Tag Archives: krs-one

Graff Rap: Five MCs That Are Known Wall Writers

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“Cause I’m playin ball or bobbin’ in the hall/ or just writin’ my name in graffiti on the wall..”

Rakim “My Melody” circa 1986

Very few of today’s Hip Hop enthusiasts understand the history and impact of aerosol art or graffiti on the culture that we all know and love. As the eldest of Hip Hop’s original four pillars, its visual self expression is rooted in some of the roughest streets of New York and Philadelphia, depending on who you ask.

Then you have the youngest of the four pillars, emceeing, which is the verbal expression of the street culture and the euphemism “the handwriting on the wall” is told from the POV of the MC. In the 80s and 90s, there several of the era’s most prolific emcees began their “careers” in Hip Hop as graff artists. Some of them have continued to pursue their love to paint and some will give you a tag when you request an autograph.

The Source has decided to compose a list of five emcees that you may or may not know have hand styles for miles and Old Gold can control!

KRS -ONE

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Brooklyn-born/Bronx-raised Hip Hop legend KRS-One was a graffiti writer before he was known as the “Blastmaster” of Boogie Down Productions, scribing his name all over the streets of Brooklyn and the Bronx during his time at a men’s shelter where he met the late DJ Scott La Rock.

Fat Joe

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The Bronx is widely known to have produced some of MYC’s greatest graffiti writers and Fat Joe aka Joey Crack aka CRACK TS is a part of that legacy. The Terror Squad was originally a street crew and with graffiti being apart of their outfit, you could find CRACK TS pieces and throw ups near Forest Projects as late as 1993 when Joe dropped his first single “Flow Joe”. Above, you can see a throwie that CRACK painted in Lil Wayne’s home.

MF DOOM

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One of the most revered and worshipped figures on the Hip Hop landscape is the late MF DOOM. Formerly known as Zev Love X from the conscious trio KMD, DOOM later established himself as a solo artist, but his assumed nom de plume DOOM became more of a staple of his identity. DOOM throwies could be found around lower Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and even other countries with his CM(Criminal Minded) crew inscribed in his piece. The DOOM throwie is still a seminal piece of the MF DOOM/Metalface brand and will be always be one of the most recognizable throws in the graff game.

DJ KAY SLAY

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The illustrious “Drama King” DJ Kay Slay(R.I.P.) was an integral part of the graffiti culture long before he was known for terrorizing the mixtape scene in the late 90s and early 2000s. Known among writers as Dezzy Dez aka DEZ TFA, Slay appeared in the 1983 NYC graffiti introduction documentary Style Wars as a 16-year-old graff expert, even schooling a younger artist named TRAP to the tricks of the trade almost four decades ago. No, he isn’t an emcee, but we had to pay homage to a true pioneer of Hip Hop culture. Rest In Paint Kay Slay

TAME ONE

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As one half of the lyrical Newark-based duo The Artifacts, TAME was just as active with a can, if not more, as he was on the mic. As a member of NJ graff crew BOOM SKWAD, TAME’s name could be seen as large as full productions and as small as marker tags all over Newark, East Orange and Irvington while he and El Da Sensei worked their two albums , 1994’s Between A Rock And A Hard Place and 1997’s That’s Them. TAME ONE aka Raheim Brown will forever be remembered as one of the best bombers to pick up a mic. R.I.P.

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Today In Hip Hop History: KRS-One Dropped His Second Solo LP ‘KRS-One’ 29 Years Ago

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Today in Hip Hop history prolific South Bronx philosopher KRS-One released his second solo LP KRS-One (an acronym for Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone). With this album, the former Boogie Down Productions MC makes an attempt to reconnect with the younger scene in New York. The tone and style of this album fit more into the fold of popular rap music coming out of the Big Apple in ’95 allowing KRS-ONE to regain popularity among youthful Hip Hop fans.

With revamped production and features from the likes of Fat Joe, Busta Rhymes, Das EFX, and Mad Lion, this project only added to KRS-One’s repertoire. With this album KRS-One showed the could not only keep alive his brand of educational hardcore boom bap; but, that he could transition and taper his bars to a more high energy, party driven crowd.

Commercially, this album was a success. Peaking at #19 on the Billboard 200 and #2 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Charts, it was obvious that KRS-One had yet to fade into the pages of Hip Hop history. Both critics and fans alike responded well to this slight style change, marking it as a moment of experimentation instead of accusing KRS-One of selling out. Fellow rap heavyweight also chimed in with their opinions of KRS-One work on the actual album. The LP is aced with interludes of radio shout-outs from rappers Method Man, Lord Finesse, Rakim, Jeru the Damaja, Mr. Magic, and even MC Shan who at one point had beef with Boogie Down Productions.

