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..."
Higher Level
KRS-One Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How do you rate me?
Poorly or greatly?
Everybody seems to be goin' for their's lately
Yo mad heads be needin' money
So listen very close as I conduct this little study
See it's, funny to me, you can watch TV
And give up your life trying to be all you can be
Not knowin' your history
You either fight and die or come back home in misery
Yo get with me, I deal with reality
Loosen your mind to the truth, and don't get mad at me
No politician can give you peace
If you trust Jesus, why do you vote for a beast?
Emancipation is long over due
So overcome procrastination
Because freedom is within you
For some reason we think we're free
So we'll never be
Because we haven't recognized slavery
You're still a slave, look at how you behave
Debatin' on where and when and how and what Massa gave
You want to know how we screwed up from the beginning?
We accepted our oppressor's religion
So in the case of slavery it ain't hard
Because it's right in the eyes of THEIR God
Where is our God, the God that represents us?
The God that looks like me, the God that I can trust?
A God of peace and love, not mass hysteria
I don't want a God that blesses America
I could never really vote for the devil
Let me take you to a higher level
Title, take the title from the Bible we can get there
Rip the title from off the front of the Bible, God don't live there
Too many inconsistencies, too many mysteries
Picture the Pope and the Vatican, laughing and drinking and singing and
Kissing me
I stand with God whether I'm paid or whether I'm cryin' broke
I like to ask these politicians would Jesus vote?
The way we view God is a freakin' shame
Church is to blame
We trust God, but bomb Hussein
We simply lovin' the scripture
Same scripture that whipped 'cha
Sooner it'll hit 'cha
Religion's gettin' richer
With that European version of Christ made into a picture
Our society's gettin' sicker, and sicker, and sicker...
Like liquor, we are God-Intoxicated
Not to the true God, but the one the government created
The same governments tellin' people to vote
I pray to God because the people have lost hope
You either vote for the mumps or the measels
Whether you vote for the lesser of two evils, you vote for evil
Politics and God are not equal
But the education if you don't guard, is really lethal
People have more respect for a holy book
Than they do for a cow on a meat hook
Believers of Jesus be denouncing Satan on every level
But every Halloween they're dressin' like devils
I pray to you for the light you might give them
Mother make them know that you're livin' with them
You begin them and end them in silence
Frankly, if they knew you, they would understand violence
I pray to you for the Pope and the Vatican
Have mercy Mother, cause I know that you're mad at them
The White Jesus deceived us awhile ago
And Pope Julius the Second paid Michaelangelo
I know this happened in 1519 yet
This is the image we can't seem to forget
Vote for God, don't vote for the Devil
Let me take you to a higher level
In KRS-One's song "Higher Level," the artist reflects on the state of society and the role of religion and politics. He reflects on the fact that many people have given up their lives trying to achieve success and wealth, ultimately becoming slaves to the system. KRS-One believes that true freedom comes from knowledge and self-awareness, and he encourages listeners to loosen their minds to the truth. He questions the idea of politicians being able to provide peace and asks why those who trust in Jesus would vote for a beast. KRS-One sees emancipation as "long overdue," and urges listeners to overcome procrastination and recognize the slavery that still exists in society.
The lyrics also express KRS-One's disappointment in the way people view God, religion, and politics. He doesn't want a God that blesses America or a religion that is getting richer. KRS-One sees a society that is becoming sicker by the day, and he blames it on being God-intoxicated with the government's version of God. He urges listeners to vote for God, not the devil, and to take their thinking to a higher level.
Line by Line Meaning
After seven years of rockin'
After seven years of performing
How do you rate me?
What is your opinion of me?
Poorly or greatly?
Did you enjoy my music or not?
Everybody seems to be goin' for their's lately
Everyone is focused on achieving their own goals right now
Yo mad heads be needin' money
People are desperate for money
So listen very close as I conduct this little study
Pay close attention while I share my observations
See it's, funny to me, you can watch TV
It's amusing to me that you can watch TV
And give up your life trying to be all you can be
And devote your life to trying to reach your potential
In the Army
By enlisting in the military
Not knowin' your history
Without knowing your own culture and heritage
You either fight and die or come back home in misery
You either die in battle or return home traumatized
Yo get with me, I deal with reality
Join me in facing the truth of the situation
Loosen your mind to the truth, and don't get mad at me
Be open minded and don't be angry with me for speaking the truth
No politician can give you peace
Politicians cannot bring true peace
If you trust Jesus, why do you vote for a beast?
If your faith is in Jesus, why do you support evil politicians?
