KRS-One

KRS-One Launches New Series For Hip-Hop’s 50th Anniversary

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KRS-One, is paying it forward to Hip Hop by launching an in-person event series and website for its 50th anniversary. The website Birthplaceofhiphop.nyc will host a Hip Hop masterclass and pop-up exhibits at the Community Center, the birthplace of Hip Hop, August 11th. The location 1520 Sedgewick Ave was home to DJ Kool Herc’s Back To School Jam in August 1973. The party played a critical role as the origin story for the birth of Hip Hop. In a statement, KRS said the 50th anniversary is a global movement that celebrates the grit, voice, and power that brought culture to life.

Secondly, the rap legend will launch a logo competition on April 28th. Inviting creatives, designers, and graffiti artists to create the official logo of Hip Hop’s 50th Anniversary. KRS-One’s Birthplaceofhiphopnyc.com will serve as a community-based initiative. It’ll showcase Hip Hop’s origins and inspire future generations to continue to grow the genre and push the culture forward. Furthermore, the Hip Hop masterclass and pop-up exhibits will help educate everyone on the culture’s roots and how it became a global movement. Not only that, but the visual arts competition will also inspire creatives to showcase their best representation of Hip Hop in the official logo of the 50th anniversary.

KRS-One Gives Back To Hip Hop

KRS 1, Fat Joe and Big Daddy Kane attend TrillerVerz Featuring KRS 1 vs Big Daddy Kane at Barclays Center on October 17, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Shareif Ziyadat/Getty Images)

While KRS has been giving back to Hip Hop, Hip Hop has also given back to KRS-One. Early this year the Hip Hop forefather received his own mural in the neighborhood where he was once homeless. Moreover, the mural was painted by Italian artist Jorit at 2nd St. near 1st Ave. In honor of Hip Hop’s 50th anniversary, the mural depicts the rapper’s image and is a testament to his success and roots. KRS told Fox NY that despite all the success, nothing compares to being immortalized in a mural.

Overall, KRS-One’s contributions to Hip Hop are nothing shy of major and significant. This initiative to celebrate Hip Hop turning 50 is a great opportunity for novices and enthusiasts to learn about the culture. Not only that creatives and artists alike will showcase their talent and celebrate Hip Hop’s origins. Are you excited about this new initiative? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

KRS-One Moves Into Hip-Hop’s Birthplace, 1520 Sedgwick, Leading to Hip-Hop’s 50th Anniversary

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KRS-One, a renowned pioneer of hip hop and an activist, author, and philosopher, will return to the Community Center at 1520 Sedgwick, the birthplace of the genre. KRS-One will direct a number of community-based events, including a masterclass in hip hop, as part of the launch of Birthplaceofhiphop.nyc.

Hip-hop’s soul and present expressions will also be highlighted and celebrated in the classes and pop-up displays, in addition to its origins. The tale started in the summer of 1973 at a back-to-school fundraiser held in the community center of a low-income housing complex at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue. After 50 years and despite its modest beginnings, this energy is alive and well worldwide and has been portrayed in poetry, music, dance, and other kinds of art. Hip Hop is a movement that is unique in terms of the breadth of its impact.

KRS-One will officially inaugurate the celebration that will take place on August 11 and beyond on April 25 by joining local officials, renters, and the building’s owners. The celebration will feature the art form that serves as the hub of the global cultural phenomenon known as Hip Hop. He will host a series of educational programs including Hip-Hop’s major “cultural contributors.”

“The 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop is a global movement that speaks to the grit, voice, and power of how it came to be in the first place – we used our voices when they tried to silence us. We used our creativity when they tried to stifle us. We created the culture because we wanted to stand out and stand up for our artistry. Hip Hop is the people’s movement. I am excited to showcase this to the world in the space where it all began at 1520 Sedgwick in the Community Center. It feels right to be here, where it all began,” said KRS-One.

In addition, KRS-One and Birthpalceofhiphop.nyc are calling for the global Hip-Hop community to participate in a logo celebration celebrating the culture’s 50th anniversary. The winning design will honor the aspects of hip-hop required to commemorate its 50th anniversary and to motivate upcoming generations to develop and spread its message. Information on the contest can be found here.

