On Part II of the Planet Ill interview, Blastmaster KRS-ONE talks the origins of Hip-Hop, the energy behind his Survival Skills album with Buckshot, the difference between history and Hip-Hop folklore and much more. Tune in!
Planet Ill: Survival Skills. How did it feel to be back in the group dynamic?
KRS-ONE: It was great. Sharing the mic in a group format with Buckshot, that was just excellent. This album was me in live emcee club style and I really enjoyed it.
Planet Ill: You were aggressive on that album
KRS-ONE: Yes, very aggressive, I loved it. I want more albums like that where we’re just breaking emcees down, talking about emcee shit you know, boom bap, rhymes, that’s it. It was wonderful. To be on the team, too; you’ll notice when you got respect in Hip-Hop you’ll go between certain crews. I could be a TS [Terror Squad] one minute, I could be at Duck Down, the next. In this instance, I’m over at Buckshot.
It was Buckshot’s idea, the whole thing; his idea. He called me up, “Yo, let’s do an album.” I’m like Buck do you really want it? “Yeah I really want it.” Set up the studio time, let’s go, he set up the studio time, sent me tracks. I’m like, “Oh shit, he serious!” Ran in, aced 14 songs. We mixed it, you got what you got. Matter of fact, I’m going too fast.
We called up Mary J. This is why I love her. Do you realize that Mary J Blige did not have to do anything on a Buckshot/KRS album? If anybody’s a diva, it would be her. And I know women are throwing that word around, diva, diva. Everybody’s a diva. But when it comes to Hip-Hop? Let’s just throw on all I need with Method Man. Mary begins in Hip-Hop with Biggie fucking Smalls. How do you go from Bad Boy, to Suge for a minute, to independent doing your own shit. She is the true queen of Hip-Hop, don’t get it twisted. She has no reason to be messing with KRS and Buckshot. Mary is a super icon. My mouth is shut. Mary could tell me to shoot somebody right now, and I’m loading up!
But now let me move over. Buckshot did something very brilliant. He said, “Yo, nobody really knows me.” Cats know Buckshot if you know the 90’s, you know Black Moon. But the cats today, don’t really know Buckshot. So he goes and gets KRS who they know, but know as old school. Puts me on the album so it looks like KRS is bringing out Buckshot. The album even has me pulling him up a mountain top. He looks new! He looks like some new kid I’m putting on.
Buckshot’s the one that came up with “Robot.” Buckshot called me and said here’s the beat, here’s the concept, go to work. Shout out to Duck Down, all day. Smif n Wessun was in the building crazy. All the producers, Black Milk, 9th Wonder, you know, Taalib [Kweli], big shout out; Pharoahe Monch on the chorus, big shout you see who we putting on, too.
Planet Ill: Your new movement is a bit religious. One of the marks of religion is public works. Is there anything in your platform that speaks to that?
KRS-ONE: Yes, we have several things in the works. The first thing we’re doing is the Bowery Mission. It’s this Thanksgiving, or what I call Thankstaking. I ate there; I actually have a real personal relationship there with these people, they actually fed me. I was on the other side of that table. What I think ministry is about, is not a “holier-than-thou” attitude, but more I was exactly who you was and I have risen. Here’s the path of resurrection. That’s the type of spiritual path we’re coming with. We’re coming with a path that says we are not above you at all. No one can claim that. We’re just like you. If you see any divinity in me, you’re only speaking about yourself. If you can look at me and say KRS-One and see my lyrics today and say KRS is always spitting something positive. I will reverse that and say no get my first album. KRS man, he’s always talking about peace. I would say thank you, but you don’t remember a group called PM Dawn. I’m not above anybody in that instance. The new thought is, I’m just like you, and I’m claiming righteousness. You’re like I eat the same food, I bust the same gun.
