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..."
Never Give Up
KRS-One Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yes.. let's do it
[Chorus]
you can never give up, you should never give up
you can never give up, we can never give up
you can never give up, you can never give up
you should never give up, we can never give up, you can never give up
Yeah, yeah
Y'all don't really know about the KRS rap
Y'all don't really about why we stay trapped
Y'all don't really know hip-hop ain't rap
But let me tell you how we can get it all back
First realize givin up is wack
Say to yourself I can never be wack
Then realize that we must go back
And the reason you can't seem to get on track
is you, keep, buying, HOES, simple and plain
You, keep, buying, HOES, all y'all know my name
And how I get down and move around
I've already been to the proving ground
In conscious rap, who rule the sound
The question is are you down?
[Chorus]
Look - KRS-One, I've learned already
Everything they doin is temporary
No matter how big you live
You still the creation of a music executive
And when you get old no matter what you did
They throw you away and they pimp your kid
Yeah kids, on the TV whylin
You know why we got racial profilin?
Cause you, keep, buying, HOES, simple and plain
You, keep, buying, HOES, all y'all know my name
So there in the future we'll look back
And then we will see we were under attack
But it'll be too late, the loss'll be too great
You'll see, just wait!
[Chorus]
C'mon, c'mon, yeah c'mon
You see how they shuttin down KRS-One
Cause I'm not sexy, thuggin or dumb
Ask yourself
Why they only promotin criminal activity and nothin else?
On the videos and on the radio
Teachin our kids which way to go
And the way that they tell our kids to go
If you listen, heads right straight to prison
While you, keep, buying, HOES, simple and plain
You, keep, buying, HOES, y'all better peep the game
You got to release that temptation
Get a brand new affirmation
Your life is what you make 'em
Peace, salaam alaikum
[Chorus]
The lyrics to KRS-One's song Never Give Up are a powerful call to action for people to keep pushing forward and never give up, no matter how difficult the challenge may seem. KRS-One starts off by describing his unique style, which is a blend of metaphysical, spiritual, and original styles. He then repeats the chorus, which emphasizes the importance of perseverance and determination in the face of adversity. Throughout the song, KRS-One urges listeners to reject the idea of giving up and instead focus on moving forward and achieving their goals.
KRS-One also critiques mainstream hip-hop and rap, arguing that it has become too focused on materialism and promoting negative behaviors. He suggests that buying into these messages is a trap that can prevent people from achieving their true potential. He calls on listeners to reject this mindset and instead focus on personal growth and positive change.
Overall, the lyrics of Never Give Up are a powerful message of hope and encouragement for anyone facing a challenge in their lives. KRS-One's unique blend of styles and insightful commentary on the state of hip-hop make this song a standout in his already impressive discography.
Line by Line Meaning
Metaphysical style, spiritual style, the ORIGINAL style, ha
KRS-One is an original in the rap world, and he's using his metaphysical and spiritual style to inspire those who listen to him.
you can never give up, you should never give up
KRS-One believes that giving up is not an option, and he wants to encourage others to keep pushing forward.
we can never give up, you can never give up
KRS-One believes that this message applies to everyone, and he's calling on his listeners to join him in his fight.
Y'all don't really know about the KRS rap
KRS-One's style is unique, and his listeners may not be familiar with it.
Y'all don't really about why we stay trapped
KRS-One believes that people are trapped in their own minds and he wants to help them break free.
Y'all don't really know hip-hop ain't rap
KRS-One believes that rap is just one element of hip-hop, and he wants people to understand the culture as a whole.
First realize givin up is wack
KRS-One wants people to understand that giving up is not cool and will not help you succeed.
Say to yourself I can never be wack
KRS-One wants his listeners to have confidence in themselves and their abilities.
Then realize that we must go back
KRS-One believes that, in order to move forward, we must first understand and appreciate our past.
And the reason you can't seem to get on track
KRS-One believes that people are distracted by the wrong things, and he wants to help them refocus on what's important.
is you, keep, buying, HOES, simple and plain
KRS-One believes that people are too focused on materialistic things, and he wants them to break free of those temptations.
You, keep, buying, HOES, all y'all know my name
KRS-One is calling out those who focus on negativity and materialistic things, and he's using his platform to speak out against it.
I've already been to the proving ground
KRS-One has been through difficult times in his life, and he wants people to know that they can overcome obstacles as well.
In conscious rap, who rule the sound
KRS-One is a pioneer in conscious rap, and he wants people to recognize the importance of the genre.
The question is are you down?
KRS-One wants to know if his listeners are ready to join him in his fight for positive change.
Everything they doin is temporary
KRS-One believes that materialistic things are only temporary, and he wants people to focus on what lasts.
No matter how big you live
KRS-One wants people to understand that success is not measured by material things.
You still the creation of a music executive
KRS-One believes that the music industry is controlled by corporations, and he wants people to be aware of that fact.
And when you get old no matter what you did
KRS-One believes that society does not treat older people well, and he wants people to be aware of that fact.
They throw you away and they pimp your kid
KRS-One believes that society does not value older people or their contributions, and he wants people to be aware of that fact.
Cause you, keep, buying, HOES, simple and plain
KRS-One believes that society is too focused on materialistic things, and he wants people to break free of those temptations.
Y'all better peep the game
KRS-One is calling on his listeners to be aware of the negative influence materialism has on society.
You got to release that temptation
KRS-One wants people to let go of their fixation on material things.
Get a brand new affirmation
KRS-One wants people to focus on positive, life-affirming things in order to achieve success.
Your life is what you make 'em
KRS-One believes that people have the power to shape their own lives.
Peace, salaam alaikum
KRS-One ends the song with a message of peace and goodwill towards others.
Lyrics © JELLYBEAN MUSIC GROUP, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DOMINGO F. PADILLA, LAWRENCE KRSONE PARKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind