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..."
Splash
KRS-One Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
ไม่ว่าเรื่องจะเปิดจะปิดนะเสร็จผู้หญิงเขาราบคาบ
ผู้หญิงเปิดเผยเนี่ยะดูดิใครใครก็พูดว่าดูดี
ผู้ชายลองเปิดมั่งเซ่ได้โดน พ่าม พ่าม พ่าม พ่าม
แค่เธอขยับฉันก็เขยื้อน (girl)
แค่ตากระทบใจก็กระเทือน
เธอมาทีไรอะไรกระเพื่อม โอ้ตู้มตู้ม girl
แค่ตากระทบใจก็กระเทือน
เธอมาทีไรอะไรอะไรก็ตู้มตู้มตู้มตู้มตู้มตู้ม
ขอดูเธอหน่อย
ฉันเองอ่ะเปิดละ
ใจเธอยังไม่เปิด โอะโอ้โอ
ขอใจเธอหน่อย
ฉันเองอ่ะเปิดละ
แล้วเธอจะเปิดไหม
แล้วเธอจะเปิดไหม
แล้วเธอจะเปิดไหม
มันแน่นอก (เย)
ก็ยกออก (เย)
ให้แบกเอาไว้นานไปเดี๋ยวใจถลอก
มันแน่นอก (เย)
ต้องยกออก (เย)
เรื่องใหญ่อย่างงี้บังยังไงก็ยิ่งกระฉอก
เช็คเรตติ้งหน่อย baby
ถ้าไม่เฟิร์มนะ honey
เช็ดแล้วทิ้งเลย baby
เย็นหน่อยนะน้อง
ค่อยค่อยค่อยค่อยค่อยเปิดนิดนึงพอดีกว่าไหม
นี่เธอเล่นมาหมดเปลือกน้ำใจเธอมากไปไหน
เห็นหมดเห็นหมดเห็นหมด
เห็นทีไรแล้วมัน (อู้)
หลับตาก็ยังจะตู้มตู้มตู้มตู้ม
แค่เธอขยับฉันก็เขยื้อน (girl)
แค่ตากระทบใจก็กระเทือน
เธอมาทีไรอะไรกระเพื่อม โอ้ตู้มตู้ม girl
แค่เธอขยับฉันก็เขยื้อน
แค่ตากระทบใจก็กระเทือน
เธอมาทีไรอะไรอะไรก็ตู้มตู้มตู้มตู้มตู้มตู้ม
ขอดูเธอหน่อยฉันเองอ่ะเปิดละ
ใจเธอยังไม่เปิด โอ้โอ้โอ้
ขอใจเธอหน่อย
ฉันเองอ่ะเปิดละ
แล้วเธอจะเปิดไหม
แล้วเธอจะเปิดไหม
แล้วเธอจะเปิดไหม
มันแน่นอก (เย)
ก็ยกออก (เย)
ให้แบกเอาไว้นานไปเดี๋ยวใจถลอก
มันแน่นอก (เย)
ต้องยกออก (เย)
เรื่องใหญ่อย่างงี้บังยังไงก็ยิ่งกระฉอก
เช็คเรตติ้งหน่อย baby
ถ้าไม่เฟิร์มนะ honey
เช็ดแล้วทิ้งเลย baby (yes yes)
เช็คเรตติ้งหน่อย baby
ถ้าไม่เฟิร์มนะ honey
เช็ดแล้วทิ้งเลย baby
เช็ดแล้วทิ้งเลย baby
พ่าม พ่าม พ่าม พล่า
ขอดูเธอหน่อย
ฉันเองอ่ะเปิดละ
ใจเธอยังไม่เปิด โอะโอ้โอ
ขอใจเธอหน่อย
ฉันเองอ่ะเปิดละ
แล้วเธอจะเปิดไหม
แล้วเธอจะเปิด
มันแน่นอก (เย)
ก็ยกออก (เย)
ให้แบกเอาไว้นานไปเดี๋ยวใจถลอก
มันแน่นอก (เย)
ต้องยกออก (เย)
เรื่องใหญ่อย่างงี้บังยังไงก็ยิ่งกระฉอก (เย)
ก็ยิ่งกระฉอก (เย)
ก็ยิ่งกระฉอก
เช็คเรตติ้งหน่อย baby
ถ้าไม่เฟิร์มนะ honey
เช็ดแล้วทิ้งเลย baby (yes yes)
The title of KRS-One's song translates to "Splash" in English. The song features lyrics in both Thai and English, and addresses themes of love, desire, and vulnerability. The opening lines express the confusion and uncertainty of the male narrator: "I don't know where the men of this era are / When a woman opens up, she's swept away." This is followed by a description of the power dynamics between men and women, with women being judged for their appearance ("A woman reveals herself and everyone says she looks good") and men being warned about the consequences of opening themselves up to love ("Try opening yourself up, you'll get bitten").
