KRS-One (album)

KRS-One
Studio album by KRS-One
Released October 10, 1995 (1995-10-10)[1]
Recorded 1994–1995
Genre
Length 65:49
Label Jive
Producer
KRS-One chronology
Return of the Boom Bap
(1993)Return of the Boom Bap1993		 KRS-One
(1995)		 I Got Next
(1997)I Got Next1997
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic [2]
Robert Christgau [3]
Rolling Stone [4]
The Source [5]

KRS-One is the second album released by hip hop artist KRS-One under his own name. The album was originally meant to be titled Hip-Hop Vs. Rap, as can be seen in the early The Source's and Rap Pages reviews, which also reveal that a few tracks were scrapped at the last minute; all of these songs still remain unreleased to this day although they have all been posted at XXL Magazine's website for streaming.

Background

The album is weaved together by a string of interludes appearing between songs featuring radio shoutouts to Kris from hip-hop heavyweights including Lord Finesse, Rakim, Method Man, Mr. Magic, Jeru the Damaja and even MC Shan, who had famously feuded with KRS and his group Boogie Down Productions a decade prior. Inside the CD booklet KRS-One gives shoutouts to additional producers who worked on the LP but whose songs didn't make the final cut. The names are Pete Rock, Freddie Foxxx, Kenny Parker (brother of KRS), DJ S&S, Kenny Dope, Kid Capri and Domingo.

The song "Ah Yeah" originally appeared on the compilation album Pump Ya Fist. A limited promotional EP sampler of the compilation was released in 1995 featuring three exclusive remixes of the song (in addition to previews of featured selections by Jeru the Damaja and Rakim) - one produced by KRS-One himself and the other two by Diamond D.

Track listing

# Title Songwriters Producer(s) Featured Performer (s)
1 "Rappaz R. N. Dainja" L. Parker DJ Premier
2 "De Automatic" L. Parker Big French Productions Fat Joe
3 "MC's Act Like They Don't Know" L. Parker DJ Premier
4 "Ah Yeah" L. Parker KRS-One
5 "R.E.A.L.I.T.Y." L. Parker Norty Cotto Dexter Thibou
6 "Free Mumia" L. Parker KRS-One Channel Live
7 "Hold" L. Parker KRS-One
8 "Wannabemceez" L. Parker DJ Premier Mad Lion
9 "Represent the Real Hip Hop" L. Parker Showbiz Das EFX
10 "The Truth" L. Parker KRS-One Rich Nice
11 "Build Ya Skillz" L. Parker Diamond D Busta Rhymes
12 "Out for Fame" L. Parker KRS-One
13 "Squash All Beef" L. Parker Diamond D
14 "Health, Wealth, Self" L. Parker KRS-One

Versions

U.S. vinyl version missing CD tracks "Ah Yeah", "Hold", and "Health, Wealth, Self"; substituted are previously released tracks on side D, which are "I'm Still #1", "My Philosophy", "Jack of Spades", and "Why Is That".

Unused tracks

  • "What I Know" (Produced by Diamond D)
  • "Clubs Dem"
  • "Kris Is..." (Interlude)
  • "Meta-physician" (Interlude)

Album singles

Single information
"MC's Act Like They Don't Know"
  • Released: August 28, 1995
  • B-side: "Represent the Real Hip-Hop"
"Rappaz R. N. Dainja" [UK release]
  • Released: 1995
  • B-side: "Ah - Yeah (Mellow Vibe Mix)", "Sound of Da Police"

Chart positions

Album

Chart (1995) Peak
position
scope="row"US Billboard 200[6] 19
scope="row"US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[7] 2

Singles

Year Song Chart positions
US
Hot 100		 US
R&B		 US
Rap		 US Dance
Singles Sales
1995 "MC's Act Like They Don't Know" 57 35 9 1

References

  1. ↑ "KRS-One - KRS-One (Overview)". allmusic.com. All Media Network, LLC. Retrieved 2014-09-29.
  2. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. KRS-One at AllMusic
  3. ↑ Robert Christgau Consumer Guide
  4. ↑ Rolling Stone review
  5. ↑ The Source review
  6. ↑ "KRS-One Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  7. ↑ "KRS-One Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.


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