krs-one Archives

What Was It Like to See a Boogie Down Productions Show in 1987? Press Play (Video)

"Rap is still an art, and no one's from the Old School, 'cause Rap is still a brand-new tool. I say no one's from the Old School 'cause Rap on a whole, isn't even twenty years old. Fifty years down the line, you can start this, 'cause we'll be the... Read more

September 13, 2015 Throwback

Dr. Dre, Nas, KRS-One, B-Real, Scarface & RBX Came Together In The Aftermath Of Coastal Conflict (Video)

Tomorrow (August 7), Dr. Dre is slated to drop his first album in 16 years. Compton, as it is called, follows 2001 in a career that has emphasized quality over quantity. In conjunction with next week's Straight Outta Compton biopic (August 14), Dre returned to his studios and invited friends... Read more

August 6, 2015 Do Remember, Throwback

Here’s a Playlist of the Best Hip-Hop of July 2015 (Audio)

July has traditionally been slow for Hip-Hop releases, but 2015 proved to be the exception. The month brought new music from a wide variety of artists and set the stage for a blockbuster August, with the return of Dr. Dre and Warren G. Here are the best Hip-Hop songs of... Read more

August 5, 2015 Mixes

KRS-One, Tragedy Khadafi & A.G. Call Politicians Modern Day Gangsters (Audio)

Since his days of running with the Juice Crew, Tragedy Khadafi has been the Intelligent Hoodlum. "Modern Day Gangsta," from Trag's upcoming summer album, is a clear extension of those days. The song unites the onetime Marley Marl protege with KRS-One and A.G. Each MC provides a rugged verbal essay... Read more

July 13, 2015 Audio

Here’s a VIDEO Mix of 90s Gems For True Lovers of Hip-Hop (Video)

DJ E Double D does it again. The UK-based DJ/VJ has put together an amazing blend of Hip-Hop videos. This is a full-on visual mixtape, complete with cutting, scratching, beat juggling and, above all, some incredible music. He balances classic staples and deep album cuts by De La Soul, Mobb... Read more

June 5, 2015 Throwback

Nas, KRS-One, Big Daddy Kane, MC Eiht & More Appear On Mr. Magic’s ’94 Mix (Audio)

John “Mr. Magic” Rivas will forever be respected as a radio pioneer who introduced Rap to the masses. In 1981, "Mr. Magic's Rap Attack" became the first ever exclusive Rap radio show to premiere on a major station (WHBI) and its historic impact on the music industry can still be... Read more

May 30, 2015 Throwback

DJ Red Alert Explains How The Bridge Wars Began, Tells His Story (Audio)

Fresh off of DJ Kool Herc's groundbreaking interview with The Combat Jack Show, another Hip-Hop pioneer is profiled extensively. Kool DJ Red Alert is Combat's guest this week. The Harlem, New York native (not Bronx, as often reported) opens up about his career trajectory, the radio wars evolving into "The... Read more

May 13, 2015 Throwback

Finding The GOAT: Who Is the Greatest MC Of All-Time & Why Do We Care? (Video)

Chances are, if you are a Hip-Hop fan, at some point in your life, you've been embroiled in a conversation about who is Hip-Hop's Greatest Of All-Time (GOAT) MC. Whether it was in a lunch room, on a school bus, in a barber shop or in a board room, there... Read more

May 7, 2015 Video

These MCs Are Nearing Elimination in the Finding The GOAT Competition. Round 5 Ends Tomorrow.

Ambrosia For Heads’ Finding The GOAT series, the search for the Greatest Of All Time MC (as determined by you), began in September, 2014 and is soon down to its final 6 contestants. At 4:59pm EST on Monday May 4, Round 5 polls will close, and Round 6 will kick... Read more

May 3, 2015 Fresh

Finding The GOAT (Round 5): KRS-One vs. Nas…Who You Got?

