One of hip-hop's most outspoken figures, KRS-One (Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone) has a long and colorful history. Along with DJ Scott La Rock, he formed Boogie Down Productions in the mid-1980s; their debut album Criminal Minded (1987) showcased KRS' singular delivery and urgent, thought-provoking lyrics over minimal beats and samples. La Rock was murdered shortly thereafter, at which point KRS began to find a more political and socially-minded voice. Successfully avoiding preachy overtones, By All Means Necessary (1988) addressed safe sex and violence prevention. Boogie Down Productions later released four more albums, but due largely to the growing Gangsta Rap phenomenon, their positive messages soon fell out of fashion. KRS released four solo albums in the '90s, but none achieved the classic status of his early work with BDP. A regular on lecture circuits, he mentors new talent and continues to record sporadically. In 1999 he released KRS-One Presents...The Temple of Hip-Hop Kulture, a compilation of up-and-coming artists, and in 2002 he dropped Spiritual Minded, delving further into religious rap. Kristyles and Keep Right followed in 2003 and 2004, respectively.
icon to see a biography and popular works.
