KRS-One is one of hip-hop’s pioneering lyricists. Alongside figures such as Rakim and LL Cool J, the BDP emcee has become an icon of the 1980s and one of the most prevalent representatives of gold-age rap music. However, as a strong-minded, outspoken and knowledgeable man, the South Bronx musician (real name Lawrence Parker) has continued to provide commentary on the culture that birthed him and his concerns.
Parker first arrived on the scene with his crewmate Scott La Rock (real name Scott Sterling) and their DJ D-Nice. Parker and Sterling met in 1986 and after officially forming the trio Boogie Down Productions alongside D-Nice began recording their debut album, Criminal Minded. The 1987 album was the trio’s first and only project as Sterling was murdered six months after it was released.
However, despite losing his friend and collaborator KRS-One remained a prevalent voice in hip-hop and continue to push his music as a solo artist. Although he continued to use the name Boogie Down productions for his releases in 1993 he began to use his stage name for all hiss releases. Parker worked with all of the East Coast greats. From DJ Premier to Diamond D and others, the I Got Next artist remained respected figure within the scene.
Since the turn of the millennium, the values and culture of traditional hip-hop have deteriorated. However, KRS-One has made a living from touring and performing in other parts of the world, including Europe, where he has a legion of young fans who respect his raw, unfiltered, forthright style that is refreshing in the age of mediocre SoundCloud rappers.
Irrespective of how Parker now operates he still keeps his ear to the streets and is aware of what’s happening in the culture. That said, before his headlining concert in Switzerland, the South Bronx icon and 1980s pioneer, in a conversation with break-dancer Jonathan Gasana, explained how mainstream hip-hop is now made up of “little boys.”
Speaking candidly, Parker proclaimed, “There’s two types of people in the world. Black men and Black boys. Black boys is who you see on mainstream television. ‘I want the girl, the big house, I’m driving the big car’ that’s little boys stuff! Ant man will let you know that, any man knows that!”
He continued, “I’m not saying that when you’re on TV you can’t aspire for the good things in life. No doubt, but a man, a real man, he gets on TV and first he looks for his kids, ‘Let me make sure my kids are safe today. Are they clean today, Did they learn something today are they protected? Before I even talk to you, ‘are my kids good?’ That’s a man! ‘Is my woman good? Does she feel loved?'”
Parker highlighted how mainstream artists today don’t act and feel like men, stating, “Most of the rappers you see on TV, they don’t have no woman [wife] in they life. They have little girls who are interested in little boys and they play little boy and girl games. ‘I want the guy with the car,’ that’s a little girl. The majority of us are men!”
He then went on to explain how hip-hop’s foundation began with men and has regressed and devolved into something run by little boys and girls that needs to return to its roots. You can watch Parker’s interview in the video below.
