KRS-One first gained notoriety as the blastmaster behind Boogie
Down Productions — Bronx soldiers from hip-hop's late-'80s
golden age who, like Public Enemy, rendered their revolutionary
buffalo stance louder than a bomb. Since going solo, KRS-One has
proven to be one of rap's most unpredictable personalities —
like ODB inhabited by Noam Chomsky, in some moments he kicks true
knowledge, in others utter nonsense. But he's never boring, and
as a live performer, KRS-One is frequently unmatched, a veritable
shock-and-awe explosion of rat-a-tat edutainment. And should things
get slow — which is unlikely — he can always wheel
out BDP classics "My Philosophy," "Stop The Violence,"
and "You Must Learn."
Last week, KRS-One was tributed on the "Hip Hop Honors"
awards show on VH-1. Fat Joe led an inspired performance tributing
KRS with a cover of the original BDP classic "South Bronx".
Opening the show are short sets from an array of talented hip-hoppers,
including mind-blowing beatboxer Kid Beyond, conscious rap from
Ishues, Piseas and moving neo soul from Jennifer Johns. DJ Malachi
on the wheels of steel.
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