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Today In Hip Hop History: KRS-One Released ‘Return Of The Boom Bap’ LP 31 Years Ago

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Blastmaster KRS 1 dropped his first solo album 31 years ago today

Sometimes the best way to do things is to do it yourself. This is the realization that KRS, the general of the Boogie Down Productions crew, came to when he dropped Return Of The Boom Bap. It was his first solo LP and was recorded almost totally in the legendary D&D Studios. With production from DJ Premier, Kid Capri, and Showbiz of Showbiz & A.G. while being promoted and marketed by Jive Records, this album is one of Hip Hop’s buried treasures. Rated 4 mics by The Source Magazine, songs like “Outta Here” spoke directly to new jack emcees seeking fame, while tracks like “Black Cop” and “Sound Of The Police” spoke consciousness to the masses and still rocked the clubs. The album peaked at #37 on the Billboard 200.

We thank the Blastmaster for such a classic project that has stood the test of time. Salute!

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Today in Hip-Hop History: BDP’s Scott La Rock Shot And Killed In The Bronx 37 Years Ago

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On this date 37 years ago, Scott Sterling aka DJ Scott La Rock of Boogie Down Productions was shot and killed in the South Bronx.

In an attempt to break up a fight on 167th and University Avenue near the Highbridge Housing Projects in the South Bronx, Scott Sterling, known to the world as DJ Scott La Rock of the mighty Boogie Down Productions, was shot and killed, he died on the scene.

The shooting was the first of its kind in Hip Hop, with BDP being one of the main artists to usher in the “Golden Era”, it was a shock to the entire Hip Hop community to have KRS-1’s DJ shot in cold blood. Ironically, this happened during the apex of their classic debut album Criminal Minded, where Scott and Kris were posing with pistols, rifles, and no smiles. Sterling’s death fueled KRS to start the Stop The Violence Movement, which was widely publicized with the By All Means Necessary album, and the star-studded “Self Destruction” single.

RIP to Scott La Rock! He Still Lives Thru His Music!

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Diamond D Taps 38 Spesh, RJ Payne, Inspectah Deck, KRS-One, And More For ‘The Diam Piece 3: INITIUM’ Album

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Grammy-winning Hip-Hop legend Diamondreleased The Diam Piece album in 2014, followed by the project’s sequel, The Diam Piece 2, in 2019. Today (8/16/2024),  the Diggin’ In The Crates Crew co-founding member shares INITIUM, the first of three parts to The Diam Piece 3, which will serve as the final installment in Diamond D’s production compilation series. With star-studded guest features such as Fatman ScoopSkyzooRJ Payne38 Spesh, and more, INITIUM will be followed by Duo and Tria to complete The Diam Piece 3 over the course of the next 12 months.

I would never release an album with 28 songs in this age of short attention spans. With that being said, I’ll be releasing he ‘Diam Piece III’ album in three separate parts over a 12 month timespan: ‘INITIUM’, ‘Duo’ & ‘Tria’. This will give each release a chance to breathe on its own and to be appreciated. The Diam Piece 3 album will complete the trinity for my production series. It was an honor to work with all the talented spitters on the new album. If you’re familiar with both Diam Piece parts 1 and 2 then you already know what to expect: hard hitting tracks and dope lyricism. I stand on that.” – Diamond D

The Diam Piece 3: INITIUM arrives on all major digital streaming platforms via Dymond Mine Records/EMPIRE just a month short of the 32nd anniversary of Diamond D’s 1992 classic debut Stunts, Blunts and Hip Hop.

The post Diamond D Taps 38 Spesh, RJ Payne, Inspectah Deck, KRS-One, And More For ‘The Diam Piece 3: INITIUM’ Album first appeared on The Source.

The post Diamond D Taps 38 Spesh, RJ Payne, Inspectah Deck, KRS-One, And More For ‘The Diam Piece 3: INITIUM’ Album appeared first on The Source.

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Today In Hip Hop History: BDP’s ‘Edutainment’ LP Dropped 34 Years Ago

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Produced primarily by the Blastmaster KRS himself along with the Human 808 D-Nice, Edutainment is arguably one of BDP’s best albums before KRS began to venture into solo projects. The title was definitive of its contents; education through the entertainment of Hip-Hop music. This album was also the most populated in terms of members of Boogie Down Productions, with appearances from Ms. Melodie, her sister Harmony, Jamal Ski, D-Nice, Willie Dee, Mc Boo, and Kris’ brother Kenny Parker. Prior to this, BDP only consisted of D-Nice, KRS, and the late DJ Scott La Rock.

The 21 song track listing included songs and skits, which were called “Exhibits”, where The Teacha and Black Power icon Kwame Ture spoke to cheering crowds about various subjects pertaining to Black people. Joints like the premier single “Love Is Gonna Getcha”, “Breath Control II”, and “Blackman In Effect” not only showed Kris’ cultural and political knowledge, but magnified his lyrical ability to adapt to any subject. “100 Guns”, which was remade by Ja Rule and Fat Joe during their beef with 50 Cent, further solidified the album’s street cred. From “Beef”(healthy eating) to “30 Cops Or More”(police brutality), Edutainment carried the appropriate title for what was in store for its listeners.

Supreme salute to KRS, the whole BDP crew from that era, and the entire BX. Peace!

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Today in Hip Hop History: Boogie Down Productions Released Their Second LP ‘By All Means Necessary’ 36 Years Ago

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On this day in 1988, Boogie Down Productions dropped one of the best and most influential albums of all time. It was widely seen as one of, if not the first, politically conscious efforts in Hip Hop.

