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..."
What Else Happened
KRS-One Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Peter was also known as SKeeter (what else happened?)
Peter had sex with Anita (what else happened?)
Anita got pregnant from Peter (what else happened?)
Peter wasn't just with Anita (what else happened?)
Peter knew this girl named Rita (what else happened?)
Peter had sex with Rita (what else happened?)
Rita got pregnant from Peter (what else happened?)
But Rita doesn't know of Anita (what else happened?)
And Anita, doesn't know Rita (what else happened?)
The two of them, only know Peter (what else happened?)
Now Peter's at the mall with Anita (what else happened?)
You know, he runs into Rita (what else happened?)
Well Rita takes a look at Anita (what else happened?)
And Anita takes a good look at Rita (what else happened?)
Well Rita starts to pull out the heater (what else happened?)
The heater now is pointed at Peter (what else happened?)
Anita jumps right on Rita (what else happened?)
Rita busts shots at Anita (what else happened?)
Rita missed Anita by meters (what else happened?)
But Rita's bustin shots at Peter! (What else happened?)
Just then somebody shook Peter (what else happened?)
Yo how many spoons of the dairy creamer? (What else happened?)
It's Keisha sayin WAKE UP PETER (what else happened?)
That's why they call you the dreamer (Now that's happenin!)
The lyrics to KRS-One's "What Else Happened" tell the story of a man named Peter who is involved with two women, Anita and Rita. Both women become pregnant with Peter's child, but are unaware of each other's pregnancies. When they cross paths at the mall, a violent confrontation ensues with Rita pulling a gun on Peter and Anita, and ultimately missing Anita and aiming at Peter. The song concludes with Peter being awakened from this nightmare by a woman named Keisha.
The lyrics tackle themes of infidelity, deceit, and violence. The character of Peter represents a man who is reckless with his actions and faces the consequences of his decisions. The women in the song become victims of Peter's poor choices, as their lives become intertwined in a messy situation they did not choose.
Interestingly, the song's title - "What Else Happened" - implies that there is more to the story that the listener is not privy to. This invites speculation about the characters and their motivations, leaving some parts of the story open to interpretation.
Line by Line Meaning
There once was a dreamer named Peter (what else happened?)
The story is about a dreamer named Peter.
Peter was also known as SKeeter (what else happened?)
Peter was known by another name too - SKeeter.
Peter had sex with Anita (what else happened?)
Peter and Anita had sexual intercourse.
Anita got pregnant from Peter (what else happened?)
Anita got pregnant as a result of having sex with Peter.
Peter wasn't just with Anita (what else happened?)
Peter had other sexual partners apart from Anita.
Peter knew this girl named Rita (what else happened?)
Peter knew a girl named Rita.
Peter had sex with Rita (what else happened?)
Peter had sexual relations with Rita.
Rita got pregnant from Peter (what else happened?)
Rita was impregnated by Peter.
Now TWO girls are pregnant by Peter (what else happened?)
Both Anita and Rita are pregnant.
But Rita doesn't know of Anita (what else happened?)
Rita is not aware of the existence of Anita.
And Anita, doesn't know Rita (what else happened?)
Anita does not know Rita or about the affair Peter had with her.
The two of them, only know Peter (what else happened?)
Both Anita and Rita only know Peter and not each other.
Now Peter's at the mall with Anita (what else happened?)
Peter is at the mall together with Anita.
You know, he runs into Rita (what else happened?)
Peter bumps into Rita at the mall.
Well Rita takes a look at Anita (what else happened?)
Rita looks at Anita.
And Anita takes a good look at Rita (what else happened?)
Anita looks back at Rita.
Well Rita starts to pull out the heater (what else happened?)
Rita begins to pull out a firearm.
The heater now is pointed at Peter (what else happened?)
Rita aims the gun at Peter.
Anita jumps right on Rita (what else happened?)
Anita tackles Rita.
Rita busts shots at Anita (what else happened?)
Rita fires shots at Anita.
Rita missed Anita by meters (what else happened?)
Rita's shots missed Anita by a few meters.
But Rita's bustin shots at Peter! (What else happened?)
Rita starts firing shots at Peter.
Just then somebody shook Peter (what else happened?)
Suddenly someone shook Peter.
Yo how many spoons of the dairy creamer? (What else happened?)
A person named Keisha asks Peter how much dairy creamer he needs.
It's Keisha sayin WAKE UP PETER (what else happened?)
Keisha wakes up Peter from his dream.
That's why they call you the dreamer (Now that's happenin!)
The reason why Peter is called the dreamer is now apparent.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
The Figglebottom
i get those drums stuck in my head to this day
Ragan Tate
A classic that should be curriculum in every sex ed class available to gradeschool kids. Teaches a few things to be mindful of.
DJ BodyRawK
THIS SHIT BLEW MY MIND!!!!
Tyrone Lemon
I like that song
Mari Porter
08 Krs one what else happened
james smalling
wackest krs song
Fewan Eek
+james smalling What else happend?
Strictly Hip Hop
@Fewan Eek 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