BHF Alumni: KRS-One and Greenie-Passing the Torch

KRS-One. Kris Parker. The Blastmaster. The Teacher. Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone. No matter who you are or how you refer to this living legend, pioneer, colossus, icon and former BHF performer (2008 to be exact), you most certainly have to refer to him as a man who time and time again makes history, takes risks and isn’t afraid to go his own way, while taking many of us along for the ride.

So it should come as no surprise to fans and followers that KRS recently took on the roles of producer, trainer and mentor for an up-and-coming Queens, NY artist Greenie. For the first time in his 20-plus year career, The Teacher has executive produced an entire album for another artist.  As reported on June 22 on RapWeekly.com and PRWeb.com, KRS has been working with Greenie for the last year to produce It’s All Good, a 14-track, full-length album that will be released in the coming month.

Greenie, a Queens-bred Jewish MC who’s rhymed since 1983 and has been described as “highly controversial” and “unusually skilled”, is releasing the album as his debut project. He describes on KRSOneAlbum.com the opportunity to work directly with KRS-One as “a dream come true for me.” He’s already performed in spots around the country, including Florida and Virginia, to promote the new project. Video of Greenie performing is available at the site.

Fans of KRS are sure to be in for not only hard-hitting beats and heavy subject matter, but a different perspective and angle on hip hop. With track titles like ‘Snake in the House’, ‘Already In Heaven’, ‘Real Terrorism’ and “Sign the Prenup (Put Yo Name on the X)’, It’s All Good definitely sounds like an album that’s not for the faint of heart, but may also teach a thing or two to both die-hard fans of KRS and those looking for something new in Greenie.

It’s All Good boasts appearances and production by some of Hip Hop’s heaviest hitters and most well-love pioneers, including Busy Bee, DJ Kenny Parker, Jesse West and Sean C & LV of P. Diddy’s Hit Men production team. The album touches on many heavy topics such as U.S. governmental policy, religion, racism, marital infidelity, divorce, terrorism, and much more. KRS, recognized by many as one of the greatest MCs of all time, also performs with Greenie on five of the albums’ 14 tracks.

It’s All Good can be previewed at KRSOneAlbum.com and will be available worldwide in early July.

KRS-ONE – Boycott the NMHH

From BallerStatus.com

Legendary rapper KRS-One, known widely as one of the originators of conscious hip-hop, took a stand recently to lead a boycott against the National Museum of Hip-Hop.

At an event last Thursday (April 8), commemorating the launch of the National Museum of Hip-Hop in the Bronx, KRS-One stood up at the podium and voiced his opinion about why people should not support the museum’s movement, explaining that they will honor the genre’s forefathers.

To elaborate on his views, KRS-One stated, “The reason that it’s not going to happen is because Afrika Bambaataa has said this event is illegitimate and should not happen.”

“None of the pioneers are in support of this event. None of them will be here tonight. I am here on behalf of the Temple of Hip-Hop as an observer. We are observing,” he added.

KRS-One had originally been a part of the project as a member of it’s planning board, but decided to remove himself altogether after the direction in the planning and organization changed drastically.

After explaining why the hip-hop community should not support the National Museum of Hip-Hop, he went on to say that he and Afrika Bambaataa have been working to start a museum of their own, which would honor hip-hop’s legacy for the past 20 years.

He says their museum will honor hip-hop in both a celebratory and accurate manner, also mentioning that the reason the project has taken so long to get off the ground is due to the fact that those in charge displayed a lack of respect for the history and legacy of hip-hop.

“In closing, what you are getting, actually, is a real dose of hip-hop’s culture. Here is what we are dealing with, ladies and gentleman,” the rap veteran explained. “We have been trying to start a hip-hop museum for over 20 years. In fact, it was Afrika Bambaataa that came up with the idea. However, most of the people who have been behind the hip-hop museum idea seem to always create groups without addressing the pioneers themselves.”

The people behind the National Museum of Hip-Hop had yet to address KRS’ comments at press time.

BHF Alumni: KRS One Not Happy With NMHH

From Clash

The launch event of the new Hip Hop Museum took a turn for the unexpected when rapper KRS One explained that he and many others would be boycotting the building.

Hip hop emerged from the streets of New York in the late 70s, to become a truly global from. An organic and ever changing scene, hip hop’s commercial dominance in recent years is a long way from its humble origins.

A new museum aims to highlight this story. ‘The National Museum Of Hip Hop’ opened on April 8th with a star studded event. Some of rap music’s best known figures descended on the show, which boasted live performances and more.

However rapper KRS One was clearly not happy with the results, and made his views known. The hip hop artist was included in the initial stages of organising the museum but has since been appalled at the change in direction.

Check the video for KRS’s comments:

4:20 Man – KRS-One @ SOBs

What more can really be said about this guy? He’s the teacher and we are all his students. We like him, you like him, so let’s celebrate 4/20 go see him.

KRS-One
Tuesday, April 20, 9 PM
SOBs, 204 Varick Street
$20

Two KRS ONE Shows

Two KRS shows in two weeks…this happened both times.

Nearly twenty-three years and twenty-two albums following his Boogie Down Productions debut, you’d think the routine of rocking mics on the reg would feel, well, routine.

Boring even.

Countless classic tracks. Countless fans that have witnessed him rock countless times. A brand new generation of Hip Hop heads born since his undisputed reign as THE alpha Emcee.