KRS-One was initially popular for fueling the Juice Crew vs. BDP beef on wax and expanding intellectual Hip Hop music through 1987, with the release of Criminal Minded. However, when BDP’s DJ Scott La Rock was shot and killed in the South Bronx, it profoundly affected the Brooklyn native, which resulted in a drastic rethinking of his on-record persona. The “Blastmaster” began to talk about many of the issues plaguing the black community, like police brutality, government corruption, and institutionalized racism. Later on, he gave birth to his “Stop the Violence” Campaign. By All Means Necessary was one of the first albums the group made after Scott La Rock’s death that would have a lasting effect on generations to come.

As “The Teacher,” on perhaps one of the most influential tracks from the LP, “Stop the Violence,” he spits,

“I look, but it doesn’t coincide with my books/Social Studies will not speak upon hard hitting crooks/It’s just the Presidents, and all the money they spent/All the things they invent, and how their house is so immaculate/They create missiles, my family’s eating gristle/Then they get upset when the press blows the whistle”

As a plea to end violence in Hip Hop, which still hasn’t been heeded, KRS-One took on the role of the spearhead of Hip Hop’s Stop The Violence Movement, choosing the single “Self Destruction” as the lead single.

With classic tracks like “Nervous,” nearly every track on the album had a distinct narrative, and even the album cover art and the theme were Malcolm X (By Any Means Necessary) inspired. On the track “Jimmy,” the rapper became the first rapper to speak on the AIDS/HIV epidemic that plagued Black and Brown communities in America. In the song “Illegal Business,” Kris gives the masses a startling perception of the drug trade and how it corrupts the police and the government.

Salute to KRS and the Boogie Down Productions crew for giving us this epic piece of Hip Hop history!

“It’s not about a salary, it’s all about reality..”

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Today In Hip Hop History: Rawkus Records Released The ‘Lyricist Lounge Volume One’ Album 26 Years Ago

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On May 5th, 1998 Rawkus Records released the first installment of the Lyricist Lounge albums titled Lyricist Lounge, Volume One, which showcased New York. It was a double-disc compilation that featured De La Soul, Mos Def, Q-Tip, Tash of Tha Alkaholiks, Punch & Words, O.C, Ras Kass, Black Thought, Common, Pharoahe Monch, Saul Williams, Kool Keith, Talib Kweli & Hi-Tek, Bahamadia, Rah Digga, Shabaam Sahdeeq, Jurassic 5, KRS-One, Zack de la Rocha of Rage Against the Machine, Last Emperor, and Company Flow.

This CD is one of those that you don’t get often. It had incredible and intensely clever wordplay, and was great for the culture because of the positive support it showed for hip hop. Back then everyone thought hip-hop was rap music and rap music was gangsta. It made people think twice before making an assumption like that. Any hip-hop purist who enjoys freestyles and great rhymes that make you think then this is the album for you.

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KRS-One And Kurtis Blow Receive Presidential Lifetime Achievement Awards At The National Hip Hop Museum Induction Ceremony

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The iconic and pioneering careers of Bronx Hip Hop legends KRS-One and Kurtis Blow were honored last week as both living legends received Presidential Lifetime Achievement Awards at the National Hip Hop Museum Induction Ceremony.

AllHipHop reported that President Biden honored Kris and Kurtis at the NHHM in D.C. on Thursday(April 4). Hosted at the RIAA’s Headquarters, the two Hip Hop icons were commemorated with a speech from Reverend Dr. George Holmes.

“There are two ways for a leader to go through life: as a thermometer or as a thermostat,” Holmes said. “The thermometer merely measures the climate, but the thermostat sets the tone and creates it. That’s who you are, KRS-One and Kurtis Blow.”

President Biden did not attend the celebration, however, a letter written to the honorees from the POTUS was read in front of the 300+ attendees.

“As it is with Kurtis Blow, as it is with you, America’s story depends not on any one of us, not on some of us, but on all of us,” read the letter. “On behalf of the American people, President Biden extends his heartfelt appreciation to you for your volunteer leadership, and he encourages you to continue to answer the call to serve. The country is still counting on you.”

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Today in Hip-Hop History: Boogie Down Productions Dropped Their ‘Sex And Violence’ Album 31 Years Ago

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On this date in 1993, KRS-One and the rest of the Boogie Down Productions crew dropped the Sex And Violence album, which was the fifth and last album put out by the pioneering Bronx-based Hip Hop collective.

The album produced less than lackluster sales, partially, according to KRS, because of his incident where he threw PM Dawn rapper Prince B off the stage during one of their performances. Kris also used this album to address his beef with X-Clan because of KRS’ proclamation of humanism rather than embracing X-Clan’s aggressive form of Afrocentricity.

This album touched on many of the social issues of the time, including the rape trial of Mike Tyson on “Say Gal,” “Build And Destroy,” where he addressed his humanist views and “13 And Good,” where Kris talks about the commonality of statutory rape.

Salute to “The Teacher” and the rest of BDP including Prince Paul, Heather B and Kenny Parker for making this album an underground classic!

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