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 donāt 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 canāt 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..."
You Don't Really Want It
KRS-One Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My rhymes still be ill
You don't really want it
I suggest you chill
You don't really want it
#1 I'm still
You don't really want it
The prophecy is fulfilled
KRS in the streets
You don't really want it
I drop the rawest beats
You don't really want it
No ice just heat
You don't really want it
Playa face defeat
That was a nice try Nelly
I don't mean to be bold, but put that "Hot in herre" bullshit on hold
And let's get down to the facts of the matter
In the dictionary under wack rap, you the rapper
It's simply cuz you're lacking the spectacular vernacular
And hip hop's character seems to be in back of ya
Either that or you're truly amateur
I'm askin ya, how does it feel to have the whole world laughin at ya?
You just too stupid to see
I was made on the streets, you was made on MTV
How you gonna talk about my nose to attack me?
When you steady guzzlin them pills for your acne?
My nose comes from a line of kings
Your acne comes from you eatin the wrong things
Your words don't make me hurt, they make you work
You'll hurt when you find it's you gettin jerked
I tell ya, it don't take me to say
Don't buy your album, street cats ain't buyin it anyway
You tellin me make up my mind
Yet on your album, you don't know if you wanna sing, or rhyme
[CHORUS]
You tryin to diss me? How?
If it wasn't for the true-school your bitch-ass wouldn't be here now
Blau blau, show me respect from the gate
Or I'ma have to drown you kids like Andrea Yates
You can't handle the break, I'm a flamethrowa, you a bic lighta
You think I'm cocky cuz you a dickrida
I spit tighter
I'm not like all the rest I'm not a playa but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express
So nevertheless I'ma teach ya, teach ya
But when them slugs hit you, you'll be screamin, "Momma, EI! EI!"
You never seen me sing? You don't know what I bring?
You'll be singing the blues like BB King
I'm all about the unity of Miss and Mistas
You all about grabbin money and dissin our sistas
Take your ass back to TV land
And let this be a lesson, you can't see me man!
[CHORUS]
Just when I thought I could do my gospel
And become an apostle I got a whole to get hostile
I don't mean to knock ya Nelly
But ain't you that MTV house nigga with a spine like jelly?
I'ma do this by the book, for the art
I heard what you said on BET's 106 and Park
But what you don't know, is right around the corner on 3rd
I hold a Desert Eagle, and no, it's not a bird
You sound absurd, you're gonna bring ME back?
I taught all year round the spotĀ ??? had
Copycat, with sloppy raps, you chill with N'Sync, I chill where hip hop be at
[CHORUS]
In "You Don't Really Want It" by KRS-One, the rapper boasts about his skills and challenges any challengers to step up to his level. He starts the song by telling his critics that his rhymes are still ill and they don't want to mess with him. KRS-One takes a dig at Nelly and questions his credibility as a rapper. He accuses Nelly of lacking the appropriate vocabulary and knowledge of hip hop culture, pointing out the fact that his music is played on MTV, and he lacks street cred. Throughout the song, KRS-One emphasizes the difference between experienced hip hop MCs and the new generation of rappers.
The chorus is easy to remember and emphasizes the message of the song, which is that KRS-One is still the King of hip hop, and new rappers can't compare to his skills. He claims that his rhymes are raw, and he has proven this achievement through his successful career.
One interesting fact about the song is its subtle political message, where KRS-One emphasizes the difference between well-established and experienced hip hop MCs and the new and coming rappers. He claims that he and those like him represent the true soul of hip hop culture, while the new generation only uses it for commercial gain.
Another interesting fact is that the song features a sample from Public Enemy's "Shut Em Down." This sample creates a connection between KRS-One and Public Enemy's views on hip-hop and hip-hop culture.
The song was never released as a single, but it has become one of KRS-One's most celebrated songs. Fans consider it a classic, with lyrics that they can recite even after the song has ended.
Here are the chords for KRS-One's "You Don't Really Want It":
[G5] [C5] [D5] [G5]
The song is a slow and straightforward hip-hop beat with minimal instrumentals.
Line by Line Meaning
My rhymes still be ill
I'm still on top of my game and my rhymes are still great
You don't really want it
You can't handle or compete with my skills and talent
I suggest you chill
You should calm down and step back from trying to challenge me
The prophecy is fulfilled
I've fulfilled the expectations and predictions of my success as an artist
KRS in the streets
I'm well-known and respected in the streets and hip hop community
I drop the rawest beats
My beats are authentic, original, and unmatched by others
No ice just heat
I don't need flashy jewelry to prove myself; my talent and skills are enough
Playa face defeat
You will lose if you try to compete with me
That was a nice try Nelly
Nelly attempted to challenge me, but it was futile
I don't mean to be bold, but put that "Hot in herre" bullshit on hold
Nelly's popular song doesn't compare to the quality and authenticity of my music
And let's get down to the facts of the matter
Let's talk about the truth and reality of hip hop and our skills
In the dictionary under wack rap, you the rapper
Your rap is considered unimpressive and inferior according to the standards of hip hop
It's simply cuz you're lacking the spectacular vernacular
You don't have the exceptional vocab and lyrical skills that are expected of a great rapper
And hip hop's character seems to be in back of ya
You don't embody the true essence and values of hip hop as a culture and movement
Either that or you're truly amateur
You might be inexperienced and unskilled as a rapper
I'm askin ya, how does it feel to have the whole world laughin at ya?
