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..."
My Life
KRS-One Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[KRS-One]
Skinny cat, young cat, with a knapsack strapped to my back
1981 before the crack attack
I used to let the Olde English 800 suds bubble
In the last car of the Franklin Avenue shuttle
Brooklyn, no doubt, Wingate Park, no doubt
Homeless, my gear played out and I know this
But I'm an MC I stay focused
I took the shuttle to the D and wrote my rhymes in a hour
Took the D to the E, last stop the Twin Towers
Sittin in the belly of the beast
In the World Trade organization, bein harassed by the police
I wrote my rhymes right there on the spot
New York City, 1984 corruption was hot
Cats sellin uzis out the Jacob Javits Center for a high price
Let me tell you 'bout my life
[Chorus]
{*scratched: "The type of shit a young black man
gotta go through every day of his life"*}
{*scratched: "Hard times to live in
Wake up in the morning thank God"*}
{*scratched: "The type of shit a young black man
gotta go through every day of his life"*}
{*scratched: "Hard times to live in
Wake up in the morning"*} ... {*"Now it's my turn"*}
{"Listen"}
[KRS-One]
Eighty-five comes in, eighty-six comes in
The marijuana with the cocaine mix comes in
High class hustlers, I'm takin flicks with them
My first songs Red Alert, he's mixin them
This a far cry from a kid sleepin on the bench
Now I'm V.I.P. in the club, this don't make sense
But it does, as I take daps and hugs
from cats that move drugs, they say "Kris rise above"
Everybody knew my style, Kris was no coward
I wanted to get in the game but my peeps wouldn't allow it
They'd say, "Read them books and write them hooks
Save our children, give 'em a whole new outlook"
So I did, I lived like any street kid
But I was handed 20 books, others were handed 20 year bids
Still they wouldn't sell to your mother or your wife
There was respect man~! Let me tell you 'bout my life
[Chorus]
[KRS-One]
1987 my career blowin up now
Me and Scott LaRock took the year growin up now
Me I'm just a private cat, whatever you perceive as live
KRS is as live as that
We the livest act, in eighty-eight, eighty-nine, and ninety-now
But them years be far behind me now
In ninety-one, no one can find me now
I chose the underground to rhyme where it's grimy, WOW
Rewind me now, 13 albums for you to see
Or catch me speakin at them universities
My mind stays keen, I'm hardly ever seen
I do a lot of work, just not in the mainstream
{*scratched: "Know what you need to learn
Old school artists don't always burn"*}
{*scratched: "Know what you need to learn...
KRS-One... don't always burn"*}
KRS-One's song "My Life" is a biographical account of his experiences growing up in New York City in the 1980s. The song paints a picture of a young, aspiring rapper who is navigating his way through poverty, homelessness, police harassment, and drug addiction. In the first verse, KRS-One describes himself as a "skinny cat" who used to drink Olde English 800 on the subway and write rhymes in his head. He talks about being homeless and having his gear played out, but he remains focused on his goal of becoming an MC. In the second verse, he talks about how he started to gain success as a rapper in the mid-1980s but was still surrounded by drug dealers and hustlers. He describes how his peers encouraged him to read books and save the youth, which he took to heart and incorporated into his music. Finally, in the last verse, KRS-One talks about his current status as a legendary MC who has released 13 albums and speaks at universities around the world.
The song's chorus is scratched in repeatedly throughout the song, emphasizing the harsh reality of life for young black men in America. The scratching of the record also adds to the nostalgic feel of the song and creates a sense of timelessness.
Line by Line Meaning
Skinny cat, young cat, with a knapsack strapped to my back
I was a young and skinny kid with a backpack on my back.
1981 before the crack attack
This was before the crack epidemic took over in 1981.
I used to let the Olde English 800 suds bubble
I used to drink Olde English 800 malt liquor.
In the last car of the Franklin Avenue shuttle
I used to ride in the last car of the Franklin Avenue subway shuttle in Brooklyn.
Brooklyn, no doubt, Wingate Park, no doubt
I am from Brooklyn and I used to hang out at Wingate Park.
Prospect Park I'm all laid out
I used to hang out at Prospect Park and relax.
Homeless, my gear played out and I know this
I was homeless and my clothes were worn out but I was aware of my situation.
But I'm an MC I stay focused
As a rapper, I stay focused on making music.