KRS- One added, “I’m especially excited about this global logo contest, we’re calling all creatives, designers, graffiti artists to show us their best representation of what Hip Hop is. As Hip Hop marks this historic milestone, we look to this generation of Hip Hop creatives, designers and enthusiasts, to create the official logo of Hip Hop’s 50th Anniversary.”

You can learn more about the birth of Hip-Hop here.

The post KRS-One Moves Into Hip-Hop’s Birthplace, 1520 Sedgwick, Leading to Hip-Hop’s 50th Anniversary appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip-Hop History: Boogie Down Productions Dropped Their Debut LP ‘Criminal Minded’ 36 Years Ago

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On this date in 1987, “Blastmaster” KRS-One, DJ Scott La Rock, “The Human 808” D-Nice and the rest of the Boogie Down Productions crew released their highly anticipated debut album Criminal Minded on B-Boy Records.

With the “South Bronx” vs. “The Bridge” aka BDP vs. The Juice Crew beef on wax was at its height, the Criminal Minded album proved to be one of the most important instructional projects for up and coming emcees on how to take out the top dog and start your own reign. As KRS mentioned in the QDIII Beef documentary, if MC Shan wouldn’t have responded to “The Bridge Is Over”, one of the premiere singles from the album, there probably would not have been the rise and success of KRS and BDP.

With Boogie Down Productions aligned with DJ Red Alert on the FM dial at 98.7 KISS and The Juice Crew siding with the one and only Mister Magic and Marley Marl on 107.5 WBLS, it also began the early radio wars, which is actually the origin of the HOT 97 and Power 105 battle on the dial.

Tracks that will forever be etched in Hip Hop history include intellectually adept “Poetry”, the street sagas in “My 9mm Goes Bang” and “P Is Still Free”, the late Scott La Rock-inspired “Super Hoe” and the extensive lyrical lesson in the album’s title track. Ironically, Scott Sterling, better known as DJ Scott La Rock, was killed less than six months after the album’s successful release.

Following Scott’s death, KRS began dropping socially conscious singles and albums, prompting Hip Hop’s “Stop The Violence” movement and the iconic, star-studded “Self Destruction” single.

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Boogie Down Productions Dropped Their Debut LP ‘Criminal Minded’ 36 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Happy Heavenly Birthday To Boogie Down Productions’ DJ Scott La Rock!

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On this day in 1962, Scott Monroe Sterling known widely as DJ Scott La Rock of the famous Boogie Down Productions was born in the Bronx borough of New York City. Scott La Rock was the producer for rap icon KRS-One until his untimely death on August 27th, 1987.

La Rock was born in the Bronx, New York City, New York and was raised by his mother Carolyn Morant. As a child, he moved from Queens to the Morrisania neighborhood in the South Bronx then to the Morris Heights projects. La Rock attended Our Savior Lutheran High School where he was a great student and athlete. He originally intended to attend Castleton State University to play basketball but decided to switch his focus to music upon graduation. In college, he used to DJ at a local bar called Dugan’s Bar on Friday nights. From there his musical career blossomed.

La Rock graduated college in 1984 and returned to New York City. He worked a few jobs in the city while at night spinning records at the Broadway Repertoire Theatre. Through his work as a social worker, La Rock met his future partner in crime Kris Parker aka KRS-One at the Franklin’s Men’s Shelter. The two, along with Derrick Jones or DJ D-Nice, formed Boogie Down Productions.

In 1987 the group released their first LP, Criminal Minded, which has become a classic Hip Hop album. Criminal Minded has been ranked by The Source as one of the 100 Best Rap Albums. Rolling Stone ranked it as one of the 500 greatest albums. Complex Magazine ranks the track South Bronx from the album as #9 on their list of best diss-songs of Hip Hop.

La Rock life came to a stretching halt in 1987 due to senseless street violence. In an effort to support his friend and partner DJ D-Nice, La Rock was shot in the neck and died of his wound. As the story goes, La Rock, DJ D-Nice, Scotty “Manager Moe” Morris, DJ McBooo, and BDP bodyguard Darrell rolled up to the Highbridge Homes Projects in the South Bronx. They were there to handle a problem between D-Nice and a man who’s ex-girlfriend we was acquainted with at the time. After they handled their disagreement, bullet began to fly toward the white on red Jeep CJ-7 that they were riding in. La Rock was hit and later died at Lincoln Hospital within one hour of being shot.