With just 11 MCs remaining we have reached the critical Round 5 in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). Now, only five match-up’s—all running this week—separate Round 5 from the final six MCs, including Round 4 bye winner Big Daddy Kane. Since the elimination,... Read more

May 1, 2015 Fresh

Finding the GOAT: Here Are Your Top 10 MCs + 1

The polls have closed and, after a fiercely competitive and unpredictable Round 4, 10 MCs advance to Round 5 (along with Rakim who had a bye), making a grand total of 11 rappers remaining in the quest to name Hip-Hop’s greatest MC, as determined by you. Since Round 1 began... Read more

April 26, 2015 Fresh

Finding The GOAT (Round 4): KRS-One vs. Guru…Who You Got?

We have now reached the critical Round 4 in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). With 21 MCs remaining (with the largest winning margin, Rakim receives a bye for the round), things are really coming down to 10 match-ups, leading AFH’s bracket-style series towards... Read more

April 23, 2015 Throwback

Finding the GOAT: These MCs Are Going to Round 4

The polls have closed and, after a fiercely competitive and unpredictable Round 3, there are only 21 MCs remaining in the quest to name Hip-Hop's greatest MC, as determined by you. Since Round 1 began in September, more than 200 MCs have been considered and millions of Hip-Hop fans have... Read more

April 12, 2015 Fresh

Big Daddy Kane Names His List of the Greatest MCs of All-Time. Who Made the Cut? (Video)

"Me, KRS and Rakim changed the whole way people rhymed..."--Big Daddy Kane Big Daddy Kane is widely considered to be one of the greatest MCs of all-time and, for many, he is the GOAT. So, when Kane speaks about his list of Hip-Hop's best lyricists, it takes on a different... Read more

March 24, 2015 Video

Finding The GOAT (Round 3): KRS-One vs. Chuck D…Who You Got?

We have reached the third round in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). With 42 MCs remaining, we are asking you to help us rank who is the greatest MC to pick up a mic. We will take over 35 years of Hip-Hop into... Read more

March 11, 2015 Throwback

Prince Paul’s Back, Blending Very Rare KRS-One, MF DOOM, Eminem & Alkaholiks (Mix)

Prince Paul's "It’s Not The Size of Your Mix It’s How You Use It" turns out to be a series after all. Following February's free-form mix of whatever the hell the Long Island, New Yorker wanted to spin, the Grammy Award-winning jokester is back with a second series. Volume 2... Read more

March 8, 2015 Audio

By The Time I Get To Arizona. KRS-One Blasts the State for Declaring His Teachings Illegal.

In 1991, Public Enemy released the song "By the Time I Get to Arizona", a scathing commentary on the state's reluctance to observe Martin Luther King Day. The state was infamously the second last in the country to celebrate the day, even forgoing an opportunity to host a Super Bowl... Read more

February 10, 2015 News

KRS-One Followed Up “I Got Next” With This Domingo Track. Unheard, Until Now (Audio)

1998 was an interesting transition year for Hip-Hop legend, KRS-One. The Bronx MC/producer was one year removed from his highest-charting (#3), gold solo album, I Got Next. Still signed to the same Jive Records that he'd worked with for much of Boogie Down Productions' later work, Blastmasta had an A&R... Read more

February 4, 2015 Throwback

KRS-One Says He Cannot Make Money In America, Discusses Hip-Hop’s Global Impact (Video)

KRS-One interviews are a bit scarce in 2015. The archetypal MC tours extensively, and gives limited audiences these days. However, the Boogie Down Productions co-founder recently opened up with VladTV on a number of current and historic issues, which are now unfolding through the video segments. In the latest, KRS... Read more

February 2, 2015 Video

Ever See This Cypher with MC Lyte, ATCQ, GURU, Wu-Tang Clan, CL Smooth, KRS-One & More (Video)

The second iteration of Arsenio Hall's show left the air quietly, after an announcement just weeks before that the show had been renewed. However, it was a very different story the first time Arsenio parted ways with the airwaves. After five years of providing one of the only platforms on... Read more

January 31, 2015 Throwback

KRS-One Returned To The Boom-Bap Back In 1993. But What About This Leftover? (Audio)

KRS-One's first solo album, 1993's Return Of The Boom Bap clearly mapped out the Blastmasta from his Boogie Down Productions past. A Top 40 charting effort on his longtime Jive Records home, the LP welcomed DJ Premier and Showbiz to the cypher. Fourteen tracks would make the LP a hardcore... Read more