You're being ridiculed and disrespected by the hip hop community and the world in general
You just too stupid to see
You don't have the awareness or intelligence to realize your shortcomings as a rapper
I was made on the streets, you was made on MTV
I come from the authentic, grittier side of hip hop, while Nelly comes from a more commercial, mainstream side
How you gonna talk about my nose to attack me?
Nelly tried to insult me by making fun of my physical features in a weak attempt to discredit me
When you steady guzzlin them pills for your acne?
Nelly has insecurities and is using medication to treat his acne, which reveals his lack of confidence
My nose comes from a line of kings
My features come from a long lineage of African royalty, which is something to be proud of
Your acne comes from you eatin the wrong things
Nelly's acne is a result of poor diet and lifestyle choices, which is not admirable
Your words don't make me hurt, they make you work
Your insults don't impact me, but they do reveal your desperation and inferiority
You'll hurt when you find it's you gettin jerked
Nelly will feel the pain of failure and losing out when people realize his lack of talent and substance
Don't buy your album, street cats ain't buyin it anyway
Nelly's music doesn't resonate with the genuine hip hop fans and won't sell well in the streets
You tellin me make up my mind
Nelly is giving me advice to decide between singing and rapping, but he doesn't have the expertise to advise me
Yet on your album, you don't know if you wanna sing, or rhyme
Nelly's indecisiveness and lack of direction in his music is an example of his lack of authenticity and talent
You tryin to diss me? How?
Nelly attempted to insult me, but he has no ammunition against me
If it wasn't for the true-school your bitch-ass wouldn't be here now
Nelly owes his career and success to the genuine, authentic side of hip hop that I represent
Blau blau, show me respect from the gate
Nelly needs to show me immediate respect and acknowledge my status as a respected figure in hip hop
Or I'ma have to drown you kids like Andrea Yates
I'm willing to take extreme measures to defend my honor and reputation as a rapper
You can't handle the break, I'm a flamethrowa, you a bic lighta
I'm a powerful force in hip hop, while Nelly is weak and insignificant in comparison
You think I'm cocky cuz you a dickrida
Nelly is a follower and a fanboy of other rappers, while I'm confident and self-assured
I spit tighter
My rhymes and lyrics are more fluid, coherent, and powerful than Nelly's
I'm not like all the rest I'm not a playa but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express
I don't conform to the typical rapper lifestyle, but I still have my own swag and intelligence
So nevertheless I'ma teach ya, teach ya
I have more knowledge and expertise in hip hop than Nelly, so I can still offer valuable lessons to him
But when them slugs hit you, you'll be screamin, "Momma, EI! EI!"
Nelly will be devastated and helpless when he faces real struggles and conflicts in hip hop
You never seen me sing? You don't know what I bring?
Nelly is making assumptions about my abilities and talents, without actually knowing me or my music
You'll be singing the blues like BB King
Nelly will experience defeat and failure in his career as a result of his lack of talent and authenticity
I'm all about the unity of Miss and Mistas
My vision for hip hop is to bring together men and women from all walks of life and empower them
You all about grabbin money and dissin our sistas
Nelly's version of hip hop is focused on making money and belittling women in the process
Take your ass back to TV land
Nelly should go back to his commercial, mainstream career and stay away from real hip hop
And let this be a lesson, you can't see me man!
Nelly needs to recognize and acknowledge my superiority as a rapper and step away from trying to compete with me
[CHORUS]
Reiterating the message that Nelly or any other rapper cannot match KRS-One in terms of skills, talent, and authenticity
Contributed by Samuel P. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Battle Rapper- Jared
What's crazy KRS1 never cussed, on this track, typical for KRS1. HE A LEGEND
Jay's Kicks N Fits
KRS-ONE has cursed before in his early work.
Ap Ap
I don't know what Nelly was thinking. You don't take on a rapper who was from the birthplace of where this music was created they are masters of the art.These 80s/'90s rappers are the godfathers of Hip Hop. You can't win that battle.
Kurt K
damn lol i didnt expect him to go this hard. Ā " I was made in the streets, you were made in MTV" Ā lol
Jay's Kicks N Fits
ā@Jon E Everything ,black but "everythong" sounds funny though. šš¤£
Jon E
@cory carpenter not everythong needs a funky flow. It definitely helps, but in the end, lyrics rule. This shit hard.
SumnSumnSumnHTK Media Channel
@cory carpenter yeah tf right. This is that heat!!!
1,539,348 views
" HOW U GONNA DISS MY NOSE TO ATTACK ME, WHEN U STEADY GUZZLING THEM PILLS FOR UR ACNE" KRSSS1 FRIEEEDD HIS ASS
Mak!zZz
2 Rules in hip hop
Number 1 is dont battle with krs one
Number 2 is read the number 1 rule before you get destroyed
Chill & and keep Chillin
Ohhhhhhhh so dam true.