It says enough of the talk. Enough of the words. Enough of the reading all the time to know God. Now it’s time to look at each other and see God within; to look at each other and say I salute the divinity within you. I’m gonna address you as the content of your character; the essence of your being is how I will approach you. This is Hip-Hop, and this is how Hip-Hop begins. This is how the public works of Hip-Hop begins. There’s not enough charity going on in the United States and that’s why I’m proud to be a part of this feeding. I’m here to inspire. For me, by being there, I hope to incite others to give more.
America is losing out on its charity because it’s losing out on its spirit. To me, that’s the real war on terror right there. Others have declared a jihad on the United States, and we’re still fighting with guns and sticks as opposed to getting on our knees and praying. If President Obama would order the United States, every citizen at 12 o’clock on Dr. King’s birthday, stop what you’re doing. And pray. Every American Citizen. Pray. And maybe even offered a prayer. Say this, U.S. I think the world on terror would be over overnight. There would be no philosophical basis for it.
The reason the war on terror exists is because other nations or other no state-sponsored actors are claiming that the United States is evil and wicked, and that’s the problem with the world today, the U.S. Well they have a point. But the people of the United States is not the United States. America is who you got a problem with. The United States is us. America is the government. They have a problem. But the citizenry of the United States already agrees about how things should be going. Until American philosophers step up and be courageous and start training people in new spiritual ways, America is not going to get back to its spiritual roots; its spiritual vitality.
Planet Ill: There’s been a lot of talk lately about Hip-Hop NOT starting with Kool Herc. Other people in other places are beginning to lay claim to that history. How do you feel about that as a historian?
KRS-ONE: It’s right; it’s true. If you are a Hip-Hop historian, then you are looking for Hip-Hop. You’re not looking for rap music folklore. Rap music folklore places us at 1520 Sedgwick Avenue in the Bronx with Kool DJ Herc playing in the community center at the request of his sister Sindy. That’s a fact. But if you’re seeking truth, even Kool Herc will tell you, there were many DJ’s at that time. Playing in the parks as well and playing James Brown. And B-Boys and breakers and graffiti artists were at their jams too.
What was the real issue, why Kool Herc has the title “Father of Hip-Hop” is because when it was time to stand up, for B-Boying, graffiti writing, and emceeing DJing, cutting and scratching, that was Herc, Bam, and Flash. No disrespect to others, but they were part of the Disco Era. They were not trying to see Hip-Hop up in the Bronx. They were downtown, lower east side, getting money. Herc was doing his thing in the park for free. And Herc knew Bam, and Bam was the one that settled all the gangs in New York so that we could even have parties. It was Afrika Bambaataa that took all the elements that Kool Herc had put together and took it overseas and did they thing with it. So yes there were other people but they did not put in the work! That’s why Kool Herc is the Father of Hip-Hop and should not ever be questioned on that. He put the work in. Kool Herc gets around. These others guys, I don’t want to mention their names, some of them are my friends, they home! Chilling. Grandfathers. They not getting around.
Planet Ill: Are you an unlistable emcee?
KRS-ONE: Yes. I am an unlistable emcee. It’s very unfair to put KRS-ONE on any list, for the other emcees that are on that list. I say that non-arrogantly. I say that very humbly; I say that very truthfully. I don’t think anyone in Hip-Hop, as an emcee matches my record. They can match my skill maybe. They can match my stamina but what’s on record? I don’t think anyone matches my record.
In closing, I’d like to say this. It’s time to stop playing games with Hip-Hop. Newsweek, Times, Village Voice, USA Today, have all called us a nation. The only problem is we don’t believe we are a nation. The whole world is calling us a nation, except ourselves. It is now time for us to govern ourselves. Self governance is the state where Hip-Hop needs to be.
If there is one thing that I would impart to the serious Hip-Hopper right now, get a copy of The Gospel of Hip-Hop, no doubt. Go to www.TempleofHipHop.org so you can get more conversation in that area. And then BE Hip-Hop. Represent Hip-Hop! As you would any nation. Peace, love, unity safely having fun. KRS.
PART 1
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