KRS-One

At 58 years old, KRS-One has this physical status:

Lawrence "Kris" Parker (born August 20, 1965), better known by his stage names KRS-One, and Teacha, is an American rapper and occasional producer from The Bronx, New York.

He rose to prominence as part of the hip hop music group Boogie Down Productions, which he formed with DJ Scott La Rock in the mid-1980s.

KRS-One is best known for his top hits, "Sound of da Police", "Love's gonna get'cha (material love)" and "My Philosophy".

Boogie Down Productions received numerous awards and critical acclaim in their early years.

Following the release of the group's debut album, Criminal Minded, Scott La Rock was shot and killed, but KRS-One continued the group, effectively as a solo project.

He began releasing records under his own name in 1993.

He is politically active, having started the Stop the Violence Movement after La Rock's death.

He also is a vegan activist, seen by songs such as "Beef".

He is considered as an influence to many artists today, including Eminem.

Personal life

KRS-One is a vocal supporter of veganism.

He supported Ron Paul for president during his 2012 run.

KRS-One's step-son (Randy Parker) was found dead in his Atlanta, Georgia, apartment on July 6, 2007. The Medical Examiner's office stated that Parker had died of a gunshot wound to the head, and listed the cause of death as suicide.

His son Kris Parker (born 1992) is an aspiring music producer and DJ known as Predator Prime.

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Solo career

KRS-One decided to go out on his own after five relatively solo albums under the name "Boogie Down Productions." He coproduced with composers DJ Premier, Kid Capri, and Showbiz on his first solo album, "Sound of Da Police," the latter's track. His second album, 1995's KRS-One, debuted on Channel Live on "Free Mumia," a song in which they mock Civil Rights activist C. Delores Tucker, among other things. Mad Lion, Busta Rhymes, Das EFX, and Fat Joe were among the KRS-One's most popular guest stars.

KRS-One appeared on alternative rock band R.E.M. in 1991. The band's album Out of Time" was released the same year as his single "Radio Song," which appeared on the band's album "Out of Time."

Bradley Nowell of Sublime performed "KRS-One" in 1992, as he and DJ's samples appeared in a coustic song called "KRS-One" in the sublime.

KRS formed Channel Live in 1995, the majority of which was produced by KRS, as well as Rheji Burrell and Salaam Remi.

KRS shocked many in 1997 with the unveiling of the album I Got Next. "Step into a World (Rapture's Delight)," the album's lead single, included an interpolation of punk and new wave band Blondie, was followed by a remix featuring commercial rapper Puff Daddy; another track was essentially a rock song. Though the album will be his best-selling solo album (reaching #3 on the Billboard 200), several followers and observers of the vehemently anti-mainstream KRS-One by surprise, both mainstream artists and prominent, easily identifiable samples.

KRS-One's first appearance on Tim Westwood's BBC Radio 1, in August 1997, they chastised the station for not playing underground hip hop, while still lauding Westwood for his hip hop promotion over time. Jive Records and Radio One did not endorse him, according to KRS-One, but after celebrating Westwood with "You know you're my man."

Maximum Strength was on hold in 1999, with lead single "5 Boroughs" being released on the Corruptor soundtrack. However, KRS seems to have decided to cancel the album's planned release just as he had secured a job as a Vice President of A&R at Reprise Records. The shelved album was supposed to be released in 2008, but instead of that, Maximum Strength 2008 was released in its place. He migrated to southern California and spent two years, before relocating to Jive Records with A Retrospective in 2000.

In 2000, KRS-One and DJ Tomekk produced a video for their single Return of Hip-Hop with German rappers Torch and MC Rene, in which hip-hop was revived by hospital workers. The album remained in the German charts for nine weeks.

In 2001, KRS resigned from his A&R job at Reprise and returned to recording with a series of albums, beginning with 2001's The Sneak Attack on Koch Records. Spiritual Minded, his 2002 gospel-rap collection, surprised many longtime followers; he had once condemned Christianity as a "slavemaster religion" that African-Americans should not follow. The Temple of Hiphop, an initiative established to preserve and promote "Hiphop Culture," was founded during this period. Kristyles and D.I.G.A.L., 2004's Keep Right, and 2006's Life were among the subsequent publications, including 2003's Kristyles and D.I.T.A.L.

Hip-Hop Lives, his 2007 collaboration with fellow hip hop veteran Marley Marl, has been one of the pair's most notable tributes to Nas' 2006 debut Hip-Hop Is Dead. Although some commentators have expressed skepticism that this collaboration might have been more fruitful, positive reviews have been given the album.

KRS-One has collaborated with other musicians, including Canadian rapper Hellafactz, Jay-Roc N' Jakebeatz, and New York producer Domingo. He and Domingo's beef, which began over money issues, was sparked by a digital single on iTunes on November 25. The single, titled "Radio," also featured Utah up-and-coming Eneeone and is dedicated to underground MCs who don't get enough airplay. KRS-One performed on many albums in 2009, including "Pass the Mic" by fellow hip hop veterans Masta Ace and Ed O.G. On his album Born and Raised, KRS-One was also featured on the posse cut "Mega Fresh X" by Cormega (alongside DJ Red Alert, Parrish Smith, Grand Puba, and Big Daddy Kane).

