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..."
The Elements
KRS-One Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
This is a rapsession and my name is "KRS-One!"
And when I talk about "Hip-Hop Music!", I know
One : Breaking or breakdancing
Rally be-boying, freestyle or streetdancin'
Two : MC'ing or rap
Divine speech what I'm doing right now no act
Taggin', writin', now you're learning! uh!
Four : DJ'ing, we ain't playing!
{*scratch*} You know what I'm saying!
Five : Beatboxing
Give me a {*beatboxin*} Yes and we rockin'!
Six : Street fashion, lookin' fly
Catchin' the eye while them cats walk on by
Seven: Street language, our verbal communication
Our codes throughout the nation
Eight: Street knowledge, common sense
The wisdom of the elders from way back whence
Nine : Street entrepreneur realism
No job, just get up call 'em and get 'em
Here's how I'm tellin' it, all 9 Elements
We stand in love, no we're never failing it
Intelligent? No doubt
Hip-Hop? We're not selling it out, we're just lettin' it out
If you're checkin' us out this hour, we teatchin' hip-hop
Holy integrated people have it, I'm the present power!
[Chorus]
Rap is something you do!
Hip-Hop is something you live! *scratched*
Rap is something you do!
Hip-Hop is something you live! *scratched*
Skaters, BMX-bike riders rock
Don't you ever stop! You are hip-hop
You doing the same things we did on our block in the suburbs
You know you be packing that black gloch
Selling that crackrock and ecstacy
Gettin' pissydrunk, fallin' out next to me
But like I told those in the ghettoes
Here's the facts! True hip-hop is so much more than that
Some much more than rap, so much more than beats
Hip-hop is all about victory over the streets
What you see on TV is a lie
That's not something you wanna live or pattern your life by
But, huh that's too much preachin' ain't it?
You don't want the edutainment, you wanna be dead on the pavement
Well, so be it, some of ya'll ain't gonna see it
Others wanna enslave your mind! Kris wanna free it!
[Chorus]
Rap is something you do!
5x Hip-Hop is something you live! *scratched*
"Oh yea" *scratched* --- From "P is dead"
"I have spent my whole life livin', hip-hop to the fullest, "no doubt"
You know that's why these rappers can't hang
Cause the essence of hip-hop is not a material thang
They so careless, hip-hop is in an awareness we give
Rap we do, hip-hop we live
How many times I gotta say it? How the radio ain't gonna play it
And you hip-hoppers sit back and okay it
Think about it! (think about it)
The present course of action, we have got to reroute it!
[Chorus: x3]
Hip-Hop is something you live!
In the lyrics of KRS-One’s hit song The Elements, he breaks down the essence of hip-hop music. He mentions the nine elements that make up hip hop in his perspective. He describes how hip-hop consists of much more than just rap, singing or the beats but there are quite a few factors that are crucial to it.
In the first verse KRS-One mentions about the element of breaking and street dance which is commonly known as breakdancing. He continues with MC’ing or rap which is another fundamental element of hip-hop music. He proceeds to graffiti art or burning bombing, which is considered the visual element of hip-hop culture. Then DJ’ing, beatboxing which is considered the backbone and musical element of hip-hop respectively. He mentions street fashion, street language, street knowledge and street entrepreneur or realism, which make up the last four elements of hip-hop culture.
KRS-One mentioned that hip-hop is not something people only do, but it's something they live. Hip-hop culture is more than a musical genre, it’s a way of life. He urges people to understand the true essence of hip-hop rather than simply adopting the stereotypes and false portrayals of it. Hip-hop is a culture that empowers one to grow and be better in all aspects of life.
Line by Line Meaning
Well my ladies and gentlemen
This is a rapsession and my name is "KRS-One!"
And when I talk about "Hip-Hop Music!", I know
Introducing himself as KRS-One and referring to his deep knowledge and understanding of Hip-Hop music
One : Breaking or breakdancing
Rally be-boying, freestyle or streetdancin'
Two : MC'ing or rap
Divine speech what I'm doing right now no act
Three: graffiti art or burning bombin'
Taggin', writin', now you're learning! uh!
Four : DJ'ing, we ain't playing!
{*scratch*} You know what I'm saying!
Five : Beatboxing
Give me a {*beatboxin*} Yes and we rockin'!
Six : Street fashion, lookin' fly
Catchin' the eye while them cats walk on by
Seven: Street language, our verbal communication
Our codes throughout the nation
Eight: Street knowledge, common sense
The wisdom of the elders from way back whence
Nine : Street entrepreneur realism
No job, just get up call 'em and get 'em
Explanation and glorification of the nine elements of Hip-Hop culture, namely breaking, MC'ing, graffiti art, DJ'ing, beatboxing, street fashion, street language, street knowledge, and street entrepreneurship
Here's how I'm tellin' it, all 9 Elements
We stand in love, no we're never failing it
Intelligent? No doubt
Hip-Hop? We're not selling it out, we're just lettin' it out
If you're checkin' us out this hour, we teatchin' hip-hop
Holy integrated people have it, I'm the present power!
Affirmation of the authenticity and integrity of Hip-Hop culture and its enduring influence on people and society
[Chorus]
Rap is something you do!
