I Been There
KRS-One Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Do it Marley, ha, killin' 'em
You killin' 'em, where were you?
I wanna talk about these rap historians
Y'all better get it together, where were you?
I be readin' your books, where were you?
Y'all better get it together, word up

When Hot 97 started I was there
When Rap City got started I was there
When KDAY got started I was there
When Jive Records got started I was there

When Yo MTV Raps started I was there
When The Source magazines started I was there
When Cedric and Seda started I was there
When Biggie was doin' his album I was there

When Tookie Williams was buried I was there
'73, Cedar Park I was there
One-twenty-three park I was there
You ain't tellin' me the history 'cause I was there, I was there

And where were you? Where were you?
And where were you? Where were you?
And where were you? Where were you?
Where were you?

When Moe Dee challenged LL I was there
When that bus blew up in London I was there
When Death Row challenged Bad Boy at the Source Awards
In New York at the Garden, yup I was there

When Kwame Toure formerly known as Stokely Carmichael
Was passin' on I was there
When Nelson Mandela was freed from prison
And spoke out at Yankee Stadium in New York I was there

For all the births of my children I was there
When the Rodney King uprisings happened I was there
These objective rap historians tryin' to document
Hip hop from outside forget it I was there, I was there

And where were you? Where were you?
And where were you? Where were you?
And where were you? Where were you?
Where were you?

Look, The Jive Records label, I was there
The Columbia Records label, I was there
The Elektra Records label, I was there
The Warner Brothers Records label, I was there

The Koch Records label, I was there
The Capitol Records label, I was there
I know about they contracts 'cause I was there
I wrote and rewrote most of 'em when I was there

I ain't readin' a book or recitin' a hook
I am hip hop itself 'cause yup I was there
Y'all need to get it together with hip hop's history
And get it right 'cause yup I was there, I was there

And where were you? Where were you?
And where were you? Where were you?




And where were you? Where were you?
Where were you?

Overall Meaning

The song, "I Was There" by KRS-One and Marley Marl is an ode to the duo's presence and participation in hip hop history. In each verse, KRS-One lists major events in hip hop and world history and asserts his personal involvement in them. Through each verse, he highlights his frustration with rap historians who try to document the genre while simultaneously disregarding the firsthand accounts of those who lived through it. He calls on these historians to "get it together with hip hop's history and get it right." KRS-One takes pride in being a part of hip hop history, and his lyrics serve as a reminder to those who have tried to revise or appropriate it.


The song is an assertion of KRS-One's place in hip hop history and the creation of hip hop as a cultural movement. As one of the pioneers of hip hop in the '80s, KRS-One was present at several crucial moments in the genre's history: the birth of rap as a commercial success, the establishment of alternative outlets for hip hop, and the evolution of rap's style and messaging. The song's chorus, "And where were you? Where were you?" is a challenge to other rappers, historians, and fans to recognize his contributions and presence in hip hop's history.


Overall, "I Was There" is a powerful statement on the importance of representing history accurately and truthfully, and the value of firsthand accounts in documenting that history. KRS-One's lyrics serve as a reminder that hip hop is a living, breathing culture that is constantly evolving and growing, but should always be rooted in the experiences of those who lived it.


Line by Line Meaning

Do it Marley, ha, killin' 'em
Encouraging Marley Marl to show off his skills


You killin' 'em, where were you?
Challenging rap historians to know and acknowledge their place in hip hop history


I wanna talk about these rap historians
Introducing the topic of the song: the importance of properly documenting and recognizing hip hop history


Y'all better get it together, where were you?
Urging rap historians to be accurate in their documentation of hip hop history


I be readin' your books, where were you?
Challenging rap historians to be truthful about the history they write about


When Hot 97 started I was there
Recalling being present at the start of Hot 97, a popular radio station for hip hop


When Rap City got started I was there
Reminiscing about being present at the start of Rap City, a hip hop music video show


When KDAY got started I was there
Remembering being present at the start of KDAY, a hip hop radio station


When Jive Records got started I was there
Recalling being present at the start of Jive Records, a record label that has signed numerous hip hop artists


When Yo MTV Raps started I was there
Reminiscing about being present at the start of Yo MTV Raps, a popular hip hop music video show


When The Source magazines started I was there
Remembering being present at the start of The Source magazine, a prominent hip hop publication


When Cedric and Seda started I was there
Recalling being present when Cedric and Seda, two hip hop innovators, began their contributions to the genre


When Biggie was doin' his album I was there
Remembering being present during the recording of The Notorious B.I.G.'s album


When Tookie Williams was buried I was there
Reminiscing about being present at the funeral of Stanley Tookie Williams, a convicted murderer and gang co-founder who later gained notoriety for his anti-gang activism


'73, Cedar Park, I was there
Recalling being present at Cedar Park in 1973, a location important to hip hop history


One-twenty-three park I was there
Remembering being present at 123 park, another location important to hip hop history


You ain't tellin' me the history 'cause I was there, I was there
Asserting that personal experience is invaluable when it comes to understanding hip hop history


When Moe Dee challenged LL I was there
Reminiscing about being present during the legendary battle between KRS-One's rival MCs


When that bus blew up in London I was there
Recalling being present during a significant event that occurred in London


When Death Row challenged Bad Boy at the Source Awards
Remembering being present at the Source Awards in New York when there was beef between Death Row Records and Bad Boy Records


In New York at the Garden, yup I was there
Remembering being physically present at Madison Square Garden during a significant event


When Kwame Toure formerly known as Stokely Carmichael Was passin' on I was there
Recalling being present when Kwame Toure, also known as Stokely Carmichael, passed away


When Nelson Mandela was freed from prison And spoke out at Yankee Stadium in New York I was there
Remembering being present when Nelson Mandela was freed from prison and gave a speech at Yankee Stadium in New York


For all the births of my children I was there
Asserting that he was physically present for the birth of all of his children


When the Rodney King uprisings happened I was there
Recalling being present during the Rodney King uprisings, a significant event in American history


These objective rap historians tryin' to document Hip hop from outside forget it I was there, I was there
Challenging the notion that objective historians can fully understand and document hip hop history without having lived it


The Jive Records label, I was there
Recalling being present when Jive Records was founded


The Columbia Records label, I was there
Remembering being present when Columbia Records was founded


The Elektra Records label, I was there
Recalling being present when Elektra Records was founded


The Warner Brothers Records label, I was there
Remembering being present when Warner Brothers Records was founded


The Koch Records label, I was there
Recalling being present when Koch Records was founded


The Capitol Records label, I was there
Remembering being present when Capitol Records was founded


I know about they contracts 'cause I was there
Asserting that he played an active role in negotiating and writing contracts for hip hop artists


I wrote and rewrote most of 'em when I was there
Asserting that he was heavily involved in drafting contracts for hip hop artists


I ain't readin' a book or recitin' a hook I am hip hop itself 'cause yup I was there
Asserting that he personally embodies the spirit of hip hop


Y'all need to get it together with hip hop's history And get it right 'cause yup I was there, I was there
Urging rap historians to properly document and acknowledge hip hop history, using his own experience as evidence of the importance of lived experience


Where were you?
Rhetorical question challenging listeners to acknowledge their own place (or lack thereof) in hip hop history




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: LAWRENCE KRSONE PARKER, MARL MARLEY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@juliciencia

i dont even know but is that first part breakfast in America????? from supertramp????

@MISTYEYED.

Great Question Miss Galexia

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