KRS-One
KRS-One | |
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Background information | |
Birth name | Lawrence Parker |
Also known as |
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Born | Brooklyn, New York, U.S. | August 20, 1965
Origin | South Bronx, New York, U.S. |
Genres |
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Occupation(s) |
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Discography | KRS-One discography |
Years active | 1986–present |
Labels | |
Website | krs-one |
Lawrence "Kris" Parker (born August 20, 1965), better known by his stage names KRS-One (
Biography
Early life
Lawrence Parker was born in the
At age 16 he left home permanently, and spent a time living homeless in New York,[10] before eventually signing himself into a group home[11] in the Bronx.
Hip hop
Growing up, Parker had developed a deep love of the emerging hip hop culture in New York, and by that time he was honing his craft as an
KRS-One also practices activism in his career and is a leading figure and founder of several hip hop groups that worked to promote peace and education, such as the Stop the Violence Movement and Human Education Against Lies (H.E.A.L.). He also founded the Temple of Hip Hop, a group dedicated to preserving and expanding hip hop culture and spirituality.[14] Through this, KRS-One intends to decriminalize Hiphop and "raise hip-hop's identity and self-esteem".[15] In an Interview with Aki X in the January 2003 issue of Thrasher Magazine, KRS-One observes: "Hip-hop has manifested Martin Luther Kings "I Have A Dream" speech where he envisioned that the sons and daughters of former slave owners and sons and daughters of former slaves would join hands in brotherhood towards justice and freedom. Hip-hop express that through Eminem and Dr Dre, through Russell simmons and the Beastie Boys, through MC, search. Run DMC and Aerosmith. This is what it is to be hip-hoppa."[16]
Early Influences
In KRS-One's song, "Outta Here", he reflects on the early days of New York hip-hop, influenced by acts like Run-DMC and Whodini, who he heard on the Awesome Two's radio show on WHBI. KRS-One explains how the release of BDP's "Criminal Minded", and Eric B and Rakim's "Paid in Full" had the unintended effect of turning both groups into Hip Hop pioneers. He also claims that his album "By All Means Necessary" and Public Enemy's "It Takes A Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back" were a main influence that set off consciousness in rap.[11]
Boogie Down Productions
KRS-One began his recording career as one third of the hip hop group Boogie Down Productions, or BDP, alongside DJ Scott La Rock and Derrick "D-Nice" Jones. Additionally, KRS-One had taken offense to "The Bridge", a song by Marley Marl's protege, MC Shan (KRS-One later reconciled with Marley Marl, producing an album with him in 2007 titled Hip Hop Lives). The song could be interpreted as a claim that Queensbridge was the monument of hip-hop, though MC Shan has repeatedly denied this claim. Still, KRS-One "dissed" the song with the BDP record "South Bronx". A second round of volleys ensued with Shan's "Kill That Noise" and BDP's "The Bridge Is Over". KRS-One, demonstrating his nickname "The Blastmaster", gave a live performance against MC Shan, and many conceded he had won the battle. Many[who?] believe this live performance to be the first MC battle where rappers attack each other, instead of a battle between who can get the crowd more hyped.[17]
Parker and Sterling 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 produced by David Kenneth Eng and Kenny Beck, was released on indie Fresh/Sleeping Bag Records (under the group name "12:41") but did not enjoy commercial success.
Boogie Down Productions released their debut album Criminal Minded in 1987. KRS-One was the first Emcee to be holding a 9mm on the album cover,[16] and Scott La Rock was killed in a shooting later that year after attempting to mediate a dispute between teenager and BDP member D-Nice and local hoodlums.
During this time KRS-One also gained acclaim as one of the first MCs to incorporate Jamaican style into hip-hop, using the Zung gu zung melody, originally made famous by Yellowman in Jamaican dance halls earlier in the decade.[18] This is particularly evident in the song titled "Remix for P is Free". Dancehall influence is also very prominent in the BDP hit "The Bridge is Over", which uses the same melody as Super Cat's 1986 dancehall hit "Boops",[19] and lyrical inflections in a Jamaican style. KRS-One is credited as one of the more influential figures to bridge the gap between Jamaican music and American hip-hop.