Emancipation is long over due
We should have abolished slavery a long time ago
So overcome procrastination
Don't delay in making change happen
Because freedom is within you
You have the power to be free
For some reason we think we're free
We have a false sense of freedom
So we'll never be
Therefore we will never truly be free
Because we haven't recognized slavery
Because we as a society haven't acknowledged the existence of slavery
You're still a slave, look at how you behave
You are still being controlled, look at how you act
Debatin' on where and when and how and what Massa gave
Arguing over what your oppressor has given you
You want to know how we screwed up from the beginning?
Do you want to know where we made mistakes in the past?
We accepted our oppressor's religion
We adopted the religion of those who oppressed us
So in the case of slavery it ain't hard
So it's easy to see why slavery existed
Because it's right in the eyes of THEIR God
Because they believed in a God who sanctioned slavery
Where is our God, the God that represents us?
Where is the God that reflects us and our values?
The God that looks like me, the God that I can trust?
A God that I can identify with and rely on
A God of peace and love, not mass hysteria
A God of harmony and affection, not of chaos
I don't want a God that blesses America
I don't want a God that favors one country over another
I could never really vote for the devil
I could never support evil politicians
Let me take you to a higher level
Let me help you reach a deeper understanding
Title, take the title from the Bible we can get there
Remove the label from the Bible and we can make progress
Rip the title from off the front of the Bible, God don't live there
Remove the name from the Book and you will see that God is not limited to it
Too many inconsistencies, too many mysteries
The Bible has too many discrepancies and unknowns
Picture the Pope and the Vatican, laughing and drinking and singing and
Imagine the Pope and the Vatican celebrating while the people suffer
Kissing me
Foolishly expecting me to believe their lies
I stand with God whether I'm paid or whether I'm cryin' broke
I remain true to my faith regardless of my financial situation
I like to ask these politicians would Jesus vote?
I often question whether Jesus himself would approve of political candidates
The way we view God is a freakin' shame
The manner in which we conceive of God is disgraceful
Church is to blame
The Church is responsible for perpetuating this view of God
We trust God, but bomb Hussein
We profess faith in God yet engage in disastrous acts of war
We simply lovin' the scripture
We are too focused on the words of the Bible alone
Same scripture that whipped 'cha
The same Bible used to subjugate us
Sooner it'll hit 'cha
You'll soon realize the truth
Religion's gettin' richer
Religion is becoming more prosperous
With that European version of Christ made into a picture
With a European depiction of Jesus, presented as an object of worship
Our society's gettin' sicker, and sicker, and sicker...
Our society is declining rapidly
Like liquor, we are God-Intoxicated
Like alcohol, we are under the influence of God
Not to the true God, but the one the government created
Yet it's not the true God, but the one that the government has designed
The same governments tellin' people to vote
The dichotomy between preaching democracy and executing totalitarianism
I pray to God because the people have lost hope
I pray that people become inspired and have hope again
You either vote for the mumps or the measels
You're choosing between two bad alternatives
Whether you vote for the lesser of two evils, you vote for evil
Even if you choose the better of two evils, you're still supporting wrong
Politics and God are not equal
Politics should not be equated with faith
But the education if you don't guard, is really lethal
If you don't protect your education, the consequences can be deadly
People have more respect for a holy book
People hold a greater reverence for a religious text
Than they do for a cow on a meat hook
Than they do for a slaughtered animal
Believers of Jesus be denouncing Satan on every level
Believers of Jesus condemn Satan at every turn
But every Halloween they're dressin' like devils
Yet every Halloween they're dressing up as depicted villains
I pray to you for the light you might give them
Grant them enlightenment and wisdom, I pray to you
Mother make them know that you're livin' with them
Let them know that you are always present
You begin them and end them in silence
You give us birth and take us away in quietness
Frankly, if they knew you, they would understand violence
In reality, those who truly knew you would comprehend the justification for violent acts
I pray to you for the Pope and the Vatican
I beseech you to bless the Pope and the Vatican
Have mercy Mother, cause I know that you're mad at them
Show them compassion, even though I know you are angry with them
The White Jesus deceived us awhile ago
The concept of a Caucasian Jesus has long misled us
And Pope Julius the Second paid Michaelangelo
And Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to create art for him
I know this happened in 1519 yet
Although this occurred in 1519, it still affects us now
This is the image we can't seem to forget
This image is deeply ingrained in our minds
Vote for God, don't vote for the Devil
Choose good over evil, choose God
Let me take you to a higher level
Let me guide you to a more profound understanding
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: CHRISTOPHER E MARTIN, LAWRENCE KRSONE PARKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind