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..."
Womenology
KRS-One Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If you want a woman to treat you right
[KRS talking through Chorus]
That's right, that's right
I think y'all need to listen to this, stop what'cha doin
[Verse One]
But you can't be one of them lookin a freak you lookin a beat you type
You gotta seek the light in the dark
I used to free this mic in the park
Now I speak direct to your heart
Women want men to show respect for they art
Women don't be checkin for the chart
They go straight to sister to sister and pick it apart
Begin with the heart, our sisters is a living art
Always givin, always deliverin, always making something bigger from just a little part
Big up to the sisters that start up businesses
With nothing but muffins, still liftin kids
Strong women ,work long women
Not them dump-ass dizzy stupid thong women
King-Kong women, bring it all women, independent women with thoughts & opinions
Women like G.Simone, See, I maybe the Pharaoh
But believe she is the crown Let me leave it alone
Cause a lot of ya still wanna rome, they got houses but still want home
Sittin on chrome but forever alone
Cause intelligent courageous women they were never shown
They say they don't love them hoes
But Jesus allowed hoes to wash in all his toes
I don't mean to impose, but if you want a woman to treat you right
I don't think you need to start with the clothes
I think you need to start with what she knows
[Chorus]
[Verse Two]
That's what you got to know from the start
Whats in the heart & the mind
Without that you startin out blind
You're going into a direction of what a trap ???? behind
Its like you sittin in a cell with the doors opened
and you decide to sit and do the time
Free your mind, don't pattern your life after some freestyle rhyme
See me, I'm...
The song Womenology by KRS-One speaks about the need for men to treat women with respect and understanding. In the first verse, KRS-One says that women will treat men right if they don't behave like creeps or look down on them. He emphasizes on how women appreciate it when men show respect for their art and that women do not care much about the status shown in charts but appreciate their art being recognized and appreciated. He also speaks about how women are powerful and can create bigger things from a little part. He mentions women who start businesses with minimum resources but still take care of their children and do everything with dedication.
In the second verse, he speaks about how men need to focus on what is in a woman's heart and mind instead of just following what society says is right. He compares blindly following society to being trapped in a cell with open doors, where one decides to stay inside because of societal pressure. He stresses the importance of free thinking and not letting society dictate what one should do or how one should treat women. The song, in essence, promotes the idea of treating women with respect, acknowledging their abilities and power, and not just judging them based on their physical appearance or societal standards.
Line by Line Meaning
If you want a woman to treat you right
To have a healthy relationship with a woman, treat her well.
That's right, that's right
Encouragement to pay attention to the lyrics.
I think y'all need to listen to this, stop what'cha doin
Call to action to focus on the message of the song.
Women will treat you right
Women reciprocate respect when they're respected.
But you can't be one of them lookin a freak you lookin a beat you type
Don't be disrespectful to women; they won't appreciate it.
You gotta seek the light in the dark
Look for good qualities in a woman, despite her flaws.
I used to free this mic in the park
KRS-One used to perform in public spaces.
Now I speak direct to your heart
KRS-One now delivers his message directly to his audience's heart.
Women want men to show respect for they art
Women appreciate it when men value their talents and creativity.
Women don't be checkin for the chart
Women don't necessarily care about charts or popularity.
They go straight to sister to sister and pick it apart
Women value the opinions of their peers when it comes to relationships and art.
Begin with the heart, our sisters is a living art
Start with the heart; women are living art to be valued.
Always givin, always deliverin, always making something bigger from just a little part
Women are capable of great things when given the opportunity to shine.
Big up to the sisters that start up businesses
Praise to women entrepreneurs who succeed despite adversity.
With nothing but muffins, still liftin kids
Remarkable achievements despite limited resources and responsibilities.
Strong women, work long women
Women are hardworking and resilient.
Not them dump-ass dizzy stupid thong women
Disrespectful attitudes and perceptions of women in thongs.
King-Kong women, bring it all women, independent women with thoughts & opinions
Emphasis on the strength and independence of women.
Women like G. Simone, See, I maybe the Pharaoh
Reference to other strong women in the entertainment industry who are unapologetic about their opinions.
But believe she is the crown Let me leave it alone
Acknowledgment of G. Simone's greatness.
Cause a lot of ya still wanna rome, they got houses but still want home
Many people have material possessions but still lack emotional fulfillment.
Sittin on chrome but forever alone
Despite having wealth and status, many people are still unhappy and alone.
Cause intelligent courageous women they were never shown
Many people weren't taught to value strong, intelligent women.
They say they don't love them hoes
Many people say they don't respect promiscuous women.
But Jesus allowed hoes to wash in all his toes
Even Jesus treated women who worked in prostitution with respect and kindness.
I don't mean to impose, but if you want a woman to treat you right
KRS-One is giving advice on how to have a healthy relationship with a woman.
I don't think you need to start with the clothes
Don't start by judging women based on their appearance or clothing.
I think you need to start with what she knows
Value a woman's intelligence and personality in a relationship.
That's what you got to know from the start
It's important to understand this from the beginning of a relationship.
Whats in the heart & the mind
A woman's character and intellect are more valuable than her physical appearance.
Without that you startin out blind
If you don't value a woman's character and intellect, you're starting a relationship with blinders on.
You're going into a direction of what a trap ???? behind
Starting a relationship based on superficial qualities can lead to traps and pitfalls.
Its like you sittin in a cell with the doors opened
Don't limit your relationship potential by focusing solely on superficial qualities.
And you decide to sit and do the time
Make sure you value a woman's character and intellect instead of wasting your time focusing on superficial traits.
Free your mind, don't pattern your life after some freestyle rhyme
Clear your mind of biases and stereotypes, and don't base your actions on music lyrics.
See me, I'm...
Interruption mid-line.
Contributed by Asher O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.