January 28, 2015 Throwback

KRS-One Says Hip-Hop is a Culture with Pre-Historic Roots (Video)

This is sure to be polarizing. KRS-One has been one of the staunchest advocates of Hip-Hop culture for the last few decades. Over the years, the former Boogie Down Productions MC has written a book called The Gospel of Hip-Hop and founded the Temple of Hip-Hop, whose mission is to... Read more

January 26, 2015 Video

Happy Birthday to DJ Jazzy Jeff. Celebrate with This Amazing Mix (Mixtape)

Happy Birthday to the incomparable DJ Jazzy Jeff who turned the tender young age of 50 today (1/22). If you've ever had the privilege of attending a set spun by Jeff, you know NOBODY goes harder or digs deeper in the crates than him. So, on his birthday, what better... Read more

January 22, 2015 Mixes

Here’s the Story of How KRS-One & Scott La Rock Met…Comic Book Style

Here's something incredibly dope for fans of Comics, Hip-Hop or both. Ed Piskor, renowned cartoonist and author of the Hip-Hop Family Tree graphic novel, has released the account of how KRS-One and Scott La Rock met, in the form of a comic. The story was assembled from several of KRS-One's... Read more

January 16, 2015 Throwback

Finding The GOAT (Round 2): KRS-One vs. Masta Ace…Who You Got?

We have reached the second round in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). We are asking you to help us rank who is the greatest MC to pick up a mic. We will take over 35 years of Hip-Hop into consideration, pairing special match-ups... Read more

January 12, 2015 Throwback

KRS-One Decodes His Most Classic Lines. You Must Learn… (Audio)

Shawn Setaro, former Editor-in-Chief of Rap Genius, has been opening up his vaults of classic interviews on his theciphershow.com site. One such gem is an amazing conversation with KRS-One. Kris breaks down the stories behind many of his most famous lyrics, and also provides colorful insights on never before discussed... Read more

January 10, 2015 Throwback

Remember This Rakim, KRS-One, Erick Sermon, Chubb Rock & MC Serch Freestyle (Video)

As we gear up for Round 2 of our Battle for the GOAT, there is no doubt that Rakim and KRS-One will be atop many people's lists of the greatest MCs of all time. So, as a sneak preview, here's a look back at part of one of the legendary... Read more

December 27, 2014 Throwback

KRS-One & Ol’ Dirty Bastard Rock A Stage In 1995 (Video)

Uncle Ralph McDaniels has not only shed light on dope Hip-Hop for decades, his lens has captured it. Yesterday (December 19), the Video Music Box VJ extraordinaire shared some 1995 footage (from the VMB Archives) of KRS-One and the late Ol' Dirty Bastard wildin' out to the just-released "Who Shot... Read more

December 20, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

50 Cent Remembers Being Afraid In The Early 2000s, Big Ups KRS-One (Video)

Ninety-second interviews would be irrelevant for most people, let alone celebrities or MCs. Somehow, 50 Cent's lucid admissions defy that logic though. Sitting down with HOT 97, 50 Cent uses a minute and a half to speak so bluntly about 2000, when the Queens, New York hopeful was shot multiple... Read more

December 10, 2014 Fresh, Video

KRS-One Teams With Torae To To Break Down The Contrary Meanings Of Clique (Audio)

Champagne to some, a posse to others, and the sign of a hung up phone to others, "clicks" are everywhere. KRS-One and Torae bring it from the Bronx to Brooklyn alongside the Rocksteady Crew's DJ JS-1 for his recently-released It Is What It Isn't album. On "Klick Clique," Kris and... Read more

December 5, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Wu-Tang Clan Is Still Out To Bring Da Ruckus, Taking A Page From KRS-One (Audio)

Hours after one of the New York City listening sessions for Wu-Tang Clan's A Better Tomorrow empties out, Heads are treated with new music. Put simply, "Ruckus In B Minor" is busy, and a lot to process. For starters, the beat changes sporadically throughout the song, arranged as a complex... Read more

November 4, 2014 Audio, Fresh

KRS-One & Channel Live’s Hakim Show Out On Mr. Green’s Series (Video)

