KRS-One [EXPLICIT LYRICS]

Krs-One

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 10, 1995)
• Original Release Date: November 7, 1995
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Explicit Lyrics
• Label: Jive
• ASIN: B00000052Y
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #51,206 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Master And His Pupils, January 22, 2001

By	3rdeadly3rd (Brisbane, Queensland Australia) - See all my reviews

From the instant this album starts with props to KRS from just about every Old School rapper, DJ or figure you can think of, you know that this is going to be an album with distinct nods to the past. When you see who features on some of these tracks (Fat Joe, Channel Live, Das EFX and Mad Lion), you know that the album's going to look forward to the future.

KRS is one of hip-hop's elder statesmen, having made his mark as frontman for Boogie Down Productions ("The Bridge Is Over"), with this album he registers two solo albums as well. As a result of his experience, he knows what he's talking about - when he claims "Rappers R N Dainja" or "MCs Act Like They Don't Know" he means it.

Another feature of his vintage is that he comes from a time when MCs lived and died by the lyrics they recited, not by the catchiness of a hook or funk of a beat. Thus, he is able to preach his sociological messages while still making superb rhymes. If anyone doubts his sociological qualifications, he has done many lecture tours and ("wrote over 1000 rhyme hooks/and sociological books/while you were worrying about your looks").

One slight downside to KRS-ONE's style is that the abrasive nature of his voice can sometimes get irritating, it's a good thing then that he has brought in rappers with distinctive styles and voices to balance his. This practice does have its downside though, "De Automatic" is one of the stronger tracks on the album but the outro has the only appearance of Fat Joe repeating the words "The south Bronx/The south south Bronx", which seems to interrupt the flow a bit. The same is slightly less true for "Wannabemcees" where Mad Lion's distinctive toasting style only turns up in the outro (at least it is more grabbing than Fat Joe's rap).

The best tracks on the album would probably be "Wannabemcees", "De Automatic" and "Hold" (in which KRS tells a story with one of the most amazing rhyme schemes ever recorded). Honorable mention would go to "MCs Act Like They Don't Know" where, over a DJ Premier beat, KRS does a version of Kurtis Blow's intro to "The Breaks" ("Clap your hands everybody if you've got what it takes/Coz I'm KRS and I'm on the mike and Premier's on the breaks" as opposed to "Clap your hands everybody if you've got what it takes/Coz I'm Kurtis Blow and I want you to know that these are the breaks").

On the whole, KRS-ONE delivers another sterling performance, highlighted by amazing use of the mike and a great instinct to give the people what they want - straight up with a twist.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars krs one's self titled album, July 24, 2004

By	South Centralz MoSt Wanted (South Central L.A.) - See all my reviews

this is a classic album, and it's krs-one's best, it includes the well known hit single mcs act like they don't know, but my favorite song was represent the real hip hop, this is a must have album, it made '95 one of hip hop's best years.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars KRS-One's best post-BDP album?, February 14, 2005

By	withthebeatzwiththerhymez - See all my reviews

One thing's certain: If you're trying to find out why KRS is considered by many to be one of the greatest emcees of all time, look no further than his self-titled 1995 album, "KRS-One." The Blastmaster kicks scathing battle rhymes ("MCs Act Like They Don't Know") over hardcore, boombastic beats ("Rappers R N Danja") and proves why he is THE definition of an emcee by FREESTYLING his verses on the album's main criticism of fake emcees, "Wannabemceez." Elsewhere KRS explores the frustrated ghetto mind ("Hold"), encourages blacks to use compromise over killing ("Squash All Beef"), questions orthodox Christianity ("The Truth"), and puts a muzzle on rap critics ("Free Mumia"). To understand the overall tone of the album, an excerpt from "Rappers R N Danja":

"I remember thinkin' back to '83, no video no you had to be a real live emcee! Now you youngins grow up buggin, any new jock your huggin,' weak production, let me tell you somethin: Any emcee can battle for glory, but to kick a dope rhyme to wake up your people's another story. Act like you never saw me, cauz when it comes to lyrics, I'm in a different category!"

Cop this album today and enlighten yourself.