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..."
Illegal Business Remix 2004
KRS-One Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yo, huh, huh, huh
I'm the one that steps in the club, ya not see it
Givin' dap, givin pounds and hugs, ya not see it
In the club I'm not lookin' for love, ya not see it
Gimme the mic and I'll show you whassup, better believe it
I'm not at the bar, whatever the pub, ya not see it
But I will open the minds of thugs, ya not see it
Who you think really bring in the drugs, ya not see it
Six million people smokin' the bud, ya not see it
'Cause the American way of life is bugged, ya not see it
You never peep it, yo this ain't a secret, ya not see it
They confiscate it, resell it, you retrieve it, ya not see it!
So believe it while you sit there weeded, ya not see it
Hip-Hop culture who gonna lead it, ya not see it
K, are, S One, ya not see it
Peace love unity and havin' the fun, ya not see it
[Chorus]
Cocaine business control America
Ganja business control America
KRS-One still causin' hysteria
Illegal business control America
Diamond business control America
The oil business control America
KRS-One still causin' hysteria
Illegal business control America
Yo, rise up brother, raise up sister
Visualize wealth, put yourself in the picture
Very few cats gon' tell you the half, ya not see it
'Cause they're really only after the cash, ya not see it
But they wind up sellin' they own ass
One album, two album, they gone they don't last
So hold on a minute now, don't be so fast
Knowledge Reigns Supreme with me ya won't crash
Ha, I'm the cat that spits the raw, ya not see it
They can't believe when I hit the tour, ya not see it
I'm not ready to retire for sure, ya not see it
I'm from the 70's, I'm down by law, ya not see it
We passed fliers door to door, ya not see it
Popularity's growin' more and more, ya not see it
Conscious rap where the heart is at, ya not see it
We be screamin' where the party at, ya not see it
But instead of the Bacardi sack, ya not see it
Fallin' out in the party in the back, ya not see it
Let me show you where the art is at, ya not see it
Put down your money I'm takin' all of that, ya not see it
All the clubs they be callin' me back, ya not see it
I'm never short cause I'm taller than that, ya not see it
I'm only showin' you the other way out
Maybe I'm preachin' but this is what love is about, ya not see it
[Chorus]
KRS, I speak when I must
This that official underground rap, this you can trust
I stand outside the industry and there's many of us
Talkin' mad shit but for those who not bilingual, plenty of stuff
My whole crew is why you can't get with any of us
Reason I'm not on TV cause I'm not sellin' you nothin'
I'm not rhymin' for a Bentley or a house this plush
I spit for the conscious, what about us?
Time's up, time to open that mind up
Temple of Hip-Hop sign up, devils we bind up
When I'm up rhymin' cuts your spirit hear it and shines up
Climb up before you wind up takin'
[Chorus: x2]
In KRS-One's song "Illegal Business," the rapper uses his signature style of conscious and thought-provoking lyrics to address the issues of drug trafficking and its impact on society. In the first verse, he describes himself as a performer in a club where people are enjoying themselves, but he is there to convey a deeper message. He talks about the American way of life being bugged and how the government confiscates and resells drugs while six million people smoke marijuana. KRS-One also talks about the responsibility of hip-hop culture to lead and promote peace, love, unity, and fun.
In the chorus, KRS-One makes a powerful statement about the control that illegal businesses such as cocaine, ganja, diamond, and oil have in America. He asserts that despite this control, he is still causing "hysteria" with his music and message. In the second verse, KRS-One urges his listeners to visualize wealth and picture themselves in a better position. He talks about how many other rappers are only after the money and quickly disappear, but he is from the 70s and will not retire soon.
Overall, "Illegal Business" is a commentary on the flaws of American society and how communities of color are disproportionately affected by the illegal drug trade. KRS-One's message is to empower listeners and encourage them to take control of their lives and make a positive change.
Line by Line Meaning
Ha! Ha! Huh! Huh! What's this?
Adlib to start the song
I'm the one that steps in the club, ya not see it
I enter the club with confidence, but you don't notice
Givin' dap, givin pounds and hugs, ya not see it
I greet everyone with respect, but you don't acknowledge it
In the club I'm not lookin' for love, ya not see it
I'm not there to find a romantic partner, but you don't realize
Gimme the mic and I'll show you whassup, better believe it
I'm there to perform and entertain, and when I get the mic, you'll understand
I'm not at the bar, whatever the pub, ya not see it
I don't drink at the bar, but you don't notice
Still they sendin' me these bottles of bub, ya not see it
People keep sending me alcohol, but you don't realize
But I will open the minds of thugs, ya not see it
I will enlighten and educate people, especially those labeled as 'thugs,' but you don't see it
Who you think really bring in the drugs, ya not see it
Have you ever thought about who is actually responsible for the illegal drug trade? It's not who you think.
Six million people smokin' the bud, ya not see it
Despite marijuana being illegal, millions of people still use it, but you're not aware
'Cause the American way of life is bugged, ya not see it
The system and culture we live in has serious problems, but you're blind to them
You never peep it, yo this ain't a secret, ya not see it
You don't see the issues, but they're not hidden from view
They confiscate it, resell it, you retrieve it, ya not see it!
Illegal drugs get confiscated, then sold back to the public, and you don't realize this is happening
So believe it while you sit there weeded, ya not see it
You might be high and enjoying yourself, but you should still believe what I'm saying
Hip-Hop culture who gonna lead it, ya not see it
Who's going to be the leader and voice of the Hip-Hop community? You're not aware
K, are, S One, ya not see it
My stage name is KRS-One, but you don't get it
Peace love unity and havin' the fun, ya not see it
I'm all about promoting peace, love, and unity while having a good time, but you don't understand that
[Chorus]
The chorus repeats multiple times throughout the song
Cocaine business control America
The cocaine trade has a major influence on America's economy and society
Ganja business control America
The marijuana trade has a major influence on America's economy and society
KRS-One still causin' hysteria
My music is still causing controversy and commotion
Illegal business control America
There are many illegal businesses that operate and have a significant impact on America
Diamond business control America
The diamond trade has a major influence on America's economy and society
The oil business control America
The oil industry has a major influence on America's economy and politics
Yo, rise up brother, raise up sister
It's time for us to unite and take action
Visualize wealth, put yourself in the picture
Imagine yourself being successful and wealthy
Very few cats gon' tell you the half, ya not see it
Most people won't tell you the whole truth about things
'Cause they're really only after the cash, ya not see it
Many people are only motivated by money and will do anything for it
But they wind up sellin' they own ass
Some people are so desperate for money that they end up degrading themselves
One album, two album, they gone they don't last
Artists who only care about making money often have short-lived careers
So hold on a minute now, don't be so fast
Take your time and don't rush into things
Knowledge Reigns Supreme with me ya won't crash
I prioritize knowledge and wisdom because it will help me avoid failure
Ha, I'm the cat that spits the raw, ya not see it
I'm the rapper who speaks the truth and doesn't hold anything back, but you don't recognize it
They can't believe when I hit the tour, ya not see it
People are surprised by how successful my concerts are, but you don't see it
I'm not ready to retire for sure, ya not see it
I'm not retiring from music anytime soon, but you haven't realized that yet
I'm from the 70's, I'm down by law, ya not see it
I started my career in the '70s and have been a respected and influential figure in Hip-Hop ever since, but you haven't recognized that
We passed fliers door to door, ya not see it
We used to promote our shows by handing out flyers to people's homes, but you're not aware of this
Popularity's growin' more and more, ya not see it
My fanbase is expanding rapidly, but you're not noticing it
Conscious rap where the heart is at, ya not see it
I make conscious and socially aware music that comes from the heart, but you don't recognize that
We be screamin' where the party at, ya not see it
We want to have fun and party, but you don't realize it
But instead of the Bacardi sack, ya not see it
We don't need alcohol to have a good time, but you haven't noticed
Fallin' out in the party in the back, ya not see it
Some people are getting too drunk and acting irresponsibly in the back of the party, but you're not aware
Let me show you where the art is at, ya not see it
I want to showcase the artistic side of Hip-Hop, but you haven't recognized it
Put down your money I'm takin' all of that, ya not see it
If you want to see my performance, you need to pay, but you haven't realized this yet
All the clubs they be callin' me back, ya not see it
I get invited back to perform at clubs because of my talent, but you're not seeing it
I'm never short cause I'm taller than that, ya not see it
I'm always prepared and have what I need because I'm bigger than any setbacks, but you haven't recognized this
I'm only showin' you the other way out
I'm trying to provide a different perspective or solution, but you haven't realized it yet
Maybe I'm preachin' but this is what love is about, ya not see it
I might come across as preachy, but I'm really just trying to spread love and positivity, but you don't understand that
KRS, I speak when I must
KRS-One is my name, and I only speak when I feel it's necessary
This that official underground rap, this you can trust
My music is authentic and comes from the underground Hip-Hop scene, and you can trust that
I stand outside the industry and there's many of us
I don't conform to the mainstream music industry, and there are many others like me
Talkin' mad shit but for those who not bilingual, plenty of stuff
I talk a lot of trash, but there's plenty of substance for those who don't speak multiple languages
My whole crew is why you can't get with any of us
I'm part of a group that's tight-knit and exclusive, so you can't just join us
Reason I'm not on TV cause I'm not sellin' you nothin'
I don't appear on TV because I'm not trying to sell anything to you
I'm not rhymin' for a Bentley or a house this plush
I'm not making music just to get rich or have a luxurious lifestyle
I spit for the conscious, what about us?
I make music for the socially aware and conscious people, so what about everyone else?
Time's up, time to open that mind up
It's time to broaden our perspectives and become more open-minded
Temple of Hip-Hop sign up, devils we bind up
Join the Temple of Hip-Hop, and we'll defeat the negative forces in our lives
When I'm up rhymin' cuts your spirit hear it and shines up
When I'm performing and rapping, it uplifts your spirit and makes you feel good
Climb up before you wind up takin'
Get on the right path and improve yourself before it's too late
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
James F
This is what rap should be about. It was about social conscious, but in the early '90s it pulled away from that, to strictly entertainment. Instead of encouraging others, educating and telling the world what it was like in the ghetto, it turned into flaunting success, bragging about riches (instead of dropping a better rhyme), and nothing about getting out of poverty. I have the utmost respect for KRS-One and pay no mind to all those who sold out.
Natalia Patricia Salzarulo
this man speaks the truth
RELICS92
jayz,50 cent,eminem,lil wayne,ndubz,tiny tempa.....put some of that in ya crack pipe & smoke it......KRS ONE REPRESENTING FOR THE *REAL*HIP HOP!!!!!! peace from london ;)
king Swan
He just maybe the best past and present!
Christian Sagastegui Luna
Hola soy de Peru la verdad noce ni entiendo el Ingles pero esta cancion seria ideal para un video con las mejores jugadas de la NBA que opinan?.