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..."
Me Man
KRS-One Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You told me man, you need me man
Who the teacher me man, who gon' lead you me man
Who gon' free you me man, well not mostly me man
But come up close to me man, make a toast with me man
I'm not starvin me man, I be feedin me man
You won't be seein me man, cause I be bookin me man
Them lights be hookin me man, while people look at me man
How these rappers slash actors want to fuck with me man
When we be up inside the spot they be duckin me man
I be movin me man, showin and provin me man
My wife is soothin me man, yo' life is new to me man
[Minister Server]
Aiyyo what's goin on this is Minister Server
Now you've been readin the books, seein the lectures
Hearin the CD's watchin the tapes
Now's the time for you to get rid of your fears
Aiyyo teacher tell 'em what's going on
[KRS-One]
You see me man, it don't take much to be me man
I just stay extra focused on the G-O-D in me man
Not too many ahead of me man
If rappers were television channels I'd be see-SPAN, believe me man
Don't nobody sound like me man, I'm a free man
For that golden age hip-hop, you know you gotta see me man
From 1973 man, to 1993 man
If you unaware of them 20 years you won't understand me man
So here's the plan for you and me man
Hip-Hop is not a product to be bought and sold
Hip-Hop is you and me man
So in the years to come you gonna see me man
On top of a Shaquille like Leland
And you gonna be right there with me man
As you can see man I got S-T-why-L-E man
Why for 17 years you already knew this about me man
So you be you man, and I'll be me man
But remember Knowledge Reigns Supreme - yup, that's me man!
KRS-One's song "Me Man" contains various themes that center around personal identity, self-discovery, and leadership. The rapper refers to himself in the third person in the opening lines, where he addresses his role as a leader and teacher. He acknowledges that he is not the only source of information and guidance, but he encourages his audience to come closer to him and engage with his ideas. KRS-One's self-assured language and rhythmic flow showcase his confidence and determination.
Throughout the song, KRS-One also reflects on his musical career and his place in the hip-hop community. He asserts that he has stayed true to himself and his values, and he invites others to join him on this journey. The song's chorus emphasizes the importance of knowledge and self-awareness, ideals that KRS-One has championed throughout his career. Overall, "Me Man" is a call to action for listeners to strive for personal excellence and to embrace their individuality.
Line by Line Meaning
You told me man, you need me man
You've expressed to me that you require my guidance and support
Who the teacher me man, who gon' lead you me man
Who will educate and guide you if not me? I am your teacher
Who gon' free you me man, well not mostly me man
While I can assist in your liberation, ultimately freedom lies within yourself
But come up close to me man, make a toast with me man
Approach me and celebrate with me, be in my presence
I'm not starvin me man, I be feedin me man
I'm not needy or lacking, I am constantly nourishing myself
You won't be seein me man, cause I be bookin me man
I am constantly busy and always have plans scheduled
Them lights be hookin me man, while people look at me man
I am drawn to and captivated by the attention and spotlight
They sing the hooks with me man, yo read this book with me man
Others join in and collaborate with me, and I encourage you to read and learn with me
How these rappers slash actors want to fuck with me man
I question why others in the entertainment industry want to compete or interfere with me
When we be up inside the spot they be duckin me man
When I am present in a gathering or event, others try to avoid or ignore me
I be movin me man, showin and provin me man
I am dynamic and constantly evolving, demonstrating and validating my abilities
My wife is soothin me man, yo' life is new to me man
My partner brings me comfort and balance, and your way of life is unfamiliar to me
You see me man, it don't take much to be me man
It is fairly simple to be myself and embody my true essence
I just stay extra focused on the G-O-D in me man
I maintain strong alignment and connection with the divine within myself
Not too many ahead of me man
Few individuals are beyond or above me in terms of knowledge or experience
If rappers were television channels I'd be see-SPAN, believe me man
If rappers were categorized by broadcasting networks, I would be the equivalent of C-SPAN in terms of significance and importance
Don't nobody sound like me man, I'm a free man
I am unique and distinct from others, and I am free from external influences
For that golden age hip-hop, you know you gotta see me man
I am an essential figure in the golden age of hip-hop, and to truly understand and appreciate it, one must recognize my contributions
From 1973 man, to 1993 man
I had a strong presence and impact in the hip-hop community during the years 1973 to 1993
If you unaware of them 20 years you won't understand me man
If you are not familiar with hip-hop during the two decades I was prominent, you may not comprehend my significance
So here's the plan for you and me man
Here is the proposed course of action for both of us
Hip-Hop is not a product to be bought and sold
Hip-Hop is not a commodity or material good that can be exchanged for money
Hip-Hop is you and me man
Hip-Hop is the collective expression and culture of the people involved in it, including both myself and the listener
So in the years to come you gonna see me man
I will continue to be present and active in the hip-hop community for years to come
On top of a Shaquille like Leland
I will sit atop high status and success, like Shaquille O'Neal dominates in basketball
And you gonna be right there with me man
You, the listener and supporter, will be alongside me on this journey
As you can see man I got S-T-why-L-E man
As evident from my talent and accomplishments, I possess immense style and skill (stylings)
Why for 17 years you already knew this about me man
I have been demonstrating my talent and ability for 17 years, and those who have been following me are aware of this
So you be you man, and I'll be me man
You should focus on being yourself, and I will continue to be true to myself as well
But remember Knowledge Reigns Supreme - yup, that's me man!
Always keep in mind that knowledge is superior and essential, and indeed, that's me - KRS-One
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: GILLIAN LESLEY GILBERT, PETER HOOK, STEPHEN PAUL DAVID MORRIS, BERNARD SUMNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind