KRS, Get the F#%K outta here!!
There are some things in life that simply transcend opinion, like Michael Jordan being one of the best basketball players ever to touch a piece of inflated leather, me being a crafty wordsmith that incite lesser bloggers the world over to angrily masturbate to my diatribes - and KRS-One being one of the greatest men to ever grip a microphone apparatus and proceed to make cerebellums within a 2 mile radius explode in unison. I'm certain that if it wasn't for KRS and Chuck, two men who could brilliantly mix the medicine in with the delectable Hip Hop feast they were serving you - there's no way that I'd be the politically aware adult that I am today if it wasn't for them. Because KRS was so instrumental in my political development, feeling the debt I owe to that brother is the epitome of insurmountable - I had taken it upon myself to serve as "the Teacha's" #1 devoted apologist over the years. Sorta. Me not speaking out whenever KRS one perpetrated some egregious action, like him threatening a journalist or nitpicking Jeff Chang's brilliant book "Can't Stop Won't Stop", probably came off to many as a form of silent consent - ala the catholic church during the slave trade. But after seeing this video courtesy of AllHiphop.com, a brother has to break his silence and simply say - KRS, get the fuck outta here with that bullshit!!! I mean, I know that its en vogue to diss Kanye nowadays, it almost seems like a rite-of-passage for struggling MC's and rappers of years past that same way finding a dead body was a corridor to manhood in the movie "Stand by Me" - but to act like 50 Cent's album is a respectable piece of Hip Hop makes me wonder if KRS-One was highly medicated when he said that or on Curtic Jackson's fucking payroll. Also, I'd bet you dollars to donuts that the people who feel that Kanye has a "paint-by-numbers" approach to lyricism would even admit that he spits a better 16 than 50 Cent nowadays.
Outside of sounding like a 50 Cent representative, there were some questionable quotes as well that made me look up at the heavens for some mysterious alien life-form and scream "What have you bastards done to KRS?" - like when he was talking about the Kanye Vs 50 sales battle and said "Why is sales, again, the mark for artistic excellence?" I don't know KRS, ask your new best friend since he was the one that set that standard in the first place. Also, I found it interesting when he also said "We're not all into fashion, and versace, and gucci.. Sorry, not working" - so by that standard Slick Rick isn't Hip Hop either, huh? Jesus Christ man.. I don't know what other way to put this but I feel that KRS should be treated like a fuck-buddy to Hip Hop fans, come through, perform, rock the mic - just please, whatever you do, don't speak!!!
P.S. What is the deal with people dissing Kanye and not "sticking the landing" so to speak, if I may use a gymnastics term that is. If you are going to diss me, then diss me - don't thow jabs at a brother then proceed to qualify it by slipping flimsy compliments in between the verbal slights. That shit is corny.. Ahem, Havoc
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Comments
1.
paula says:
if Kanye's temper tantrums are any indication of the person he is I dont want to be in the same room with him. I might have to spank him and send him to time out he playing with the big boys and every body dont have to like everybody.
10/30/2007 at 9:10 PM
2.
blud bro says:
KRS-1 is RIGHT!!! 50 Cent's album is more "hip-hop" than Kayne's album. Kanye is a modren day Teddy Riley in the sense of fusin' hip-hop wit pop (which is NOT a good look 4 hip-hop) in which Teddy Jam did hip-hop/r&b. Yes, the masses will gravitate toward a "happy" version of hip-hop...but I think I see where KRS-1 was goin' when he said 50 Cent was more hip-hop than Kanye.
50 Cents beats were more in esence of the culture than Kanye's synth-pop-orchestration.
50's lyrics were still resistant & rebellious to the powers that be while Kanye's took a more "friendly" easy-on-the-ear approach.
If Kanye's album set the tone for the future of hip-hop than WE ARE ALL IN TROUBLE!
We would be seein' rappers in pop head-sets, artist on stage the 80's type of guitar-like pianos, and the lead singer (i mean spitter) would be on some gangsta george micheal sh*t!
Hip-Hop is Dead....until somebody bring life to it.
10/19/2007 at 7:12 AM
3.
sylque says:
Wow, but then again not really. I mean, just because a person shows remarkable talent doesn't mean they will be right all the time. KRS definitely was not on the mark this time.