Mr. Green's Noisey-backed series, Live From The Streets, continues to expand around the Hip-Hop globe. In his third season of the series, the Outsidaz affiliate doesn't need to look far from his New Jersey upbringing to find Hakim Green (Channel Live) and Hakim's mentor/close friend, KRS-One. Blastmasta and Hak' were... Read more

November 3, 2014 Fresh, Video

Here’s a Playlist of the Best Hip-Hop of October 2014 (Audio)

October yielded some of the hardest Hip-Hop of the year. Whether it was seasonal, Mercury in retrograde or something in the water, MCs brought their A-games. Here's a playlist of some of the best music of the month. You'll hear tracks from Redman, Big K.R.I.T., Logic, The Lox, Rah Digga,... Read more

November 2, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage

New Music From KRS-One? That’s a Blessing (Audio)

Here's a new track from KRS-One, Cutty Ranks and Brooklyn MC/Producer, Grand Surgeon. Check out "The Blessings." Related: Ready for Some New KRS-One? BOOM (Audio)... Read more

October 25, 2014 Audio

Why Are the 90’s Considered the Best Era of Hip-Hop? Listen to This Mix (Audio)

Here's part 2 of DJ Vadim's stellar back in the day mixtape series. In this installment, he tackles 90's Hip-Hop...with aggression. Rather than strictly catering to the hits, he digs in the crates to craft a mix with diverse but cohesive sonic texture. You'll hear music from Nas, The Roots,... Read more

August 9, 2014 Throwback

Here’s a Playlist of the Best Hip-Hop of July 2014 (Audio)

July brought the heat in Hip-Hop, including new music from Jeezy & Jay Z, Black Thought, Raekwon, G-Unit, Rah Digga, Q-Tip, Cormega, Wale, "Your Old Droog," Elzhi, Chubb Rock, KRS-One, Big K.R.I.T., Wiz Khalifa, Common, Dilated Peoples, Souls of Mischief, Scarface and more. Check out a playlist of the Best... Read more

August 2, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage, Playlists

Ready for Some New KRS-One? BOOM (Audio)

Domingo drops another gem featuring the Blastmaster KRS-One. The Teacher issues a call to action for Hip-Hop to unite. Check out "Hip-Hop is One," off Domingo's forthcoming Sessions Vol. 1 LP which features music from KRS and Channel Live. Related: Domingo Sets The Table For 3 Legends In KRS-One, Kool... Read more

July 13, 2014 Audio

The Best Hip-Hop in May Included Slaughterhouse, KRS-One, Ghostface, Ab-Soul, Common, Cormega, The Roots & Much More (Audio Playlist)

Before we get too deep into June, here's a look back at some of the best Hip-Hop to drop in May and there was an abundance...You'll hear new music from Slaughterhouse, Cormega, KRS-One, Ab-Soul, Rapsody, Ghostface, Common, Mac Miller, De La Soul, Nitty Scott, MC, The Roots, Blu, Freddie Gibbs,... Read more

June 5, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage, Playlists

Domingo Sets The Table For 3 Legends In KRS-One, Kool G Rap & Greg Nice (Audio)

In the late 1980s, the notion of KRS-One and Kool G Rap on the same track was unheard of. In the midst of "The Bridge Wars," KRS-One was in the middle of a war of the boroughs, championing The Bronx against Queens' Marley Marl and MC Shan, surrounding the birthplace... Read more

May 22, 2014 Audio, Fresh

D-Nice Recalls The Day Of Scott La Rock’s Murder, Reveals That After BDP, He Battled Homelessness (Audio)

One of Hip-Hop's most resilient figures is D-Nice. The Human TR-808 came into vogue as an MC, down with KRS-One, Scott La Rock, and Boogie Down Productions. Rolling with one of the late '80s most ferocious Hip-Hop outfits, D-Nice became B.D.P.'s most prominent off-shoot, signing a solo deal with Jive... Read more

May 22, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Throwback

KRS-One Returns Alongside Domingo, Chris Rivers, Bamboo & R.A. The Rugged Man (Audio)