KRS-One and Buckshot also confirmed that they would be working on an album that would be released in 2009. On May 5, 2009, the first single, "ROBOT," was released. On September 4, 2009, Todd Angkasuwan directed the music video and debuted as the New Joint of the Day on 106 & Park. On September 9, 2009, Survival Skills, the album's title, leaked on the internet, and on September 15, 2009, it was officially released. It debuted at #62, making it the Billboard 200's most popular item. In its first week, it was sold around 8,500 copies and received generally positive feedback. "Buckshot and KRS have achieved something quite unexpected here," Steve Juon of RapReviews.com said on the album, "I can't find a single fault." There isn't a bad beat, there isn't a whack rhyme, there isn't a collaborator on a path that skipped the mark, and the album itself isn't short nor long."

Artist Ruste Juxx, Torae & Skyzoo, Sha Stimuli, Promise, J.A.M.E.S., recognized KRS-One in 2010. Watts and Team Facelift on their mixtape Survival Kit, an ode to the 2009 album Survival Skills. On DuckDown.com, the mixtape was available for free download. The collection includes "South Bronx," "Sound of da Police," and "MC's Act Like They Don't Know," as well as updated versions of well-known Buckshot songs and "Past Present Future" from the Survival Skills collection. "I did it to make Kris smile / I figured he'd love it," the MC said in his verse on MC's Act Like They Don't Know.

In Nike's Most Valuable Puppets commercials, KRS-One was featured as the voice of Chris Cringle. KRS-One performed in May 2010 at SUNY New Paltz's annual "Rock Against Racism" festival. He narrated the 2011 film Rhyme and Punishment, a documentary about hip-hop artists who have served in jail time. In the same year, KRS-One appeared in the title song for the film You Got Served: Beat the World. "Hip Hop Nation" is the song that has been titled "Hip Hop Country," and it stars K'naan and Lina. It was made for Frank Fitzpatrick's film.

For the first time in 2012, KRS-One toured Australia. He travelled there by cruise ship because he hates flying.

KRS-One's 23rd solo album Between Da Protests debuted in December 2020.

In 1988/1989, KRS-One founded the Stop the Violence campaign in response to violence in the hip hop and black groups.

A young fan was killed in a fight during Boogie Down Productions and Public Enemy's concert. Soon after his friend and fellow BDP member Scott La Rock's suicide, KRS-One was spurred to take action and formed the Stop the Violence campaign, which was shortly followed. The project, which consists of some of the top names in contemporary East Coast hip hop, was released as a single in 1989, with all proceeds going to the National Urban League. A music video was produced, and a VHS cassette titled Overcoming Self-Destruction Video was also published.

KRS-One and D-Nice of Boogie Down Productions' "Self-Destruction" was produced (Hank Shocklee of The Bomb Squad is credited as a collaborator producer).

The Temple of Hip Hop is a museum, archive, school, and culture (M.A.S.) KRS-One was the company that introduced KRS-One. Its aim is to preserve and promote Hip Hop culture.

The Temple of Hip Hop maintains that hip hop is a genuine political movement, faith, and culture. All fans are encouraged to celebrate Hip Hop Appreciation Week on the third week of May each year. It encourages DJs and MCs to educate people about hip hop's history and write more socially aware songs, and radio stations to be more socially aware hip hop.

The Universal Zulu Nation's founding of Hip Hop History Month (November) is now recognized.

"We cheered when 9/11 happened," KRS said during a panel discussion hosted by The New Yorker magazine in 2004. Several outlets, including the New York Daily News, called him a "anarchist" and said, "If Osama bin Laden buys a rap album, he'll most likely start with a KRS-One CD."

According to KRS' editorial, the company AllHipHop.com has stated: "KRS wrote an editorial for AllHipHop.com":

On the remix of Immortal Technique and DJ Green Lantern's "Bin Laden" by Immortal Technique and DJ Green Lantern, which attributes American neo-conservatives, the Reagan Doctrine, and US President George W. Bush for the World Trade Center attacks in late 2005, KRS was included alongside Public Enemy's Chuck D. Bush, blaming American neo-conservatives, destruction, and violence in urban housing project communities

When asked about the September 11 attacks during a Fox News television interview on Hannity's America, KRS-One reiterated his remarks on the matter. He said he meant that people applauded the fact that the company had been hit, not that people were dying or had died. He also discussed, among other things, the Don Imus affair and the use of profanity in hip-hop.

KRS-One said in an interview with AllHipHop about his book The Gospel of Hip Hop: A Rapture.

Multiple media outlets, including The A.V., have referred to these remarks. "KRS-One writes 600-page hip-hop book; a blueprint for rap worship," the club said, "KRS-One is never afraid to face controversy and elicit a lot of reactions." Now the Boogie Down Productions legend has topped himself by releasing The Gospel of Hip Hop: The First Instrument, a mammoth treatise on hip-hop's spirituality that he hopes would become a sacred text of a new hip-hop faith one day.

KRS-One is a vocal promoter of veganism.

During Ron Paul's 2012 campaign, he endorsed him as president.

On July 6, 2007, KRS-One's step-son (Randy Parker) was discovered dead in his Atlanta, Georgia apartment. Parker died of a gunshot wound to the head, according to the Medical Examiner's office, and suicide was the cause.

Kris Parker, a 1992-born Kris Parker (born 1992), is a young music producer and DJ who goes by the name Predator Prime.

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