KRS-One’s Stop the Violence Movement was a direct result of La Rock’s murder. Despite the loss of La Rock, KRS-One kept the Boogie Down Productions name alive and continued to release music and grow to be one of the most respected voices in Hip Hop. DJ Scott La Rock’s righteous legacy lives on forever through his music and the empire that he helped shape. Take some time today to listen to his classic album and pay some respect to his greatness.

The post Happy Heavenly Birthday To Boogie Down Productions’ DJ Scott La Rock! appeared first on The Source.

KRS-One Honored With Mural In Neighborhood Where He Was Once Homeless

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This year, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of Hip Hop, and New York City is giving a nod to KRS-One. The Boogie Down Productions icon has been involved in the culture since its inception, and he’s grown to be a respected artist, activist, and teacher. FOX 5 News reported that KRS was recently honored in the Big Apple with a stunning mural on the Lower East Side of Manhattan. His initial reaction was a shocked “Wow!”

“There is no award that is above this,” the “Self Destruction” icon said. This mural was carefully constructed to celebrate not only KRS-One but Hip Hop’s 50th. The mural’s location also touched the rapper’s heart because he grew up in that neighborhood, and it was a humbling, full-circle moment.

Read More: Bow Wow Receives Response From Hip Hop Alliance’s KRS-One, Kurtis Blow, & Chuck D

“I grew up here,” he told the news outlet. The powerful artwork stopped him in his tracks. “KRS-One grew up in this neighborhood and was less than every single person here. I was homeless. I might have slept right there.” The placement was important for the mural’s creator, Jorit. The Italian street artist explained to Fox 5 the impact KRS has had on Hip Hop culture.

“KRS-One is aggressive, but he always looked to unite the aggressiveness and force of rap with positive messages,” Jorit shared. KRS was asked what he learned from Hip Hop, and he replied, “I can do anything.”

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 17: Big Daddy Kane and KRS 1 perform during TrillerVerz at Barclays Center on October 17, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Johnny Nunez/WireImage)
Read More: KRS-One Teams With Slick Rick & Big Daddy Kane For Hip Hop Alliance Video

Hundreds of thousands of people turned into Verzuz in real-time to watch KRS-One and Big Daddy Kane join together. The union was supported by several of their Rap pioneer peers, many of which we haven’t heard from in decades. Verzuz prides itself on celebrating Black culture and music, and they promise more will come in 2023 following a minor legal setback.

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Bow Wow Receives Response From Hip Hop Alliance’s KRS-One, Kurtis Blow, & Chuck D

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A tweet made by Bow Wow has caused the leaders of the Hip Hop alliance to step forward. Bow stated that artists need better representation. “Hip hop needs a board! No different than the NBA w/ the players association. A committee,” he wrote.

“That can set rules and keep things in control and protect this thing we call hip hop! And have a retirement plan for the OG rappers,” he also shared. “I hate seeing my heros liquor’d out no money just washed.”

Read More: Bow Wow Calls For Rappers To Unionize

In fact, pioneers Kurtis Blow, KRS-One, and Chuck D have been working on such an organization for some time. Those familiar with the Hip Hop Alliance were quick to educate Bow. Now, the three Rap icons have made a statement about the viral conversation.

“Like every other aspect of society’s workforce, the artists and creators of Hip Hop need protection, support and advocacy,” a joint statement shared with Rock The Bells reads. “From label disputes to intellectual property retrieval and the need for an overall governing body, the Hip Hop Alliance was established.”

Read More: KRS-One Teams With Slick Rick & Big Daddy Kane For Hip Hop Alliance Video

“Recent comments this weekend created a unique opportunity to bring forth a conversation that many in Hip-Hop & R&B have been addressing for a long time,” it further added. “The need of a governing body of Hip Hop. The goal of HHA is to empower artists to make informed decisions about their career and ensure that their rights are respected and protected.”

Additionally, the Hip Hop Alliance shows that KRS-One acts as Chairman, Kurtis Blow is the Executive Director, and Chuck D is President.