The chorus of the song repeats the phrase "just a little movement and my heart skips a beat," emphasizing the seductive power of women over men. The Thai lyrics in the song include the phrase "ตู้มตู้ม" (pronounced "toom toom"), which is an onomatopoeic expression for the sound of a heartbeat. The chorus concludes with a plea from the singer for the woman to open up to him ("Let me see you a little bit / I've already opened up / Your heart isn't open yet, oh oh oh"). The song ends with the repetition of the idea that opening oneself up to love can be painful, but is ultimately worth it ("It's heavy (yeah) / But lift it up (yeah) / Carry it around for a while until your heart aches / It's heavy (yeah) / But you have to lift it up (yeah) / No matter how much it hurts, just keep pounding").
Line by Line Meaning
สิทธิผู้ชายสมัยนี้อยู่ไหนก็ไม่ทราบ
KRS-One doesn't know where men stand in society today.
ไม่ว่าเรื่องจะเปิดจะปิดนะเสร็จผู้หญิงเขาราบคาบ
Regardless of whether a situation is private or public, women will come out on top.
ผู้หญิงเปิดเผยเนี่ยะดูดิใครใครก็พูดว่าดูดี
When women reveal themselves, everyone says they look good.
ผู้ชายลองเปิดมั่งเซ่ได้โดน พ่าม พ่าม พ่าม พ่าม
When men reveal themselves, they get criticized and shamed.
แค่เธอขยับฉันก็เขยื้อน (girl)
Just a slight movement from the woman can excite the man.
แค่ตากระทบใจก็กระเทือน
Just a glance can deeply affect the heart.
เธอมาทีไรอะไรกระเพื่อม โอ้ตู้มตู้ม girl
Whenever she approaches, he becomes nervous and excited.
แค่เธอขยับฉันก็เขยื้อน
Just a slight movement from the woman can excite the man.
เธอมาทีไรอะไรอะไรก็ตู้มตู้มตู้มตู้มตู้มตู้ม
Whenever she approaches, he becomes increasingly nervous and excited.
ขอดูเธอหน่อย
He asks to see her.
ฉันเองอ่ะเปิดละ
He himself is being open.
ใจเธอยังไม่เปิด โอะโอ้โอ
Her heart is still closed.
ขอใจเธอหน่อย
He asks for her heart.
แล้วเธอจะเปิดไหม
He questions whether she will open up to him.
มันแน่นอก (เย)
It's obvious (yeah).
ก็ยกออก (เย)
So he lifts it out.
ให้แบกเอาไว้นานไปเดี๋ยวใจถลอก
He carries it for a while, but eventually his heart will ache.
ต้องยกออก (เย)
He must lift it out.
เรื่องใหญ่อย่างงี้บังยังไงก็ยิ่งกระฉอก
This big issue is still causing a commotion.
เช็คเรตติ้งหน่อย baby
Checking out her rating, baby.
ถ้าไม่เฟิร์มนะ honey
If it's not favorable, honey.
เช็ดแล้วทิ้งเลย baby
Wipe it and leave it, baby.
เย็นหน่อยนะน้อง
Take it easy, girl.
ค่อยค่อยค่อยค่อยค่อยเปิดนิดนึงพอดีกว่าไหม
Gradually, a little bit of an opening is good, right?
นี่เธอเล่นมาหมดเปลือกน้ำใจเธอมากไปไหน
She has played with his heart completely, and gone too far.
เห็นหมดเห็นหมดเห็นหมด
He sees it all, again and again.
เห็นทีไรแล้วมัน (อู้)
Whenever he sees, it hurts (ouch).
หลับตาก็ยังจะตู้มตู้มตู้มตู้ม
Even when he closes his eyes, he is still excited.
ขอดูเธอหน่อยฉันเองอ่ะเปิดละ
He asks to see her, as he himself is being open.
ใจเธอยังไม่เปิด โอ้โอ้โอ้
Her heart is still closed.
เช็ดแล้วทิ้งเลย baby (yes yes)
Wipe it and leave it, baby (yes, yes).
พ่าม พ่าม พ่าม พล่า
Ch ch ch ch la.
แล้วเธอจะเปิด
Will she open up?
เรื่องใหญ่อย่างงี้บังยังไงก็ยิ่งกระฉอก (เย)
This big issue is still causing a commotion (yeah).
ก็ยิ่งกระฉอก (เย)
It causes even more of a commotion (yeah).
ก็ยิ่งกระฉอก
It causes even more of a commotion.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
mrkingssizesnicker
The Greatest MC Of All Time!
duv milli yums williamsgetitbitch
Lets go wit this beat 🔥
Chick3n Lord
Lyrical shit and nice beat miss these days rip.
China Everlast
Krs One the Legend
Tyrone Waters
🔥🔥🔥
Ur Monn
Guilty Slick Rick was first memorized rhyme lol
Ur Monn
Guilty Slick Rick was first memorized rhyme lol
Dorian Paisley - Smith
You how many clubs we done rocked?
Stanley Tempel
🙏
wertyle2
Kane rakim or slick rick....that's krs1s 1 2 and 3.....if it wasent he wouldn't of put the rhyme in the song.....