Following the fatal shooting of Scott La Rock in 1987, KRS was determined to continue Boogie Down Productions through the tragedy, releasing the album
KRS-One was the primary initiator behind the H.E.A.L. compilation and the
Solo career
After five largely solo albums under the name "Boogie Down Productions", KRS-One decided to set out on his own. On his first solo album, 1993's Return of the Boom Bap, he worked together with producers DJ Premier, Kid Capri and Showbiz, the latter providing the track "Sound of da Police". His second album, 1995's KRS-One, featured Channel Live on "Free Mumia", a song in which they criticize Civil Rights activist C. Delores Tucker among others. Other prominent guest stars on KRS-One included Mad Lion, Busta Rhymes, Das EFX and Fat Joe.
In 1991, KRS-One appeared on the alternative rock group R.E.M.'s single "Radio Song", which appeared on the band's album Out of Time, released the same year.[20]
In 1992, Bradley Nowell from Sublime featured an acoustic song named "KRS-One" with his voice and DJ's samples.
In 1995, KRS organized a group called Channel Live, whose album Station Identification he produced most of, along with Rheji Burrell and Salaam Remi.
In 1997, KRS surprised many with his release of the album
In August 1997, in an appearance on Tim Westwood's BBC Radio 1, KRS-One criticized the station for not playing underground hip hop while also crediting Westwood for his promotion of hip hop over time. KRS-One said that Jive Records and Radio 1 did not support him, but finished by saluting Westwood with "you know you're my man".
In 1999, there were tentative plans to release Maximum Strength; a lead single, "5 Boroughs", was released on
In 2000, KRS-One and DJ Tomekk made a video for their single Return of Hip-Hop with German rappers Torch and MC Rene, in which hip-hop was revived by hospital staff. The song stayed in the German charts for nine weeks.[21][22]
KRS resigned from his A&R position at Reprise in 2001, and returned to recording with a string of albums, beginning with 2001's
The only latter-day KRS-One album to gain any significant attention has been
KRS-One has collaborated with other artists including Canadian rap group Hellafactz, Jay-Roc N' Jakebeatz and New York producer
.KRS-One and Buckshot announced that they would be collaborating on an album set to be released in 2009. The first single, "ROBOT", was released on May 5, 2009. The music video was directed by Todd Angkasuwan and debuted as the New Joint of the Day on 106 & Park on September 4, 2009. The album itself, called Survival Skills, leaked on the Internet on September 9, 2009, and the album was officially released on September 15, 2009. It debuted at #62, making it onto the Billboard 200. It sold around 8,500 copies its first week and was met with generally positive reviews. Steve Juon of RapReviews.com gave the album a flawless 10 out of 10, claiming, "Buckshot and KRS have achieved something rather remarkable here – an album I can't find a single fault with. There's not a bad beat, there's not a whack rhyme, there's not a collaborator on a track that missed the mark, and the disc itself is neither too short nor too long."[24]
In 2010 KRS-One was honored, along with Buckshot, by artists Ruste Juxx, Torae & Skyzoo, Sha Stimuli, Promise, J.A.M.E.S. Watts and Team Facelift, on their mixtape Survival Kit, an ode to the 2009 album Survival Skills. The mixtape was released for free download on DuckDown.com. The album features new version of KRS classics "South Bronx", "Sound of da Police" and "MC's Act Like They Don't Know", as well as new versions of well-known Buckshot songs and "Past Present Future" from the Survival Skills album. The MC Fashawn said in his verse on MC's Act Like They Don't Know, "I did it to make Kris smile / I figured he'd appreciate it".[25]
KRS-One was featured as the voice of Chris Cringle in
In 2012, KRS-One toured Australia for the first time.[27] He travelled there by cruise ship,[28][29] as he hates flying.[30]
In December 2020, KRS-One released his 23rd solo album Between Da Protests.[31][32]
Stop the Violence Movement
The Stop the Violence Movement was formed by KRS-One in 1988/1989 in response to violence in the hip hop and
During a concert by Boogie Down Productions and
"Self-Destruction" was produced by KRS-One and
Temple of Hip Hop
The Temple of Hip Hop is a ministry, archive, school, and society (M.A.S.S.) founded by KRS-One. Its goal is to maintain and promote Hip Hop Kulture. Another goal of the temple of Hip-Hop is to finance educational centers which store archives and host lectures devoted to hip-hop culture.[15]
The Temple of Hip Hop maintains that hip hop is a genuine political movement, religion, and culture. It calls on all fans to celebrate Hip Hop Appreciation Week on the third week of May each year. It encourages DJs and MCs to teach people about the culture of hip hop and to write more socially conscious songs, and radio stations to play more socially conscious hip hop.
KRS-One describes Hiphop as a metaphysical principle, "an energy, a consciousness, it is an awareness, it is a behavior, it is an attitude, that's what hip-hop is.[34]
KRS-One asserted that due to hip-hop's intangible nature, it cannot be documented using conventional historical methods. He argued that approaching history from a physical perspective confines individuals to their color, ethnicity, and race. Instead, he advocated for examining history from the standpoint of first causes and origins, allowing for a departure from physical constraints and a focus on ideas rather than tangible matter.[34]
Hip Hop History Month (November), founded by the Universal Zulu Nation, is also recognized.
Gospel of Hip Hop comments
In an interview with AllHipHop about his book The Gospel of Hip Hop, KRS-One said:
I'm suggesting that in 100 years, this book will be a new religion on the earth ... I think I have the authority to approach God directly, I don't have to go through any religion [or] train of thought. I can approach God directly myself and so I wrote a book called The Gospel of Hip Hop to free from all this nonsense garbage right now. I respect the Christianity, the Islam, the Judaism but their time is up. ... In a hundred years, everything that I'm saying to you will be common knowledge and people will be like, 'Why did he have to explain this? Wasn't it obvious?'[35]
These comments have been referred to by numerous media outlets[36][37][38] such as The A.V. Club, which commented that "KRS-One writes 600-page hip-hop bible; blueprint for rap religion",[39] and "KRS-One has never been afraid to court controversy and provoke strong reactions. Now the Boogie Down Productions legend has topped himself by writing The Gospel of Hip Hop: The First Instrument, a mammoth treatise on the spirituality of hip-hop he hopes will some day become a sacred text of a new hip-hop religion".[39]
Personal life
KRS-One is a vocal supporter of veganism.[1]
He supported Ron Paul for president during his 2012 run.[40]
KRS-One's step-son (Randy Parker) was found dead in his
His son Kris Parker (born 1992) is an aspiring music producer and DJ known as Predator Prime.[43]
Break the Chain
In 1994, KRS-One and illustrator Kyle Baker published a 32 page comic book titled "Break the Chain" about a hero named Big Joe Krash. The comic book was sold with an accompanying 3-song tape by KRS-One. The original idea was pitched to KRS-One from Marshall Chess, who wanted an educationally oriented tape and comic book combo. In an interview with VIBE Magazine, KRS-One says: "People say the chain was taken off our feet and hands and put onto our minds. Break that chain of slave mentality." KRS-One also released an animated music video, featuring himself as Big Joe Krash.[44]
Controversies
September 11 comments
In 2004, KRS said during a panel discussion hosted by
KRS responded with an editorial written for
I was asked about why hiphop has not engaged the current situation more (meaning 9/11), my response was "because it does not affect us, or at least we don't perceive that it affects us, 9/11 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; "9/11 affected them down the block; the rich, the powerful those that are oppressing us as a culture.
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 9/11 happened in New York and say that proudly here. Because when they 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" I was interrupted ...
In late 2005, KRS was featured alongside Public Enemy's
On April 29, 2007, KRS-One again defended his statements on the September 11 attacks when asked about them during an appearance on Hannity's America on the Fox News network. He stated that he meant that people cheered that the establishment had taken a hit, not that people were dying or had died.[46] He also discussed, among other things, the Don Imus scandal and the use of profanity in hip-hop.
