Krs— one
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Text Box: Lawrence 'Krishna' Parker (born August 20, 1965), known as KRS-One, is an American hip hop MC. Over his career he has been known by several pseudonyms, including Kris Parker, The Blastmaster and The Teacha. KRS-One is a significant figure in the hip hop community and is often referenced in works by other hip hop artists and critics as being the "essence" of an MC and among the greatest rappers to hold the mic. Parker has fashioned KRS-One as a backronym: Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everybody. The name "KRS" originates as a Graffiti tag, which was an abbreviation of his nickname "Krishna" which he obtained by socialising with Hare Krishnas earlier in his life. Other graffiti artists also tagged "KRS", so he made his tag KRS1 to differentiate himself from the others. Originally a member of the hip hop crew Boogie Down Productions, KRS-One is now known for setting the path for both hardcore rap and socially conscious political rap. 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. He attracted many prominent MCs to appear on the 12-inch "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 KRS-ONE into the backronym "Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone". On his first solo album, 1993's Return of the Boom Bap, Parker worked together with producers DJ Premier (Gang Starr), Showbiz and Kid Capri. The catchy yet hardcore track "Sound of da Police" is featured on this album. His second album, 1995's KRS-One featured Channel Live on the track "Free Mumia", a political protest song about Mumia Abu-Jamal, an African-American and Black Panther member who a vocal group of activists on the political left claim is innocent of the murder of a police officer for which he was convicted. Other prominent guest artists on KRS One included Mad Lion, Busta Rhymes, Das EFX and Fat Joe. KRS-One's 2004 album, Keep RightIn 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, Parker 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, Parker 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. He moved to southern California, and stayed there for two years, 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 music-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 album Life, was released in June 2006. Another album, Adventures in Emceein, is slated for later in the year. KRS-One has also confirmed that for his next album of new material — expected to be out in 2007 — he will be working with Marley Marl. Chinga Chang Records CEO DMAK has placed unreleased material from KRS-One on the upcoming European release Stackin Euros. Chinga Chang Records also has places 3 unreleased on "Offical Joints". Being released March 5th 2007. In 2004, KRS engendered a controversy when he was quoted in a panel discussion hosted by The New Yorker magazine as saying that "we 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." In late 2005, KRS released a remix of the song "Bin Laden", which blames U.S. conservatives, the Reagan Doctrine and U.S. President George W. Bush for the September 11, 2001 attacks. The song was originally released by Immortal Technique and DJ Green Lantern in Summer 2005. Parker responded to the furor surrounding his comments with an editorial written for AllHipHop.com, stating: “ 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... ” Popular culture KRS-One is also the title of a song on Sublime's 40 oz. to Freedom album. The song is a tribute to the aforementioned musician. KRS-One is also the name of the double-team finishing maneuver of the pro wrestling tag team, the Kings of Wrestling. In the 1992 film Bob Roberts, the host of a Saturday Night Live-style TV show repeatedly claims that he had expected KRS-One to guest rather than Roberts, a conservative politician. Commercials KRS-One's song "Steady Bounce", from his 2001 album Strickly for da Breakdancers & Emceez, is played throughout the 30-second commercial for Chrysler's Jeep Compass which began airing in the U.S. in July 2006. The commercial features dozens of bobblehead characters bouncing their head up and down while the song is being played. The sample used by KRS-One in this popular commercial is a sped up vocal sample which loops the phrase "Steady bouncing in Jeeps on the New York Streets", a line from 1990s rapper Nine's popular song "Whatcha Want?". Also in this commercial, the phrase KRS-One is seen on the vehicle's car display. KRS-One's song "Get Your Self Up" from his album The Sneak Attack was used in a Lugz commercial. References Wikipedia, Widdicombe, Ben, et al. "KRS-One, decency zero." New York Daily News. Retrieved on 2005-09-06. External links Official website Official Temple Of Hip-Hop Site KRS-ONE Official myNetSpot Site KRS-ONE Official MySpace Site Text Box: Text Box:

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