Hip-Hop is something you live! *scratched*
Distinguishing between rap as a musical genre and Hip-Hop as a way of life
Skaters, BMX-bike riders rock
Don't you ever stop! You are hip-hop
You doing the same things we did on our block in the suburbs
You know you be packing that black gloch
Selling that crackrock and ecstacy
Gettin' pissydrunk, fallin' out next to me
But like I told those in the ghettoes
Here's the facts! True hip-hop is so much more than that
Some much more than rap, so much more than beats
Hip-hop is all about victory over the streets
What you see on TV is a lie
That's not something you wanna live or pattern your life by
But, huh that's too much preachin' ain't it?
You don't want the edutainment, you wanna be dead on the pavement
Well, so be it, some of ya'll ain't gonna see it
Others wanna enslave your mind! Kris wanna free it!
Expressing how Hip-Hop culture transcends surface level expressions of drugs and violence and is more about overcoming hardships and oppression, while warning listeners about the negative impact of the media's portrayal of Hip-Hop on society
[Chorus: x3]
Hip-Hop is something you live!
Reaffirming the message that Hip-Hop is a way of life and not just a form of music
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@LaSagradaFamiliaa
[LETRA EN ESPAÑOL] 🇨🇱
Bueno, señoras y señores
Esto es un rapsession y mi nombre es «KRS-One!
Y cuando hablo de «Hip-Hop Music!» , lo sé
¿Qué?
[Uno:] Romper o breakdance
Rally b-boying, estilo libre o street dancin'
[Dos:] Mc'ing o rap
Discurso divino lo que estoy haciendo en este momento no hay acto
[Tres:] Grafitti arte o bombin' en llamas
¡Etiquetando, escribiendo, ahora estás aprendiendo! ¡Eh!
[Cuatro:] Dj'ing, ¡no vamos a jugar!
¡Sabes lo que digo!
[Cinco:] Beatboxing
Dame un beatboxin ¡Sí y nos vamos!
[Seis:] Moda callejera, luciendo volar
Acatar los ojos mientras los gatos pasean por
[Siete:] lenguaje de la calle, nuestra comunicación verbal
Nuestros códigos en toda la nación
[Ocho:] Conocimientos callejeros, sentido común
La sabiduría de los ancianos desde hace mucho tiempo
[Nueve:] Calle empresario realismo
No hay trabajo, sólo levántate, llámalos y tráelos
Así es como lo estoy diciendo, todos los 9 elementos
Estamos enamorados, no, nunca fallaremos
¿Inteligente? Sin duda
¿Hip-Hop? No lo estamos vendiendo, solo lo estamos dejando fuera
Si nos estás echando un vistazo a esta hora, vamos a hacer el hip-hop
¡Santa gente integrada lo tiene, yo soy el poder actual!
[Coro]
¡El rap es algo que haces!
3x Hip-Hop es algo que vives! [rayado]
¡El rap es algo que haces!
¡Hip-Hop es algo que vives! [rayado]
¿Qué?
Patinadores, BMX-bike riders rock
¡No te detengas nunca! Eres hip-hop
Tú haciendo las mismas cosas que hicimos en nuestra cuadra en los suburbios
Sabes que estás empacando ese bloque negro
Vendiendo ese crackrock y éxtasis
Emborracharme, caerme a mi lado
Pero como les dije a los de los guetos
¡Aquí están los hechos! El verdadero hip-hop es mucho más que eso
Algunos mucho más que rap, mucho más que beats
El hip-hop es todo sobre la victoria en las calles
Lo que ves en la televisión es una mentira
Eso no es algo que quieras vivir o modelarte tu vida
Pero, eh, eso es demasiada predicación, ¿no?
¿No quieres el? educación? , quieres estar muerto en el pavimento
Bueno, que así sea, algunos de ustedes no lo verán
¡Otros quieren esclavizar tu mente! ¡Kris quiere liberarlo!
[Coro]
¡El rap es algo que haces!
5x Hip-Hop es algo que vives! [rayado]
Oh sí» [arañado] [De «P está muerto»]
He pasado toda mi vida viviendo», «hablar al máximo», «sin duda
¿Qué?
Sabes que por eso estos raperos no pueden colgar
Porque la esencia del hip-hop no es un agradecimiento material
Son tan descuidados, el hip-hop está en un damos
El rap lo hacemos, el hip-hop vivimos
¿Cuántas veces tengo que decirlo? Cómo la radio no va a tocarlo
Y ustedes, los hoppers, se sientan y están bien
¡Piénsalo! (piénsalo)
¡El curso de acción actual, tenemos que desviarlo!
[Coro: x3]
¡Hip-Hop es algo que vives!
@ISeenACar87
Rap is something you do! Hip Hop is something you live!
@demini100
KRS-ONE is so inspirational, and opens ur mind to whts really goin on in the world. He's definitely has a huge impact on my life cuz so many rappers chase the dollar and dnt rap from their heart and he does.
@joachimvansteenkiste1894
Krs-One, i say to you from the bottom of my hearth. Thank you brothaa 🙌 sincerely HipHop
@harshitsaxenaknp
God father of hip hop , truly an emcee❤️
@mrkingssizesnicker
The Greatest MC Of All Time!
@bboyemiliano
yeeeee........... this song makes me proud of being a member of these elements......
@smalls5607
This some serious Knowledge,Learning from the Pro's
@509krumper
Dat joint need more views.......
@TeflonDon139
Ive never agreed more with a song, good looking out krs 1
@danhat606
Best record in such a long time! KRS has just reimbursed my faith in hip-hop! Much love!