First of all you don't honor someone who hasn't done anything worthy of honoring. Honor goes to those who have 1) blazed a trail, broken a record or set a new standard AND 2) made a positive impact. There are some new people on the scene who have started set new standards but it remains to be seen what the impact will be in the long run.
TI, 50 Cent, and even Kanye have not yet stood the test of time. None of these "young," or new, artist have stood the test of time. You may award them for record sales or thank them for their contribution but that's about it, because the positive impact standard for honor has not been met.
10/13/2007 at 9:04 PM
4.
Brazen says:
Ok...if Hip Hop is about innovation...what is so innovating about 50- Cent talking about getting money- which in reality is not any different than Kanye talking about his bad spending habits on fashion and name brand gear that dominates the music industry...i mean KRS one did make a weak attempt at defining hip hop and rap...but I wouldn't consider TI, or 50 hip hop...I'd consider them rap based on the content of their music...just like i'd consider Lil Boosie and Soulja Boy Rap. Kanye is more Hip Hop and more creative thatn any i've seen, but to each his own. That my opinion and I don't consider myslef an expert on Hip Hop- and never will- but I an a consumer of Hip Hop and will put my money where my heart is- which is one way to answer his questions about sales...But wait, black folks don't even buy music- they burn it...so the sales are coming from the white folks in the suburbs anyway...If you want some REAL Hip HOP...check out Little Brother and then get at me! I rest.
10/13/2007 at 7:56 PM
5.
thembi says:
First, Kanye's album is good hiphop lyrically and inarguaby, no matter how problematic his personality and constant stunting is.
Second, I have long asked, including via my blog, why KRS's dreds dont grow. He's had them for like 10 years now. Why are they still the same length as in the 90s? I KNOW he doesnt cut them. Someone please explain.
Third, the second time I met Kris (in 1997), which was the first time he looked me in the eye, the friend of his that introduced us told him that I had just been accepted to Harvard and he said "Oh, Harvard? I'm sorry to hear that." I thought that was EXTRA corny. You are not Large Professor or Marcus Garvey. You know damn well you respect mainstream knowledge and the power that comes with black folks advancing and, as a matter of fact, studying under black scholars like Cornel West who have openly sweated. Stop trying to be extra because you're insecure about the fact Step Into a World didnt do what you wan't it to!!! Sorry, I'm still bitter about being played by an icon 10 years ago, but I dont believe there are many more icons to come. Like the rest of the influencers of 'the good old days' KRiS has been fighting irrelevence for so many years, how could one not become bitter?
10/13/2007 at 3:48 AM
6.
Jane B says:
I agree with your opinion, 50 Cents album sounds more like a bowel movement than anything else, what kind of horseshit is KRS on anyways? I'm no fan of Kanye, but his album completely date rapes Curtus' botched abortion. Now, THAT"S real talk.
Jane
10/12/2007 at 3:06 AM
7.
Knotts says:
The man was giving his opinion bottomline. He wasn't even that far off base either. Kanye's album is not a true hip-hop album in the sense of the beats and melodies he chose. Still it's a good album (I personally like 9 of the 13 tracks) but of the two, 50 Cent's album was more hip-hop in the traditional sense of the genre... I hope posting this blog got you some hits since I don't agree with your OPINION either...
10/12/2007 at 2:46 AM
8.
epsilonicus says:
Wow. I am disappointed in KRS-One. I wish this video dod not exist.
10/12/2007 at 1:51 AM
9.
Anonymous says:
haha ringtone rappers?
10/12/2007 at 1:30 AM
10.
BK red says:
oh no... he really sounded like an idiot to me there. i would never have imagined krs-1 would be supporting 50 cent as an artist. sounds like he is actually jealous of kanye & his success. now, i find kanye's constant whining and bragging obnoxious, but i'll take him over 50 cent any day. man, krs is so self-righteous sometimes. shuuuut up.
10/11/2007 at 11:59 PM
11.
spaceage1 says:
Wow...KRS said that he's a street dude, and that was one reason that he felt 50 more than Kanye. What's foul is that it's been shown time and time again that 50 isn't a real street dude (or a real dude, period, for that matter), while, at least, Kanye spits what he REALLY is feeling. Yeah...I think Curtis must be paying him. I don't think KRS albums have been moving that much lately either. *SMH at KRS.*
10/11/2007 at 9:45 PM