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..."
Shutupayouface
KRS-One Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whassamatta you? (You) Why you lookin so sad (so sad)
KRS is back (he's back!) But you don't look so glad
Ahh shutupayouface!
Look at this place!
Why was I chosen to pick up the race?
And carry the flame, the torch, the name?
millennium games, it's all the same
End of the year, everyone cheers
Only a few hear my voice in they ears
Everyone else well they really don't care
But what if I told you I could read the future
and in the future, they the losers
We the winners, cause they the sinners
Well it's all mathematics, can I eat my dinner
and think (think) why was I made to link
between them and the universe; battle, who the first?
I don't really care, cause I'm really not here
I'm showin you skill, but you still sayin "Where?"
Whassamatta you? (You) Why you lookin so sad (so sad)
KRS is back (he's back!) But you don't look so glad
Ahh shutupayouface!
Every race, walkin around with they head up in space
They cannot see that we all really one
In any battle I already won
Thank the creator, it's already done
KRS-One? Leavin 'em stunned
Dunn duh-duh dunn dunn done it again
Me and Will and my brother named Ken, now let me tell you
The bass in your face, the highs in your eyes
will make you real-IZE
If you down with the Temple of Hip-Hop, you not no average GUY, or girl
see'mon take a critical look in my world
See the metaphysical books that I twirl and twist
Forces the ventriloquist
I'm just a dummy gettin money at this name Kris
Whassamatta you? (You) Why you lookin so sad (so sad)
KRS is back (he's back!) But you don't look so glad
Ahh shutupayouface!
KRS-One, Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone
Look, I be chillin readin a book
While the hip-hop nation repeats my hooks
All I want to see is why'all healthy and wealthy
Yeah we already did it, really what can they tell me
About the pimps and the hoes, players and the clothes
You gets no money if you got no flow, no skill
see'mon why'all it's time to build
If you got no skill, how you gon' build?
Build, see'mon why'all it's time to build
If you got no skill, how you gon' build?
Whassamatta you? (You) Why you lookin so sad (so sad)
KRS is back (he's back!) But you don't look so glad
Ahh shutupayouface! Negative ass..
We bring the light!
North Carolina - they got me
Florida - they got me
Texas - yeah they rock me
In New York City they got me
L.A. - ha hah, they got me
Canada - Up North they rock me
D.C. - Atlanta, they got me
Ha hah - none of why'all can't stop me
Whassamatta you? (You) Why you lookin so sad (so sad)
KRS is back (he's back!) But you don't look so glad
Ahh shutupayouface!
Give it to 'em
In KRS-One's song "Shutupayouface," the rapper confronts those who doubt him and his skills as an artist. The repeated refrain "Whassamatta you? Why you lookin so sad?" is directed towards those who appear to be sad or dismayed at KRS-One's return. The rapper asserts his dominance and talent, stating that he was chosen to carry the torch of hip-hop and that he is the link between the universe and the people.
KRS-One also touches upon the themes of unity and spirituality in the song. He insists that despite our differences, we are all one and that he is grateful to the creator for his success. The rapper encourages his audience to cultivate their skills and build towards their goals, emphasizing the importance of skill and hard work in achieving success.
Overall, "Shutupayouface" is a confident and self-assured track that showcases KRS-One's lyrical prowess and philosophical views on life and hip-hop.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, whassup?
KRS-One greets the listener with a friendly hello.
Whassamatta you? (You) Why you lookin so sad (so sad)
He asks the listener what is wrong with them and why they are so unhappy.
KRS is back (he's back!) But you don't look so glad
KRS-One informs the listener that he has returned to the music scene, but the listener does not seem pleased or excited.
Ahh shutupayouface!
KRS-One tells the listener to stop being negative and critical.
Look at this place!
KRS-One comments on the current state of the world, possibly expressing disappointment or frustration.
Why was I chosen to pick up the race? And carry the flame, the torch, the name? millennium games, it's all the same
KRS-One questions why he has been chosen to carry on the legacy of the music genre and spread its message amidst a world of constant change.
Sinners repent, many for fear End of the year, everyone cheers Only a few hear my voice in they ears Everyone else well they really don't care
KRS-One speaks about the importance of repentance, as many fear the end of the year, but only a few truly listen to his words, while others are indifferent.
But what if I told you I could read the future and in the future, they the losers We the winners, cause they the sinners
KRS-One suggests that he can predict the future, and in that future, those who do not listen to his message will fail while those who follow will prosper.
Well it's all mathematics, can I eat my dinner and think (think) why was I made to link between them and the universe; battle, who the first? I don't really care, cause I'm really not here
KRS-One ponders the philosophical question of his purpose and the universe's interconnectedness, but in the end, he does not care because his purpose is not about personal gain or recognition.
I'm showin you skill, but you still sayin 'Where?'
KRS-One displays his lyrical talent but feels that it is not being appreciated or recognized by the listener.
Every race, walkin around with they head up in space They cannot see that we all really one In any battle I already won Thank the creator, it's already done KRS-One? Leavin 'em stunned
KRS-One comments on how people of all races and backgrounds are self-absorbed and do not realize that they are all one. He already feels like he has won, and thanks the creator for it.
If you down with the Temple of Hip-Hop, you not no average GUY, or girl see'mon take a critical look in my world
KRS-One suggests that those who understand and embrace the true essence of hip-hop music and culture are not average individuals and should take a closer look at his world.
See the metaphysical books that I twirl and twist Forces the ventriloquist I'm just a dummy gettin money at this name Kris
KRS-One reveals that he uses metaphysical concepts in his music and twists them to his own purposes. However, he also acknowledges that he is just an entertainer making a living.
KRS-One, Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone
KRS-One's nickname stands for Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone, suggesting that he values knowledge above all else.
All I want to see is why'all healthy and wealthy Yeah we already did it, really what can they tell me About the pimps and the hoes, players and the clothes You gets no money if you got no flow, no skill see'mon why'all it's time to build If you got no skill, how you gon' build?
KRS-One's message is for the listener to prioritize their health and wealth over materialistic things such as fashion or being a part of a certain lifestyle. He also stresses the importance of skill and hard work in achieving success.
Negative ass.. We bring the light!
KRS-One dismisses the negativity and pessimism of others and focuses on spreading positivity and light to his listeners.
North Carolina - they got me Florida - they got me Texas - yeah they rock me In New York City they got me L.A. - ha hah, they got me Canada - Up North they rock me D.C. - Atlanta, they got me Ha hah - none of why'all can't stop me
KRS-One lists several places where he has been accepted and respected, and he feels unstoppable despite any negativity or criticism he may face.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: JOSEPH DOLCE, LAWRENCE KRSONE PARKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind