KRS One

Lawrence Krisna Parker (born August 20, 1965) is an emcee born in Park Slope, Brooklyn, USA. Over his career he has been known by several psuedonyms, including Kris Parker, KRS One, The Blastmaster and The Teacha. KRS One is a highly respected figure in the hip hop community and is often referenced in works by other hip hop artists.

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".

Related Topics:
HEAL - Stop the Violence Movement - 12-inch single - Battle rap - Backronym

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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 journalist who was widely believed to be 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.

Related Topics:
1993 - DJ Premier - Gang Starr - Showbiz - Kid Capri - Channel Live - Mumia Abu-Jamal - African-American - Mad Lion - Busta Rhymes - Das EFX - Fat Joe

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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. "Hearbeat", 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.

Related Topics:
1997 - 1970s - Blondie - Puff Daddy - Angie Martinez - Redman - Treacherous Three

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In 1999, there were tentative plans to release an album called "The Sneak Attack"; 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 here 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 . He has most recently released Keep Right in the summer of 2004.

Related Topics:
The Corruptor - Reprise Records - Jive Records - A Retrospective - 2001 - The Sneak Attack - Koch Records - 2002 - Temple of Hiphop - Kristyles - Keep Right - 2004

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