“As our culture comes together to honor and celebrate the 50th year of the creation of Hip-Hop, now is the time for all of us to come together,” the statement further says.

“In that spirit, we invite our brother Bow Wow to join us this coming Friday (January 20) at 7 p.m. EST on the Clubhouse app and/or our Black History Month online conference on Tuesday (February 25) at 4 p.m. EST on the HHA YouTube page.”

Read More: Meek Mill’s REFORM Alliance Applauds Scores Another Probation Reform Win

“We welcome all of the Hip Hop culture to roll up their sleeves and join us,” they said. “We work to uplift, honor, and protect Hip-Hop, for its past, present, and future.” 

It is unclear if Bow Wow has taken them up on their invitation, but it will certainly be a Clubhouse discussion that Hip Hop lovers—and artists—don’t want to miss.

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Today in Hip-Hop History: Boogie Down Productions Released Their Second LP ‘By All Means Necessary’ 34 Years Ago

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On this day in 1988, Boogie Down Productions dropped one of the best and most influential albums of all time. It was widely seen as one of, if not the first, politically conscious efforts in Hip Hop

KRS-One was initially popular for fueling the Juice Crew vs. BDP beef on wax and expanding intellectual Hip Hop music through 1987, with the release of Criminal Minded. However, when BDP’s DJ Scott La Rock was shot and killed in the South Bronx, it had a profound effect on the Brooklyn native, which resulted in a drastic rethinking of his on-record persona. By All Means Necessary was one of the first albums the group made after Scott La Rock’s death that would have a lasting effect on generations to come. The “Blastmaster” began to talk about a lot of the issues that were plaguing the black community like police brutality, government corruption, institutionalized racism, and later on giving birth to his “Stop the Violence” Campaign.

As “The Teacher,” on perhaps one of the most influential tracks from the LP, “Stop the Violence”, he spits,

“I look, but it doesn’t coincide with my books/Social Studies will not speak upon hard hitting crooks/It’s just the Presidents, and all the money they spent/All the things they invent, and how their house is so immaculate/They create missiles, my family’s eating gristle/Then they get upset when the press blows the whistle”

As a plea to end violence in Hip Hop, which still hasn’t been heeded to this day, KRS-One took on the role as the spearhead of Hip Hop’s Stop The Violence Movement, choosing the single, “Self Destruction”, as the lead single.

With classic tracks like, “Nervous”, nearly every track on the album had a distinct narrative, and even the album cover art and the theme were Malcolm X (By Any Means Neccessary) inspired. On the track, “Jimmy”, the rapper became the first rapper to speak on the AIDS/HIV epidemic that plagued Black and Brown communities in America. On the song, “Illegal Business”, Kris gave the masses a startling perception into the drug trade and how it corrupts the police and the government.

Salute to KRS and the entire Boogie Down Productions crew for giving us this epic piece of Hip Hop history!

“It’s not about a salary, it’s all about reality..”

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Boogie Down Productions Released Their Second LP ‘By All Means Necessary’ 34 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Method Man Releases “Live From The Meth Lab”, Announces ‘Meth Lab 3: The Rehab’ Album

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Hip-hop legend Method Man is back with a new collaborative track straight from The Meth Lab. The song, entitled “Live From The Meth Lab”, has a distinctive, 90s hip hop vibe and features longtime friends, frequent collaborators, and genre icons Redman and KRS-One and Wu Tang affiliated rapper JoJo Pelligrino.

The song is the third release off the upcoming ‘Meth Lab 3: The Rehab’ project, following “The Last 2 Minutes” featuring Iron Mic and “Butterfly Effect” featuring RJ Payne, which saw high praise from Complex, UPROXX, HipHopDX, Okayplayer, Hot New Hip-Hop, VIBE, Revolt and more.

The Meth Lab project is a platform curated with friend and collaborator Hanz On that draws upon the Staten Island hip-hop community to put on up-and-coming artists alongside some of Wu Tang’s finest and noteworthy affiliates. The album was recorded in Meth Lab Studios on Staten Island and will be released on May 6, 2022  via Hanz On Music Entertainment (H.O.M.E.) / ONErpm.

The post Method Man Releases “Live From The Meth Lab”, Announces ‘Meth Lab 3: The Rehab’ Album appeared first on The Source.