I took the shuttle to the D and wrote my rhymes in a hour
I took the subway shuttle to the D train and wrote my raps in an hour.
Took the D to the E, last stop the Twin Towers
I took the D train to the E train, and the last stop was the Twin Towers.
Sittin in the belly of the beast
I was in the heart of New York City, the World Trade Center.
In the World Trade organization, bein harassed by the police
I was in the World Trade Center and was being harassed by the police.
I wrote my rhymes right there on the spot
I wrote my rap lyrics right there in the moment.
New York City, 1984 corruption was hot
In 1984, New York City was full of corruption.
Cats sellin uzis out the Jacob Javits Center for a high price
People were selling guns at the Jacob Javits Center for a high price.
Let me tell you 'bout my life
I'm about to share my life story.
The type of shit a young black man gotta go through every day of his life
I experienced the struggles that young black men face every day.
Hard times to live in Wake up in the morning thank God
It's difficult to live in tough circumstances, but I'm grateful for each day I wake up.
Now it's my turn
Now I get to share my story.
Eighty-five comes in, eighty-six comes in
The years 1985 and 1986 came around.
The marijuana with the cocaine mix comes in
People started mixing marijuana and cocaine.
High class hustlers, I'm takin flicks with them
I started hanging out with high class hustlers and taking pictures with them.
My first songs Red Alert, he's mixin them
My first songs were mixed by Red Alert.
This a far cry from a kid sleepin on the bench
This is far from when I used to sleep on a bench.
Now I'm V.I.P. in the club, this don't make sense
Now I'm a VIP in the club and it's hard to believe.
But it does, as I take daps and hugs from cats that move drugs, they say "Kris rise above"
It's true, I get dap (handshakes) and hugs from drug dealers who tell me to rise above it all.
Everybody knew my style, Kris was no coward
Everyone was familiar with my rap style and knew that I'm not a coward.
I wanted to get in the game but my peeps wouldn't allow it
I wanted to start my music career, but my friends advised me against it.
They'd say, "Read them books and write them hooks Save our children, give 'em a whole new outlook"
My friends told me to read books and write songs with a positive message to inspire children.
So I did, I lived like any street kid
So I did as they advised and lived like any other kid on the street.
But I was handed 20 books, others were handed 20 year bids
I was fortunate to be given books, while others were given prison sentences.
Still they wouldn't sell to your mother or your wife
Despite my success, drug dealers still wouldn't sell drugs to women in my family.
There was respect man~! Let me tell you 'bout my life
There was still respect among people in the community. Let me share more about my life.
1987 my career blowin up now
In 1987, my career was taking off.
Me and Scott LaRock took the year growin up now
Myself and Scott LaRock were growing up that year.
Me I'm just a private cat, whatever you perceive as live KRS is as live as that
I am a private person, but however you perceive living life to the fullest, that's how I live too.
We the livest act, in eighty-eight, eighty-nine, and ninety-now
My music was the most popular in 1988, 1989 and in the 90s.
But them years be far behind me now
Those days are far behind me now.
In ninety-one, no one can find me now
In 1991, I went underground and was not as visible.
I chose the underground to rhyme where it's grimy, WOW
I decided to keep making music with an underground message in gritty places.
Rewind me now, 13 albums for you to see
Look back now and you'll see that I have released 13 albums.
Or catch me speakin at them universities
You can also find me speaking at universities and giving lectures.
My mind stays keen, I'm hardly ever seen
I keep my mind sharp, but I rarely make myself visible.
I do a lot of work, just not in the mainstream
I work hard, but my work is not in the mainstream.
Know what you need to learn Old school artists don't always burn
It's important to learn from old school artists, as they may not always be in the public eye but still have valuable knowledge to share.
KRS-One... don't always burn
Even though I'm an old school artist and not always in the mainstream, I'm still relevant and respected.
Contributed by Chase W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Larry Lewis
Still dope after all this time
Charles Dunn
One of the greatest rappers ever. Top 5 rappers of all time in no order Jay Z, Biggie, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane and KRS One
Future's Past
Genius! He used a sample from the Moody Blues song Nights in White Satin.
shaun castle
Hip hop right here🔥
Shogunate Polo Sport 215
🔥🔥🔥🔥Banger💯
Sabri Saad
❤
Eshawn Hall
The Teacha! #BronxNY
Tim Boswell
Dope as fuck
hammiet
Thorough