Awards
- 2004, VH1 Hip Hop Honors
- 2007, I am Hip Hop
- 2007, Lifetime Achievement
- 2009, Living Legend Award
- Bronx Walk of Fame (2001)
Discography
Studio albums
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Boogie Down Productions albums
Collaboration albums
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Filmography
Year | Film | Role | Note |
---|---|---|---|
1988 | I'm Gonna Git You Sucka | himself | |
1993 | Who's the Man? | Rashid | |
1997 | Subway Stories: Tales from the Underground | Vendor | |
1997 | Rhyme & Reason | himself | |
1997 | The Cut | Judge | |
2000 | Boricua's Bond | ||
2000 | Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme | himself | |
2002 | The Freshest Kids | himself | |
2003 | 2Pac 4 Ever | narrator
|
|
2003 | Beef
|
himself | |
2003 | Hip-Hop Babylon 2 | himself | |
2003 | Soundz of Spirit | himself | |
2003 | 5 Sides of a Coin | himself | |
2003 | MuskaBeatz | himself | |
2004 | War on Wax: Rivalries In Hip-Hop | himself | |
2004 | Beef II | himself | |
2004 | And You Don't Stop: 30 Years of Hip-Hop | himself | |
2004 | Hip-Hop Honors | himself | |
2004 | Keep Right | himself | |
2005 | The MC: Why We Do It | himself | |
2005 | The Art of 16 Bars: Get Ya' Bars Up | himself | |
2005 | Zoom Prout Prout | himself | |
2006 | A Letter to the President | himself | |
2007 | Bomb It | himself | |
2008 | The Obama Deception | himself | |
2009 | Good Hair
|
himself | |
2011 | Rhyme and Punishment | narrator | |
2011 | GhettoPhysics | himself | |
2012 | Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap | himself | |
2012 | Hidden Colors | himself | |
2014 | True Detective | Jukebox song at strip club | Season 1, episode 4, 12 |
2015 | Hustlers Convention | himself | |
2018 | Luke Cage | himself | " Can't Front on Me "
|
Publications
Book | Year |
---|---|
The Science of Rap (self published, 1996, out of print[47]) | 1996 |
Ruminations (Welcome Rain Publishers, July 25, 2003, out of print[48]) | 2003 |
The Gospel of Hip Hop: The First Instrument[49] | 2009 |
References
- ^ a b "KRS-One Vegan Go Veg 2/12/11 The Roxy West Hollywood, CA". YouTube. Archived from the original on January 11, 2013.
- ISBN 978-1736275634. Archivedfrom the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
You kids have a real father. His name is Sheffield, and he's from Barbados.
- ISBN 978-1736275634. Archivedfrom the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
He once beat my brother Larry so severely that if left red welt marks all over his body.
- ISBN 978-1736275634. Archivedfrom the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
When John and I got married he adopted both of you, and changed your last name to Parker.
- ISBN 978-1736275634. Archivedfrom the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
"The Parkers," lived in a Harlem apartment complex called Lenox Terrace.
- ISBN 978-1736275634. Archivedfrom the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
The following day, on Christmas Eve, we moved to the Bronx with nothing. My mother's marriage of three years was over.
- ISBN 978-1736275634. Archivedfrom the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
Our financial situation forced us to move into a small two-bedroom apartment in of all places, East New York, Brooklyn.
- ISBN 978-1736275634. Archivedfrom the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
By this time, the beatings increased in both frequency and severity. Joe beat us almost daily.
- ISBN 978-1736275634. Archivedfrom the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
During the spring of 1977, at age eleven, Larry ran away from home for the first time. It wouldn't be the last.
- ISBN 978-1736275634. Archivedfrom the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
it was clear by Larry's appearance that something was wrong. Everyone could tell Larry was homeless.
- ^ Zomba Group of Companies. 1993. Archivedfrom the original on January 2, 2023. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
- ^ SeenyT (July 8, 2013). "KRS-One talks about Hare Krishna". YouTube. Archived from the original on October 29, 2021. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
- ^ "KRS-One Biography". Rollingstone.com. Archived from the original on April 8, 2011. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ a b Mitchell, Gail (August 1999). "As Reprise VP And Jive Artist KRS-One. Parker Aims To 'Decriminalize' Hip-Hop". Billboard. Vol. 111, no. 25.
- ^ a b Parker, Lawrence. "KRS-One". Thefreelibrary.com. Thrasher Magazine. Archived from the original on December 14, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
- ^ "Beef". IMDb.com. August 1, 2003. Archived from the original on March 18, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
- ^ "wayneandwax.com » Follow Me Now: The Zigzagging Zunguzung Meme". Wayneandwax.com. Archived from the original on January 10, 2010. Retrieved February 1, 2008.
- ^ "Club Rippa – KRS ONE / Reggae's influence on Boogie Down Productions". www.worldareggae.com. February 24, 2022. Archived from the original on January 6, 2023. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
- ^ Gill, Andy (March 5, 1991). "The Home Guard". Q Magazine. 55: 56–61.
