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..."
all right
KRS-One Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
[KRS-One:]
Gather round, I want to tell y'all a story
See if you can get the meaning
We gonna go real far (all right)
Watch this (God, you alright)
I got my partners with me, yep we feelin' all right
I got my woman with me, yup she lookin' all right
When it's time to move I'm never left, I'm all right
Well, I met my man "What up Duke? " - "I'm all right"
He said "Listen to this", I said "All right"
He said "This strictly confidential", I said "All right"
He said "Yo, you like this spot? " I said "It's all right"
"You wanna change it? ", I said "All right"
"I got a way that we can purchase it in 30 days" - "All right"
"How we gon do that? " He said "All right"
He put a stack of hundreds on the table right there, I said "All right"
30 days later we all right
Limousines, elevators, yo things are lookin' all right
All night everybody feelin' all right
I told my man "I gotta go", he said "All right"
"Let me take your Jeep", he said "All right"
But just as I started the car it got all bright
I started liftin' up, felt my spirit driftin' up
What's goin' on? The Jeep is gone and everything's all white
I heard people sayin' "Is he all right? "
Floatin' above my body I felt all right
How can I tell 'em, really tell 'em, that I'm all right?
Standin' outside my cerebellum I'm all right
The fourth dimension is all right
The fifth dimension is sure right
The sixth dimension is all light
Livin' as a spirit is all right
But then I didn't feel all right
I felt the shock in my chest, it wasn't all right
They revivin' me - all right
I heard a paramedic say to someone "Yep, he gonna be all right"
I'm back alive, people askin' "Are you all right? "
"The Jeep exploded. It's a miracle you all right"
Layin' there on my back, strapped up all night
I smirked and said to myself "God, you all right"
"Ha, you all right"
"Yes, God, you all right"
KRS-One's song All Right is a narrative about his life experiences and the changes he goes through. To begin with, he narrates how he is entering a new place and being with his friends and partner makes him feel 'alright.' He then tells the story of a man he meets who gives him a deal to purchase a property, and his friend has a way around it. They execute the plan and end up owning the property in thirty days. The next segment of the song talks about KRS-One's surreal experience where he starts levitating in his Jeep and his spirit drifts outside his body. He starts moving through dimensions but then feels a shock in his chest, and a paramedic is reviving him, reassuring him he'll be alright. As KRS-One comes back to life, he realizes it is a miracle and God is indeed alright.
The song is an introspective piece that speaks about the trials and tribulations of life. KRS-One uses his storytelling abilities to walk us through his life, and his transformation. He acknowledges how things may not always be good, but he is grateful that he has the ability to rise up and overcome anything that comes his way. The song talks about the different phases of life and spiritual experiences one goes through, speaking about the power of faith and surrender.
Line by Line Meaning
Gather round, I want to tell y'all a story
KRS-One is inviting his listeners to pay attention as he tells a story
See if you can get the meaning
KRS-One challenges his listeners to interpret the meaning of his story
We gonna go real far (all right)
KRS-One is encouraging his listeners to keep listening and express excitement about where the story is going
Watch this (God, you alright)
KRS-One is asking God to watch over him and ensure his safety during the story
I'm steppin' in this place like it's all right
KRS-One enters a new environment with confidence and positivity
I got my partners with me, yep we feelin' all right
KRS-One has his friends with him and they are all feeling good and positive
I got my woman with me, yup she lookin' all right
KRS-One is accompanied by his female partner who is looking good and adding to the positive vibes
When it's time to move I'm never left, I'm all right
Regardless of the situation, KRS-One is always prepared and able to handle it - he is always all right
Well, I met my man "What up Duke? " - "I'm all right"
KRS-One meets his friend who seems to be in a good mood, he is all right
He said "Listen to this", I said "All right"
KRS-One is receptive to his friend's conversation and excited to hear what he has to say
He said "This strictly confidential", I said "All right"
KRS-One respects his friend's privacy and gives him space to confide in him
He said "Yo, you like this spot? " I said "It's all right"
KRS-One's friend asks him about a location and he responds in a noncommittal way, indicating that the spot is just okay
"You wanna change it? ", I said "All right"
KRS-One is open to changing the location if his friend has a better suggestion
"I got a way that we can purchase it in 30 days" - "All right"
KRS-One's friend suggests they can buy the location in 30 days and KRS-One responds affirmatively
"How we gon do that? " He said "All right"
KRS-One's friend asks how they will accomplish this and KRS-One shows confidence in his friend's plan
He put a stack of hundreds on the table right there, I said "All right"
KRS-One's friend shows him a large amount of money to help make the purchase and KRS-One is cool with it
30 days later we all right
After 30 days, KRS-One and his friend have successfully purchased the location - everything is good
Limousines, elevators, yo things are lookin' all right
KRS-One and his friends are enjoying life and are surrounded by luxury
All night everybody feelin' all right
Everyone around KRS-One is happy and in high spirits
I told my man "I gotta go", he said "All right"
KRS-One tells his friend he has to leave and his friend responds positively
"Let me take your Jeep", he said "All right"
KRS-One's friend asks to borrow his Jeep and he says yes
But just as I started the car it got all bright
Suddenly, something strange happens to KRS-One's Jeep
I started liftin' up, felt my spirit driftin' up
KRS-One feels a profound transformation occurring where his spirit is being lifted up
What's goin' on? The Jeep is gone and everything's all white
KRS-One notices that the Jeep has disappeared and everything around him is white
I heard people sayin' "Is he all right? "
People around KRS-One are worried about his well-being and are questioning if he is okay
Floatin' above my body I felt all right
Even though KRS-One is outside of his body, he still feels good and happy
How can I tell 'em, really tell 'em, that I'm all right?
KRS-One wonders how he can reassure those around him that he is okay, even though he is temporarily outside of his body
Standin' outside my cerebellum I'm all right
KRS-One realizes that he is standing outside of his own brain, but still feels positive
The fourth dimension is all right
KRS-One experiences the fourth dimension and feels good
The fifth dimension is sure right
KRS-One enters the fifth dimension which is even better than the fourth
The sixth dimension is all light
KRS-One reaches the sixth dimension where there is only light and it feels good
Livin' as a spirit is all right
KRS-One concludes that living as a spirit is not bad at all, and is even enjoyable
But then I didn't feel all right
KRS-One's positive experiences suddenly come to an end and he doesn't feel good anymore
I felt the shock in my chest, it wasn't all right
KRS-One's physical body is shocked back to life and he experiences pain
They revivin' me - all right
KRS-One is grateful that he is being brought back to life
I heard a paramedic say to someone "Yep, he gonna be all right"
A paramedic reassures others that KRS-One is going to be okay
I'm back alive, people askin' "Are you all right? "
KRS-One returns to consciousness and people are asking if he is okay
"The Jeep exploded. It's a miracle you all right"
KRS-One learns that his Jeep exploded and is surprised that he survived
Layin' there on my back, strapped up all night
KRS-One is recovering from the incident while lying on his back and being monitored
I smirked and said to myself "God, you all right"
Despite his ordeal, KRS-One maintains his sense of humor and thanks God for looking out for him
"Ha, you all right"
KRS-One continues to express gratitude towards God for taking care of him
"Yes, God, you all right"
KRS-One affirms that he believes God is good for ensuring his safety during the incident
Contributed by John Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.