KRS-One knew just what to do when the authenticity of hip-hop was in dire straits.
By the early 90s the purity of the genre was in question. Its subjects were dominated by violent tales and street anthems. The Blastmaster countered the culture with a brilliant, brutally honest set, 1993’s Return of the Boom Bap!
Produced mostly by himself, DJ Premier and Kid Capri (Showbiz produced KRS’ now iconic hit “Sound of da Police”) this scratched-up, sample-laden LP of change-the-status-quo gut punches and socially nutritious brain food was half throwback, half forward thinking.
Popular rhymes depicted neighborhood wars, splurging drug money, and the conquest of women. To survive amongst this trend artists portrayed themselves accordingly. What was first eye-opening, unique and taboo became trendy. A flood of disingenuous copycats left hip-hop stagnant.
Traditional MCs were being lost in the casing smoke of “gangsta rap”. If an artist didn’t fit the mold they were ignored, forced to conform, or excused from their label deals.
On the Primo-laced “Mortal Thought” KRS-One rhymes, “Are you tired of lyrical liars, passing fliers / Wannabe MC’s, but really good triers / Tripping over mic cords, getting you bored / A total fraud, this kind of thing I can’t afford”.
Here The Teacher educated on authorities’ participation in Black-on-Black violence (“Black Cop”), contemplated what happens once your career fades (“Outta Here”), the lack of social and behavioral awareness (“Uh Oh”), and strictly, unequivocally being a dope MC the way hip-hop intended (“Return of the Boom Bap”).
These subjects found on this LP, and how KRS-One delivers them, proves to be valuable yet today.
“We will be here forever, and ever, and ever. Do you understand that?” |THIS ENT
[By Mr. Joe Walker]
