KRS-ONE: ‘Technology is Attempting to Manipulate Hip-Hop
By Christopher Harris, The Village Voice – At 26, KRS-One sneered, crouched, and raised his fists in a fighting stance on the cover of the Village Voice’s June 1992 Rock ‘n’ Roll Quarterly edition. Within a sprawling twenty-two-page Q&A, penned by Robert Christgau, the Voice examined the young rapper’s ideologies in a cover story titled “The History of The World According to KRS-One.” Having reviewed all five of Boogie Down Productions’ studio albums, from Criminal Minds to Sex and Violence, Christgau identified at the time that the group’s outspoken frontman was “certain to remain a revered rap elder.”
He was right. At age 50, KRS-One, born Lawrence “Krisna” Parker, is as exalted as can be in the genre, and the tenured, self-proclaimed “teacha” is pushing for proper hip-hop education on college campuses. His latest album, Now Hear This, finds KRS-One edutaining once more about societal injustices: a failed war on drugs, the Confederate and American Flag both standing as symbols of hatred, and immigration reform, among other topics. Over boom-bap beats reminiscent of rap’s golden age, KRS-One delivers his distinct message through unfiltered rhymes chock full of subject matter you’re more likely to hear at a town hall meeting than on the radio. Read the full story at The Village Voice. Also check out KRS-ONE.com