- ^ YouTube: "Return Of Hip Hop" DJ Tomekk feat KRS One, Torch, Mc Rene – Official Video) Archived March 21, 2020, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ GfK Entertainment charts: Offizielle Charts Archived March 21, 2020, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Archived copy". Krsone.org. Archived from the original on April 25, 2012. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "KRS-One & Buckshot :: Survival Skills :: Duck Down Music". Rapreviews.com. September 15, 2009. Archived from the original on June 3, 2012. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
- ^ "Mick Boogie + Nvme + Duck Down Presents: Survival Kit – Free Download!!!". Duckdown.com. Archived from the original on March 29, 2010. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
- ^ "Beat the World (The Original Soundtrack) by Various Artists on iTunes". iTunes. Archived from the original on September 9, 2017. Retrieved March 1, 2017.
- ^ "KRS-One Australian Tour 2012 – Music News, Reviews, Interviews and Culture". Music Feeds. January 12, 2012. Archived from the original on February 21, 2023. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
- ^ 18 mins ago (April 5, 2012). "KRS-One – Sydney". Eventfinder. Archived from the original on February 9, 2014. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "News KRS-One Is Coming to Canberra BMA Magazine Canberra Streetpress". Bmamag.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved July 27, 2013.
- ^ "Ten Celebrities Who Are Afraid of Flying". BET. March 1, 2014. Archived from the original on February 16, 2015. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
- ^ "Between Da Protests [EXTENDED EDITION], by KRS-ONE". KRS-One. Archived from the original on May 9, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- ^ Jones, Grant. "KRS-One :: Between Da Protests – RapReviews". Archived from the original on May 11, 2021. Retrieved May 11, 2021.
- discogs.com.
- ^ a b Thomas, Adam (2009). "Krs-One Discusses Fundamentals of Hip-Hop". udel.edu. Archived from the original on December 14, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
- ^ "KRS Plans New Hip-Hop Religion With 'Gospel of Hip Hop'". Allhiphop.com. Archived from the original on January 15, 2011. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
- ^ "KRS-One Creates New Religion". Sputnikmusic. August 20, 2009. Archived from the original on February 15, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
- ^ "de beste bron van informatie over angryape. Deze website is te koop!". angryape.com. Archived from the original on May 31, 2012. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
- ^ "Music – News – Rapper KRS-One 'starts own religion'". Digital Spy. August 28, 2009. Archived from the original on October 1, 2009. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
- ^ a b Rabin, Nathan (August 25, 2009). "KRS-One writes 600-page hip-hop bible; blueprint for rap religion | Music | Newswire". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on June 18, 2010. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
- ^ Ezra Ace Caraeff. "KRS-One to Rock the Ron Paul Revolution Tour". Portland Mercury. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
- ^ "KRS-One's Stepson Commits Suicide". Allhiphop. Infinity, Allhiphop.com, Inc. July 10, 2007. Archived from the original on July 12, 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
- ^ "KRS-One's son found dead in apparent suicide". NME. July 11, 2007. Archived from the original on December 12, 2007. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
- ^ "For KRS-One's "What's In My Bag?" The Teacha Takes His DJ Son Shopping For Some Real Hip-Hop". Amoeba. March 20, 2011. Archived from the original on March 23, 2011. Retrieved May 27, 2022.
- ^ "KRS-One aka Big Joe Krash "Break The Chain" (1994)". Hiphop Nostalgia. p. 100. Archived from the original on December 14, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
- ^ Widdicombe, Ben; et al. "KRS-One, decency zero". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on December 11, 2006. Retrieved September 6, 2005.
- ^ "KRS-ONE on Hannity's Hot Seat". YouTube. May 18, 2009. Archived from the original on May 13, 2007. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
- ^ The Science of Rap: Lawrence KRS-ONE Parker: Books. L. Parker. September 9, 2009. Archived from the original on February 15, 2024. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
- ISBN 978-1-57687-497-4.
- ^ "The long awaited book from the legendary KRS-ONE THE GOSPEL OF HIP HOP: FIRST INSTRUMENT". powerHouse Books. Archived from the original on January 20, 2011. Retrieved February 20, 2011.
Further reading
- Parmar, Priya (2009). Knowledge Reigns Supreme: The Critical Pedagogy of Hip-Hop Artist KRS-One. Sense Publishers. ISBN 978-9-0778-7450-9.
- Parker, Kenny; Daniels, Rose (2022). My Brother's Name Is Kenny: The Greatest True Hip-Hop Story Ever Told. Kenny Parker Books. ISBN 978-1-7362-7563-4.
External links
- Official website
- KRS-One at IMDb
- KRS-One at AllMusic
- KRS-One discography at Discogs