From the raw streets of East New York, Domingo is a veteran producer known for sharing an updated boom-bap sound with the likes of KRS-One, Masta Ace, Kool G Rap, and Canibus. A frequent worker on major label and independent LPs, Domingo has also released an assortment of his own... Read more

May 21, 2014 Audio, Fresh

DJ Premier Narrates a Mixtape of Some of His Classic and Rare Cuts (Mixtape)

The LA Leakers have released a new mixtape dedicated to some of the works of the one and only DJ Premier. The Audio Biography Of DJ Premier features 16 Primo productions--some well known and some more rare. Even more dope, the mixtape features commentary from Premier himself about some of... Read more

May 15, 2014 Mixes

Fat Joe Calls Himself A “KRS-One Groupie,” Performs Flow Joe On The Spot + Freestyles (Video)

Fat Joe's history can be deceiving. A household name, globally-recognized icon, Joe Crack is also a founding member of D.I.T.C., and has at least two albums that are hardcore Hip-Hop gems. If anybody knows this, it's Sway Calloway, who's has Joe on his shows for over 21 years and counting.... Read more

May 14, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Listen to the Best Hip-Hop of April Including Scarface, The Roots, KRS-One, Big K.R.I.T., J. Cole, Mos Def & More (Audio Playlist)

April brought the heat in Hip-Hop, including new music featuring Scarface, KRS-One, The Roots, 50 Cent, Big K.R.I.T., J. Cole, Mos Def & Marvin Gaye, Pharoahe Monch, Big L & Fat Joe, Da Brat, Daz Dillinger, Slum Village & Black Milk, Rapsody, Chance the Rapper, Mobb Deep and much more.... Read more

May 6, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage, Playlists

KRS-One Salutes His City and the Pioneers of Hip-Hop (Audio)

KRS-One and Frank Sinatra? Why not? The Blastmaster makes a tribute to his city and the pioneers of Hip-Hop on NY, NY. Check it out. Related: KRS-One Does Not Want You to Miss 1 Word of This True School Rap (Video)... Read more

April 17, 2014 Audio

KRS-One Does Not Want You to Miss 1 Word of This True School Rap (Video)

KRS-One has released a lyric video for his True School song which features the Blastmaster teaching over a killer Jimi Hendrix sample. Check it out. Related: DJ Kenny Parker Unearths 22 Minutes Of Lost KRS-One & DJ Scott La Rock Dopeness (Audio)... Read more

April 7, 2014 Video

KRS-One Kicks Some Hard Rhymes Overtop A Guitar Loop. It’s True School (Audio)

DJ Jean Maron has worked with an assortment of New York Hip-Hop legends. Maron's 2010 Run-MPC LP with M-Dot included M.O.P., Kool G Rap, Masta Ace, and Craig G. Almost four years later, Maron links with KRS-One. On "True School," Blastmasta has that Teacha's fervor as he expounds on why... Read more

April 4, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Mobb Deep & Big Noyd’s 1994 Version Update Of MC Shan’s Classic Is Liberated (Audio)

The Bridge Wars were very real. Most Heads know about the Juice Crew vs. Boogie Down Productions main event featuring MC Shan, Marley Marl, Roxanne Shante and more versus KRS-One, Scott La Rock, Just-Ice, DJ Kenny Parker and others. However, throughout the late '80s and early '90s, other artists were... Read more

March 25, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Throwback

DJ Marley Marl Details What Started the Wars Between BDP & The Juice Crew (Video)

DJ Marley Marl has been speaking about the early days of Hip-Hop, lately. He recently sat down on The Juan Epstein show, as well as with Mister Cee, and spoke on everything from working with artists like Big Daddy Kane, Kool G. Rap and LL Cool J, to how the... Read more

March 9, 2014 Audio, Throwback

Need to Explain Sampling To Somebody In 3 Ear-Bending Minutes? Watch This (Video)

Heads love samples, from Kraftwerk's "Trans Europe Express" in Afrika Bambaataa & The Soulsonic Force's "Planet Rock" to Twin Sister's "Meet The Frownies" in Kendrick Lamar's "The Recipe." The folks at Eclectic Method made a three-minute reel that traces the chronology of sampling through the years, stopping in some pretty... Read more

January 29, 2014 Fresh, Throwback