Lawrence Krisna Parker (born August 20, 1965), known throughout his career by several monikers including Kris Parker, KRS One, The Blastmaster and The Teacha, is a rapper born in Park Slope, Brooklyn. He ran away from home at a young age and wound up in the Bronx. Young Kris Parker first adopted his most famous pseudonym when writing graffiti (bombing) in his neighbourhood of the Bronx - he would sign his artwork as KRIS-One, which later became KRS-1, or KRS-ONE. Together with DJ Scott La Rock, he formed Boogie Down Productions. Their debut album - Criminal Minded - contained mainly dissing records and tracks about crime ("wa da da deng wa da da da deng, listen to my nine millimeter go bang"), based around James Brown samples and reggae influences. During these years, KRS-One was also famously involved in a rap battle (a beef) with MC Shan, of Queensbridge. KRS objected to MC Shan calling Queensbridge the home of hip hop, and attacked him viciously on a seminal battle rap, The Bridge Is Over. KRS is a highly respected figure in the hip hop community and is often referenced in works by other hip hop artists.

Following the fatal shooting of Scott la Rock in 1987, Boogie Down Productions became increasingly political. KRS One was also the mastermind behind the HEAL compilation and the Stop the Violence Movement that has its own manifesto with the 12" "Self Destruction" featuring many popular rappers. As Kris Parker adopted this more-conscientious, less-violent approach, he stopped calling himself The Blastmaster (his battle rap nickname), and instead began calling himself The Teacha, turning the nickname KRS-ONE into an acronym (Knowledge Reigns Supreme - Over Nearly Everybody).

On his first solo album, KRS worked together with producers DJ Premier (Gang Starr), Showbiz and Kid Capri . The catchy yet very hardcore track "Sound of da Police" is featured on this album. His second album, KRS One featured Channel Live on the track "Free Mumia" as well as Mad Lion , Busta Rhymes, Das EFX and Fat Joe. Sursprisingly enough, 1997's "I Got Next" included a remix of the new hit "Step into a World" (with a sample from Blondie's "Rapture") by commercial rap icon Puff Daddy. "Hearbeat", featuring Angie Martinez and Redman, was based on the old school classic "Feel the Heartbeat" by the Treacherous Three .

After many BDP albums and the solo albums, Jive Records decided to drop KRS, and his 2001 album was released on Koch. In 2002, he released a gospel-rap album, Spiritual Minded, surprising many longtime fans since he had once criticized Christianity as being a "slavemaster religion" which blacks should not follow. He founded the Temple of Hip-Hop , and released a new album, Kristyles , in late 2002, as well as a new mixtape of classics and a few new tracks, . He has most recently released Get Right in the summer of 2004.

In 2004, KRS engendered a controversy by saying that African-Americans "cheered" when the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks occurred. KRS called the destruction of the World Trade Center "justice" against the buildings occupants, who he accused of keeping African-Americans out of the towers because of their style of dress and manner of speech.

Discography

Boogie Down Productions

• Criminal Minded (1987)
• By All Means Necessary (1988)
• Ghetto Music: The Blueprint of Hip Hop (1989)
• Edutainment (1990)
• Live Hardcore Worldwide (1991)
• Sex and Violence (1992)

Solo Albums

• Return of the Boom Bap (1993)
• KRS One (1995)
• I Got Next (1997)
• The Sneak Attack (2001)
• Spiritual Minded (2002)
• Kristyles (2003)
• KRS-One: The Mixtape (2003)
• The Kristyle (Reissued on new label with new songs) ["To have everything, keep radiating in spirit through your love everday."] (2003)
• Digital (2004)
• Keep Right (2004)

Guest Appearances

• "Radio Song" by R.E.M. from Out of Time (1991)
• "The Jam" by Shabba Ranks (1991)
• "Rough..." by Queen Latifah on Black Reign (1993)
• "East Coast-West Coast Killas" by Dr. Dre from Dr. Dre Presents...The Aftermath (1996)
• "C.I.A. (Criminals In Action)" Zack De La Rocha , KRS-One, The Last Emperor on Lyricist Lounge Vol. 1 (1999)
• "Return of Hip Hop" by DJ Tomekk on The Return of Hip Hop (2001)

Cameos and Roles in Movies

• "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka" (1988) - KRS One and BDP walk behind Jack Spade performing his theme music
• "Who's the Man?" (1993) - Rashid
• "SUBWAYstories: Tales from the Underground" (1997) - Vendor
• "Rhyme & Reason" (1997) - Himself
• "Boricua's Bond" (2000) - ?
• "2Pac 4 Ever" (2003) - Narrator
• "Beef" (2003) - Himself
• "Hip-Hop Babylon 2" (2003) - Himself
• "Soundz of Spirit" (2003) - ?
• "Beef 2" (2004) - Himself
• "And You Don't Stop: 30 Years of Hip-Hop" (2004) - Himself
• "Hip-Hop Honors" (2004) - Himself
• "Keep Right (Or your gonna get left) DVD" (2004) - Himself

External links

• Temple of Hip-Hop
• Article on KRS's 9/11 comments