Boom Bap

Time to review the artist who is the face of real hip-hop, no other two emcees have influenced hip-hop quite like KRS-ONE and Rakim. But today I’ll be reviewing the former and which in my opinion is his best album, the exact album which inspired this blog… Return of the Boom Bap, which means just that the return of the real hard beats and real rap, something which is sorely lacking in the rap industry today.

KRS in spite of all this is still striving to keep the genres credibility alive along with other underground hip-hop acts. He’s arguably the best rapper to ever grasp a microphone and is renowned for his political and social lyrics and the ability to rock live shows without special effects, props or whatever. You could say he’s got all the attributes of all the rap legends but rolled into one.

His moniker is actually an acronym meaning ‘Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone'. He's also the founding member of the legendary late 80’s/early 90’s hip hop group Boogie Down Productions(BDP).
KRS, still after all these years is considered one of the best lyricists in the industry. And that’s why I take great pleasure in reviewing his solo album which he recorded in 1994 after leaving BDP.

Track Listing

1) Krs-One Attacks
2) Outta Here
3) Black cop
4) Mortal Thought
5) I Can't Wake Up
6) Slap Them Up
7) Sound Of Da Police
8) Mad Crew
9) Uh Oh
10) Brown Skin Woman
11) Return Of The Boom Bap
12) "P" Is Still Free
13) Stop Frontin'
14) Higher Level

The album starts off with a "KRS-One Attacks" which is a short DJ Premier scratched mix cut which pulls out no stops as that laced over a beautifully heavy drum loop with a collection of KRS samples, this is a truly great way to start the album.

'How many real hip hoppers in the place right now!?’

Onto my favourite track on the album, "Outta Here", in which KRS raps over a thumping hard drum beat laced with light background piano key. Here he tells of his career story on how he got where he is while taking shots at his critics and name dropping great albums that came out of hip hops golden era at the same time. With lyrics like this, you’ll know what I mean..

"While I'm battling these rival crews...Yes! BDP was there in the street news.
Some said all they want to do is battle, they can't write a song, so their careers won't last long. Around this time I used to hang with Ced Gee. And DJ Scott La Rock used to buy gold with Eric B, I didn't meet Rakim till later with Scott,
I remember we were jammin' at the rooftop.
It used to irk me when these critics had opinions. Scott would say "Just keep rappin', I'll keep spinnin' '', We had a fucked up contract, but we signed it.
And dropped the hip-hop album Criminal Minded, we told the critics your opinions are bull, same time Eric B and Rakim dropped Paid in Full.
Hip-hop pioneers we didn't ask to be, but right then hip-hop changed drastically"

"Black Cop" produced by DJ Premier a hard base thuds through the front, accompanied by a rather catchy background chorus of 'Wayyyy Ohhh'. What would this beat be without a Premier scratching? I cannot fully prepare people for the quality of production not only on this song but the whole album. On this track KRS decides to go social with his lyrics.

"The black cop is the only real obstacle, black slave turned black cop is not logical. But very psychological, haven't you heard? It's the BLACK COP killing’ black kids in Johannesburg"

"I Can't Wake Up" , Over a unique base, going up and down the same scale, turpentining, deliberately causing suspense for this listener, KRS literally counts down 10 seconds before he raps. His steady voice counts down the ten seconds beautifully calmly, with the scaled base pulsating in the background. Over light horns and police sirens a jazzy snare and hi-hat race through, almost pacing the fast action of a police chase. On this track KRS runs down the weed smoking hip hoppers in the industry, and manages still to leave you full of wisdom.

"And said who rolled this and passed me to Kid Capri. Kid Capri said "I wont front pass it to Redman, he knows how to roll a blunt". Redman said no need to re-roll and passed me to De La Soul. De La Soul took a hit and kept hitting, now they're bugging cause they passed me to Bill Clinton"

The brilliant "Sound Of Da Police", pulls no stops from production to lyrics. With KRS lapping voice rolling over the beginning of the track exclaiming 'Whoop Whoop', that’s the sound of da police. Whoop Whoop, that’s the sound of the beast', you know you’re in for controversy! Premier's signature samples come into play with a voice of a man calling not very loudly 'Yes indeed'. Kid Capri calls the background stock as he passes over the a thunderous base, jazzy, relaxing, melodic keys. Well with a title like this, you know this is going to be nothing short of political vengeance.

So here it is my second favourite cut and one of KRS’s best ever tracks, lyrically and production wise, "Mad Crew". KRS starts of this track by claiming calling over loudly ‘This is a shout out to all the real DJ's...'. His speech proceeds for about 15 seconds and a thunderous, beautiful colliding crashes over the top. Premier's production show him at his finest, as his raw beat spills real hip hop everywhere. KRS comes with his now famous battle lyrics that no one would dare contend with.

"I break an MC off proper, yo don't check me, ask your Moms and Pops, yo they respect me. But here you stand, trying' to get yours, but getting' NOTHIN', you probably can't spell "Boogie Down" or "Productions"

"Brown Skin Woman" is probably as touching as KRS can get! That’s not to be rude, but I can’t really see the blast master lusting over the microphone claiming love for women. But still not straying far from his political roots, he manages to conduct a song about black women.
Over a thudding base and jazzy trumpets flowing over the top, he flips rhymes of passion and political stanza.

"P’ Is Still Frontin". Over a deep, melodic scaling base, electric keys come into play. There’s a recent song that has sampled this. But, anyway the timing is impeccable, and the whole style just screams the Bronx. KRS doesn’t spit battle ruff lyrics, actually a story about a girl who goes out selling herself because she needs money to feed her son and her addiction.

"But look what she did, she went and had a kid -- no dad and just released her ass out the rehab. You think she'd act like she don't know, she's still a hoe, but umm check my man for the show"

The album ends on a high note with "Higher Level" which is the most relaxing track on the album because it takes a long build up before KRS actually starts rapping. It’s 1993, and KRS takes it back old school, over blaring trumpets, and a coaxed beat Premiers styles the base perfectly as it flies over the trumpets. KRS brings great lyrics that capture the listeners attention. Classic.

That concludes my review of one of my favourite albums. So, do yourself a favour and cop this classic album….. you know you want too :P

MY RATING - 5/5

This entry was posted on Sunday, July 10, 2005 at 11:16 am. You can skip to the end and leave a response.