After two decades of edutaining audiences worldwide, even a legend with God like presence such as KRS ONE would battle his own personal disinterest at some point, right? Its human nature.

There was an interesting dynamic to the last two shows the Blastmaster blasted through (MIND BODY SOUL at The Knitting Factory, and Farewell Forever Fresh at Southpaw): the true, off the top, freestyle.

Now, The Company Man was six years old when Criminal Minded dropped and grew up Down South. KRS didn’t exactly tear down Chesapeak, Virginia or Charlotte, North Carolina or Greenville, South Carolina weekly by any means. In fact, I’ve only seen him live six times — most notably as the 2008 Brooklyn Hip Hop Festival headliner. Clearly I’m not the foremost authority on KRS live performances.

But the difference between those first four shows and the last two is the amount of time he spent kicking off the tops, replacing the recorded verses over classic backdrops.

There was this one: “You got the camera on me thats good. / I was born right here in this neighborhood. / Me? Yep, its Kris face. / I was born over there on 5th Place. / Thats back in the day. / 1965 we rocked this way” over the Beastie Boys seminal “Paul Revere” during his Forever Fresh set at Southpaw last week.

There was this one: “Kenny Parker you can mix me down. / I’m in Brooklyn from the Boogie Down. / Damn, look at this, / Yo, my name is Kris. / You right there making a DVD. / I want 20 percent back to me” during his MIND BODY SOUL set at The Knitting Factory two weeks ago.

There were several more to follow during each show. Rarely did he perform an entire track. That part is expected. With a catalog as deep as his, surely its tough squeeze in a diverse performance with only thirty to sixty minutes of showtime. But, by my count, 15 percent of both shows consisted of off the top freestyles. Thats quite a bit. Especially considering, again, the deepness of his catalog. Why kick so many off the tops when he has so many more songs his fans — his disciples — pray to witness firsthand?

Maybe its because he understands the average age attending his shows grows younger by the year. Maybe its because the quality of off the top freestyles seems to dwindle just as rapidly as the quality of top notch Emcees as Hip Hop grows older and he intends to teach — as he does with everything else — how true freestyles are supposed to be spit. Maybe its because, after twenty-two albums, performing the same songs the same way over and over bores him. Maybe he’s just having fun.

Only KRS can answer definitively.

The fact that the audience loved each second of each show is the only thing matters.

KRS ONE…Edutainment for each generation.

KRS-ONE Live at Southpaw 1/29/10

The Bodega was in the house last Friday.
Check the footage from the Blastmaster KRS ONE

Respect Teach – KRS ONE Live at Southpaw in BK

KRS live onstage…….

KRS with some special verses for Jahara as she works the camera…….

KRS at Southpaw

Fri. 1/29
HIP HOP LEGEND KRS-ONE returns to SOUTHPAW!
with special guests Donnie Goines/ Jah C + The AnTiDote / Eternia + DJ ELEVEN (the RUB)
doors 8PM / 9PM START
$15 advance / $18 day of show
Southpaw 125 Fifth Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11217 | 718.230.0236

——-

The BODEGA has free tickets for the Fam.

Just answer this question:

What was the name of Boogie Down Productions first DJ who unfortunately passed in 1987?

Send your answer to approved@brooklynbodega.com

KRS ONE gets some love from So-Cal back in the day

Sublime’s take on the Hip-Hop Legend……

Official Press Release for “20X”

DONNY GOINES AND ROCKSMITH PRESENT 20X

Donny Goines will be opening for KRS-ONE tonight 1/29/10 at Southpaw.

From Critical

Revered MC Donny Goines in conjunction with apparel company, Rocksmith Tokyo, is proud to announce the release of a six track EP. 20X, which will become available in February, features production from Apple Juice Kid, DJ Static, 6th Sense, Nastee, Versatile and M-Phazes is a testament to the parallels shared within the Hip-Hop and fashion spectrums.
The last twelve months have seen Donny Goines elevate his presence to higher plateaus. Headlining LiveNation shows in New York City and with appearances at SXSW, AC3, the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival as well as the annual CMJ festival his continued efforts resulted in further media attention.
Securing multiple features in the Source and featuring in the coveted Show and Prove section of XXL in June, Donny secured airplay on Hot 97 and various other terrestrial stations. While appearing on BET’s ‘Certified Fresh,’ his videos were also featured on MTV Jams and Music Choice Donny continues to maintain his role as the hardest working MC in Hip-Hop.
“Partnering up with a company such as Rocksmith Toyko is an honor and I think that the merger will result in an exciting and creative campaign for not only the fans of my music, but also for the street-wear culture as a whole”- Donny Goines
Simply defined as ‘Japanese street couture blended with New York City swagger’ the combination of this international brand and the lyrical tenacity of Goines, guarantees a quality project.
“I’m very excited about 20X,” Donny goes on to explain. “I’ve been working hard on my craft these past couple of months and I think people will notice when they hear 20X. Working diligently with Ariel Borujow of Westward Music, the producers and staff of Stadium Red Studios I’ve created an EP that I believe will properly illustrate my growth and artistic capabilities.”
To download the debut track from the EP, No Apologies, produced by M-Phazes CLICK HERE
FOR MANAGEMENT AND BOOKING INQUIRES PLEASE CONTACT
REALITY@FACESSHOWCASE.COM or JONATHAN.MASTER23@GMAIL.COM
FOR ALL MEDIA INQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT
MELANIE@CRITICALMMG.COM

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