opinion.' I continued to say; '911 affected them down the block; the rich, the powerful those that are oppressing us as a culture. Sony, RCA or BMG, Universal, the radio stations, Clear Channel, Viacom with BET and MTV, those are our oppressors those are the people that we're trying to overcome in hiphop everyday, this is a daily thing. We cheered when 911 happened in New York and say that proudly here. Because when we were down at the trade center we were getting hit over the head by cops, told that we can’t come in this building, hustled down to the train station because of the way we dressed and talked, and so on, we were racially profiled. So, when the planes hit the building we were like, 'mmmm, justice'. And just as I began to say 'now of course a lot of our friends and family were lost there as well' but I was interrupted..."
...And Then Again
KRS-One Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Right here with the teacher, KRS-One
Album #13, "Keep Right," or you gonna get left
You know what time it is, ain't no time to be fronting
Trust yourself, get with the movement
www.templeofhiphop.org
Yo teacher, let 'em have it, like this, come on
You get the CD and then, it's time to see me again
You break it open and then, no we not joking again
Turn on your player and then, the rhyme sayer again
Put in the CD and then, you can't believe me again
Turn up the volume and then, we blowing by you again
You start to listen and then, you see the mission again
You start to listen and then, you get the vision again
you-N-I-T-why that spells unity man
On G-O-D I demand, as you can see I don't end
Your family I defend, don't battle me you won't win
I'm not living in sin, but I'm living with Him
Her/They/Them/Us trust yo let us begin
KRS is unique, you can hear how I speak
I be teaching the streets, I'm fin' to reach for the peak
I rock a club every week, I keep them thugs on they feet
He's back, just me, please, don't try to compete
I kick that knowledge in college when I club it it gets rugged
And you can see that these others be garbage and I love it
Uh, what's the state of hip-hop? Don't confuse it with rap
It's the state of your mind, it's the way that we act
It's that thing that makes you say yo I can never be whack
It's also clicking through my lyric lickings spitting the facts
Hot tracks y'all prep for combat
Baby I'm back, they crazy whack, taking 'em out!
The philosophical flow son, that's live at my show son
I'm sounding like no one, you feeling me though?
The people want me back like they want The Arsenio Show
They want the real, not a video hoe!
This is KRS-One, you gotta believe me
I'm sitting in the studio with Nice and B.C.
See me tonight, we keeping it tight
It's another from the brother KRS, "Keep Right!"
In the song ...And Then Again... by KRS-One, the rapper and Minister Server introduce themselves and encourage their listeners to invest in their new album "Keep Right." They urge their audience to trust themselves and join the movement, emphasizing the importance of unity and God's guidance. KRS-One emphasizes his unique style and ability to teach the streets through his music. He also touches on the current state of hip-hop and differentiates it from rap, stating that hip-hop is a state of mind and way of life. He asserts that he is bringing realness back to the industry and laments the prevalence of video hoes in music videos.
Overall, the lyrics suggest that KRS-One and Minister Server are passionate about their music and the messages they convey through it. They believe in the power of music to inspire and incite change and want to share their music with as many people as possible. Through their lyrics, they also promote unity and reject materialism, focusing instead on spirituality and social responsibility.
Line by Line Meaning
Peace and much love my people, I am Minister Server
Greetings and affection to you all, I am known as Minister Server
Right here with the teacher, KRS-One
I am currently with the wise and knowledgeable KRS-One
Album #13, "Keep Right," or you gonna get left
This is my 13th music album titled "Keep Right," do not miss out on it
You know what time it is, ain't no time to be fronting
You are aware of what is happening, there is no time for pretending
Trust yourself, get with the movement
Believe in your abilities and join the cause
www.templeofhiphop.org
Visit our website at www.templeofhiphop.org
Yo teacher, let 'em have it, like this, come on
My teacher, please share your knowledge with them, go on
You get the CD and then, it's time to see me again
Once you acquire the music CD, it signifies time to witness my work again
You break it open and then, no we not joking again
After unpacking it, you realize that we are not playing around
Turn on your player and then, the rhyme sayer again
Play the CD and then, you'll hear the skilled rapper's voice again
Put in the CD and then, you can't believe me again
When you listen to it, you will not be able to disbelieve me again
Turn up the volume and then, we blowing by you again
Increase the sound intensity, and we are once again surpassing your expectations
You start to listen and then, you see the mission again
As soon as you begin listening, you are reminded of the purpose of the music
You start to listen and then, you get the vision again
Once you start to hear the music, you start to envision the movement
you-N-I-T-why that spells unity man
The word "unity" can be spelled as you-N-I-T-why
On G-O-D I demand, as you can see I don't end
I swear by God that I command attention and respect, I am not stopping any time soon
Your family I defend, don't battle me you won't win
I protect your family, do not try to fight against me because you will not succeed
I'm not living in sin, but I'm living with Him
I am not disobeying divine laws, but I am living in harmony with the divine
Her/They/Them/Us trust yo let us begin
Females, non-binary people, groups of people, and ourselves should have faith and start the mission
KRS is unique, you can hear how I speak
KRS-One is exceptional, as you can tell by the way I talk
I be teaching the streets, I'm fin' to reach for the peak
I am educating the public, and am determined to achieve greatness
I rock a club every week, I keep them thugs on they feet
I perform at nightclubs regularly, and keep the energetic individuals standing
He's back, just me, please, don't try to compete
I have returned, it's only me, please do not attempt to outshine me
I kick that knowledge in college when I club it, it gets rugged
I share my wisdom even at nightclubs, where it becomes intense
And you can see that these others be garbage and I love it
It's clear to see that other artists lack skill, and I enjoy this fact
Uh, what's the state of hip-hop? Don't confuse it with rap
So what is the current condition of hip-hop? Do not mix it up with rap
It's the state of your mind, it's the way that we act
It is related to your mindset and actions
It's that thing that makes you say yo I can never be whack
It's the element that makes you declare that you can never be dreadful
It's also clicking through my lyric lickings spitting the facts
It's also the realization that my clever and truthful rhymes are making an impact
Hot tracks y'all prep for combat
Prepare for battle when you hear my excellent music
Baby I'm back, they crazy whack, taking 'em out!
I have returned, and I am defeating the terrible music that exists!
The philosophical flow son, that's live at my show son
My music has a philosophical undertone that is lively at my performances
I'm sounding like no one, you feeling me though?
My sound is unique, can you sense and appreciate it?
The people want me back like they want The Arsenio Show
My fans request for me to return, much like The Arsenio Show
They want the real, not a video hoe!
They want genuine hip-hop, not an over-sexualized music video
This is KRS-One, you gotta believe me
This is KRS-One, you must trust me
I'm sitting in the studio with Nice and B.C.
I am currently present in the recording studio with Nice and B.C.
See me tonight, we keeping it tight
Come see my show this evening, we will keep it together well
It's another from the brother KRS, "Keep Right!"
It is another piece of work from the legendary KRS-One titled "Keep Right!"
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind