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..."
Lessin
KRS-One Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Underground, K.P. y'all c'mon!
[Chorus]
Ain't no stoppin what we done
Don't give up this fight is won
There's no way they can hold us down
Cause with power and strength we gonna take it now
Knowledge intellect bringin' minds anew
There's no way they can hold us down
Cause with power and strength we gonna save you now
[KRS-One over Chorus]
Uh-huh
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Uh-huh
Tell them again, tell them again!
Uhh
Get 'em up now, word
Just get it up now, uh-huh
ALL OF THE MASSIVE!
B, R, O, N, X
See these cars, see these checks, intellect
See these thugs, ain't no sweat, intellect
A thousand miles, how do you do it? One step
Now check out this flow, they wanna be down, but they can't
Original "Criminal Minded" flow, they just ain't
ready for the real, ready to peel off the paint
Your style is fake, the teacher returns to debate
You the best? That's bull, you questionable
Highly flexible, wasn't you sexual?
Now you hardcore? You need to see God more
I sit on the faculty; you, you sophomore
[Chorus]
[KRS-One over Chorus]
Uhh, get 'em up
Yeah, get 'em up uhh
Yeah, uhh, that's right
That's right uh-huh, tell 'em again
It go, get 'em up
Yeah, that's right, uh-huh
Uh-huh
Another Kenny Parker exclusive!
Time to get it, now you did it, tryin' to spit it
You don't fit it, ask the critics, already did it, skipped the gimmicks
I don't mimic, metaphysics, you'll admit it, better to live it
Better to give it, so I spit it every minute so you get it
My lyric is wicked an' full of culture y'all
Huh? Battle, nah - get back in your car
Either you never heard of me or you really wanna get with me
But as your teacher let me test you for a learning disability
You feeling me? Cause you can't, get it through your head
This is, sui-CIDE!! You're better off dead
Let me not amp you up, cause this style you can't do what
My stomach can take it and your stomach it'll cramp you up
This is, breath control, breath control stylee
I get up all in that ass that (?) heinie
Try me, back in the days you woulda had sorrow
Try the teacher today, and you won't see tomorrow cause
[Chorus]
[KRS-One over Chorus]
Uhh, we get 'em up
Uhh, that's right, get 'em up
Yeah, uh-huh, get 'em up
Yeah, ONE MORE TIME NOW!
Uhh, that's right, get 'em up
Uh-huh, uh-huh, get 'em up I HEAR YOU
Uh-huh, I HEAR YOU, WORD UP!
LOOK AT THIS!
Like a piss on the streets I exist
Not the meat but the fish
Complete the feat when I'm speakin the heat into this
Witness Kris rippin this
Don't trip on this, skip ahead if you're ready
My show medley is deadly
I'm about a hundred million mic years away
These players I don't hate, but I'm not here to play
I hit it all day, all night, all afternoon
Rock all mics from the days of sassoon
Where the hell was you? On the corner with rats
when we was at the LQ, lockin it down and that was that
Divine speaker, mind keeper, time teacher, time leader
I'll be sittin in the club by the speaker
Waitin for you rappers to choke up then I eat ya
like some prehistoric winged creature, AHHH!
On your neck, like the American eagle facin East and West
I be the best, Blastmaster KRS cause
[Chorus]
[KRS-One over Chorus]
We get 'em up
Uhh, yo, we get 'em up
Like, YEAH, I SEE IT OVER THERE
I SEE IT OVER THERE, IT'S.. YEAH IT'S OVER HERE!
Uhh! Uhh, one more time we get it up
Yeah, yeah, we get it
Uhh, uhh, IT'S OVER HERE NOW!
IT'S OVER HERE NOW! UHH!
[Chorus]
Attention all true hip-hoppers
Let us come together, for the unity of hip-hop culture
Every third week in May, is hip-hop appreciation week
Celebrate with us
Then, join us in November, for hip-hop history month
Big up, to the Zulu Nation, PEACE!
The song "Lessin" by KRS-One is an anthem for unity and empowerment in the face of opposition. The lyrics speak to the importance of knowledge, intellect, and strength in standing up to those who try to hold us down. KRS-One's delivery is confident and assertive, urging his listeners to take action and realize the truth.
The song opens with a chant of "underground never stop," emphasizing the connection to the roots of hip-hop and the continued importance of the culture. The chorus declares that there is no stopping the fight for empowerment and that power and strength will lead to victory. KRS-One speaks to his own credentials as a performer and teacher and challenges others to prove themselves if they think they can measure up.
The verses of the song are filled with references to KRS-One's own past and the history of hip-hop. He boasts about his lyricism and breath control, invoking the classic sound of "Criminal Minded" that he helped pioneer. He also takes aim at artists who try to copy his style without understanding the true meaning and purpose of hip-hop. Ultimately, the message of "Lessin" is one of unity and determination in the face of adversity.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, uh-huh, underground, never stop y'all
KRS-One is confident in the underground rap scene, and is encouraging his fellow underground rappers to never stop making music and continue their artistry.
Underground, K.P. y'all c'mon!
KRS-One is telling his fans to come with him on a journey in the underground rap scene.
[Chorus]
The chorus is reminding listeners to never give up in a fight for what is right and to use their power and strength to overcome oppression and achieve greatness.
"Cause with power and strength we gonna take it now"
KRS-One believes that with power and strength, the oppressed can overcome their oppressors and succeed in achieving their goals.
"Take that stand realize the truth"
KRS-One is encouraging his listeners to take a stand and recognize the truth about their lives and the world around them.
"Knowledge intellect bringin' minds anew"
KRS-One believes that gaining knowledge and learning new things can transform people and help them achieve their goals.
"Cause with power and strength we gonna save you now"
KRS-One believes that power and strength can bring about change and save people from oppression and inequality.
[KRS-One over Chorus]
KRS-One is continuing to encourage his listeners and hype up the song's energy.
"See these cars, see these checks, intellect"
KRS-One is highlighting his intelligence and success compared to others in the rap game.
"See these thugs, ain't no sweat, intellect"
KRS-One is stating that even the toughest thugs don't intimidate or faze him with his intelligence.
"A thousand miles, how do you do it? One step"
KRS-One is saying that, even if the road ahead is long and difficult, the path to success requires taking it one step at a time.
"Now check out this flow, they wanna be down, but they can't"
KRS-One is highlighting his impressive rapping skills and poking fun at other rappers who try to emulate his style but can't match his talent.
"Original 'Criminal Minded' flow, they just ain't"
KRS-One is referencing his own classic album 'Criminal Minded' and saying that other rappers can't match his original style and flow.
"Ready for the real, ready to peel off the paint"
KRS-One is stating that he is real, and ready to show the truth behind the facade that others put up.
"Your style is fake, the teacher returns to debate"
KRS-One is saying that he is the true master of the rap game, and that other rappers can't compare to his knowledge and experience.
"You the best? That's bull, you questionable"
KRS-One is calling out other rappers' claims that they are the best, and is saying that they are not living up to their own hype.
"Highly flexible, wasn't you sexual?"
KRS-One is making a reference to other rappers who switch up their style and image for popularity and fame, and questioning their authenticity.
"Now you hardcore? You need to see God more"
KRS-One is saying that other rappers claiming to be 'hardcore' or tough need to have a strong moral compass and be more in touch with spirituality.
"I sit on the faculty; you, you sophomore"
KRS-One is saying that he is an expert in the rap game and other rappers are not on his level, as they are still learning.
"Another Kenny Parker exclusive!"
KRS-One is shouting out his producer Kenny Parker, who he trusts to make great beats and music exclusively for him.
"Time to get it, now you did it, tryin' to spit it"
KRS-One is saying that it's time to get serious, and is calling out other rappers who try to rap but can't match his level of skill.
"You don't fit it, ask the critics, already did it, skipped the gimmicks"
KRS-One is emphasizing his raw talent and skill without any gimmicks or cheap tactics to gain fame, and saying that critics can attest to this.
"I don't mimic, metaphysics, you'll admit it, better to live it"
KRS-One is saying that he doesn't copy anyone's style and instead has his own unique metaphysical views on life and music, which he actually lives by rather than just talking about it.
"Better to give it, so I spit it every minute so you get it"
KRS-One is saying that he believes in giving back to his listeners through his music and gives it his all, every minute.
"My lyric is wicked an' full of culture y'all"
KRS-One's lyrics are pure and authentic and reflect his deep understanding of black culture.
"Battle, nah - get back in your car"
KRS-One is saying that he doesn't need to battle anyone, and that other rappers are not on his level.
"Either you never heard of me or you really wanna get with me"
KRS-One is saying that other rappers who claim to never have heard of him are lying and just intimidated by his skill and talent, or are actually interested in working with him.
"But as your teacher let me test you for a learning disability"
KRS-One is referencing himself as a teacher, and humorously calling out other rappers' flaws and lack of musical talent.
"You feeling me? Cause you can't, get it through your head"
KRS-One is saying that other rappers can't comprehend his skill and talent, and that they should give up trying to emulate him.
"This is, sui-CIDE!! You're better off dead"
KRS-One is saying that other rappers who try to compete with him are committing musical suicide since they can't match his level.
"Let me not amp you up, cause this style you can't do what"
KRS-One is saying that he doesn't want to inflate other rappers' egos since they can't compare to his skills and unique style.
"My stomach can take it and your stomach it'll cramp you up"
KRS-One is saying that he can handle anything other rappers throw at him and that they will only get hurt in the process of trying to battle him.
"This is, breath control, breath control stylee"
KRS-One is referencing his ability to control his breath while rapping and demonstrating his unique rapping style.
"I get up all in that ass that (?) heinie"
KRS-One is saying that he will defeat other rappers and show them up through his music and talent, calling them out for their BS.
"Try me, back in the days you woulda had sorrow"
KRS-One is saying that, if he challenged other rappers in the past, they would have lost and been embarrassed.
"Try the teacher today, and you won't see tomorrow cause"
KRS-One is saying that if other rappers try to compete with him now, they will fail terribly and their musical career will be over.
"[KRS-One over Chorus]"
KRS-One is hyping up the listeners and the song's energy, continuing to encourage his fans.
"Attention all true hip-hoppers"
KRS-One is reaching out to all true fans of hip-hop music and culture with a message of unity.
"Let us come together, for the unity of hip-hop culture"
KRS-One is calling for a coming together of hip-hop fans to celebrate the culture and its impact on the world of music.
"Every third week in May, is hip-hop appreciation week"
KRS-One is referring to an official week-long celebration of hip-hop culture and music in May, encouraging all fans to participate.
"Celebrate with us"
KRS-One is inviting all fans of hip-hop music and culture to celebrate together during the official hip-hop appreciation week.
"Then, join us in November, for hip-hop history month"
KRS-One is referring to another month-long celebration of the impact and contributions of hip-hop on the world of music, and inviting fans to participate.
"Big up, to the Zulu Nation, PEACE!"
KRS-One is giving a shout-out to the hip-hop collective group the Zulu Nation, which he co-founded, and signing off with a message of peace.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: APRIL WILLIAMS, KENNY PARKER, LAWRENCE KRSONE PARKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind