KRS-One

KRS-One Recalls Making Of Criminal Minded

27 Aug 2010 12:05:04 EDT

'We knew exactly what we were doing when we made this album,' hip-hop pioneer says of Boogie Down Productions' 1987 breakthrough.
By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Sway Calloway

Making of the Moment: Criminal Minded

KRS-One is both known for dropping jewels to cultivate minds and dropping bombs to blow minds. The Bronx bred hip-hop pioneer has lived up to both his titles — The Teacha and The Blastmaster — over his almost 25-year career. T was considered Hall of Fame/ Greatest of All-Time list over ten years ago. Over the past decade, KRS has been expanding his artistic reach, releasing the gospel-tinged album Spiritual Minded in 2002 and the book "The Gospel of Hip-Hop: First Instrument" in 2009. But as the title of his most recent album, Back to the L.A.B. (Lyrical Ass Beating), shows, he's still down to tear the lining out of the sound booth walls.

This summer KRS has joined a slew of mic icons on the Rock the Bells tour. Snoop Dogg, Rakim, A Tribe Called Quest, Slick Rick and the Wu-Tang Clan are the headliners on the outing, which has a different twist this time around: Each act is performing a classic album from their catalog. KRS picked the first album he performed on, Boogie Down Productions' 1987 debut Criminal Minded. Back then, the crew also consisted of D-Nice, Just Ice, Ms. Melody and their late co-founder and leader, DJ Scott La Rock.

La Rock oversaw the business and handled the production of the album with Ultramagnetic MC's Ced Gee. The opus set off a new era in battle rap with timeless tracks like "South Bronx" and "The Bridge Is Over." As KRS will testify, it's also certified as one of the albums that spawned gangsta rap. Criminal Minded introduced KRS as one of the new mic stars of the era, alongside Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap and the aforementioned Rakim. Right after his set at the Rock the Bells kickoff in Los Angeles, KRS gave us some insight into his starmaking first LP:

"This may sound arrogant, but it's the truth and it's honest. We knew exactly what we were doing when we made this album. If you notice, all the away up to Return of the Boom Bap — I stopped doing it after Return of the Boom Bap — I used to say things like, 'We will be here forever! Forever and ever!' I used to always speak into the future: 'I got rhymes for the '70s, '80s, and '90s.' This was the '80s. So yes, as a metaphysician, as a philosopher, you know what you are doing. We didn't make mistakes. We still don't. That's why the albums are out the way they are. I say that humbly. I don't say that with no arrogance; 'Yeah, we knew what it was.' No, we didn't. What we knew was hip-hop. We knew if we came out with what our people wanted to hear, that's just what it is. It wasn't on the radio, there's no videos for it. We just said what we knew the block wanted to hear at the time. We knew we were changing the game.

"The song 'Criminal Minded,' the idea is so ironic. Big up to Ced Gee. He's the one that programmed the drums. Scott would come with the records and Ced Gee would program the drums. We were working at the Power Plant studio in Queens. The idea was revolutionaries. If you look at the cover of Criminal Minded, that's what we were saying modern-day Black Panthers are. I had the gun belt going over the shoulder, grenades. That wasn't hood. It wasn't like [we] had guns on the table like we were drug dealers — we had grenades. Real paramilitary stuff was on the table. We were showing ourselves to be revolutionaries. Gangsters are really intelligent. We're Black Panthers. We're not just dudes on the corner. Then when Criminal Minded came out — and I said it all over the record — 'I am a teacha!/ Others are gangs. It's the teacha, the teacha, the teacha!' Cats said, 'Oh no. You're the father of gangster rap.'

"On top of that, it wasn't our life that was gangster at all. We weren't selling drugs or none of that stuff. We were in the hood, we knew everybody. That wasn't our thing. Scott La Rock was a social worker; I was in the shelter. Even Just Ice, as wild as he was, he was still a Five Percenter. So he was following some kind of discipline.

All of us were. But what happened, the record came out and because of the battle with MC Shan, everybody thought, 'We're coming out hard core now. We're coming out like this.' And we did have a large crew. We had a couple of hundred people down with us and BDP at one time.

"After Scott was killed, I clarified the message with [the] Malcolm X [pose] on the [cover of BDP's 1988 album By All Means Necessary]. Trying to clarify, this is not about gangsterism, this is what revolutionaries look like. If you go back to the some of the revolutionary pictures of the Black Panthers, you'll see that same thing on Criminal Minded's album cover. It's just that over time, people didn't look at it for Black Panthers, they saw us in the hood with the gat and people started mimicking that, unfortunately."

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Lauryn Hill Returns, Snoop Dogg Reigns At Rock The Bells 2010

22 Aug 2010 12:09:34 EDT

Sets by Wu-Tang Clan, A Tribe Called Quest, Rakim and KRS-One also make for an epic tour kickoff.
By Shaheem Reid

SAN BERNARDINO, California -- Hip-hop is so spontaneous that you never know where a historic moment might take place. That wasn't the case Saturday night, however: Guerilla Union informed all of us weeks ago that history would be made on August 21, 2010, in San Bernardino.

It was the kickoff of this year's Rock the Bells Tour, and out of its six previous outings, this one was surely the most inspired and ambitious. The lineup was surreal and a fantasy wish list for hip-hop fans, including Snoop Dogg, Wu-Tang Clan, A Tribe Called Quest, Slick Rick, Rakim, KRS-One and a returning Lauryn Hill.

Dope! No, this is beyond that. Unbelievable. And to raise the stakes on this outing, all the legendary artists would be performing a classic album from their catalogs. As for Ms. Hill, well, does it matter what she performs? Just seeing her for the first time in more than a decade (or for the first time period, as was the case for most fans at the concert) was a blessing. (Relive the Rock the Bells Tour kickoff minute-by-minute with our live blog over on RapFix!)

Hill stole our hearts in the mid-'90s, originally as part of the Fugees. In a genre dominated by masculinity, Lauryn stood out from her peers as rap's most unique artist. She was astonishingly talented as a vocalist and as an MC, and she could do both seamlessly. The Fugees' The Score made her an international phenomenon, and her solo debut, The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, turned her into an instant legend.

That was 12 years ago, and the new music (as well as concert appearances) have been infamously sparse. On Saturday, even though she came midway through the card, Hill was undoubtedly the must-see event of the night. After Slick Rick performed The Great Adventures of Slick Rick, Rakim tackled Paid in Full and KRS-One dropped his Boogie Down productions masterpiece Criminal Minded, Lauryn took the stage.

Hill started with a can't-miss one-two punch of "Lost One" and "Doo-Wop (That Thing)." Backed by a six-piece band and three backup singers, just about all her selections were remixed variations of her classics, with the tempo sped up. This was not a woman who some reports had labeled "crazy." Lauryn was lucid and dancing and appeared to be enjoying herself.

"It's good to see you, everybody!" she said after "Hurts So Bad."

Then, before "Zion," Hill said: "It was 13 years ago I wrote a song about my son. August 3rd. Can you believe that? It's not necessarily easy, but it's beautiful." Lauryn then instructed the band to "make it bounce."

Hill ended where her career began -- with the Fugees -- rapping "Ready or Not" and "Fugee La." When she exited, an undercurrent of fans chanted "Lauryn, Lauryn!" (Hill's performance is igniting debate over on our RapFix blog!)

A Tribe Called Quest had fans yelling "Thank you!" Q-Tip, Phife Dawg and Ali Shaheed Muhammad performed several selections from their timeless Midnight Marauders and threw in a few surprises. One of the original members, Jarobi, came out for "Can I Kick It?," and Busta Rhymes (accompanied by Spliff Star) made an appearance with his banger "Stop the Party." Q-Tip rapped his lines from "The Scenario" over the beat, then the track switched to the actual "Scenario" beat. Bust went on a rampage during his star-making verse from the song. Rhymes, Spliff and Jarobi stayed onstage for the last two numbers: "Check the Rhyme" and "Award Tour."

Wu-Tang was next with their 36 Chambers LP, and filling in for Ol' Dirty Bastard was the "Young Dirty Bastard," Dirt's eldest son Boy Jones. Jones embodied his pop's mannerisms and rebellious spirit, jumping off the stage and performing "Shimmy Shimmy Ya" with no shirt on. Jones also wore the same hairstyle as Dirty sported on his solo debut cover.

The set of the night however belonged to the last act: Snoop Dogg performed Doggystyle and brought out his DPGC family Kurupt, Daz, Warren G, Lady of Rage and RBX. The Dogg utilized the big screen onstage to unveil mini-movies for each skit on his album. Dr. Dre appeared on one skit, telling his friend to do an old-school song. Snoop took that opportunity to step out of Doggystyle and do "The Next Episode." The energy for Snoop's set was at a high pitch for every song. Even though some members of the crowd were on their feet for more than 10 hours, everyone showed love.

There was an amazing exchange during "Ain't No Fun" and "Regulate," during which everyone sang Nate Dogg's part ("you better be ready," Snoop laughed, telling Warren G, who wasn't aware the record was in the set list); the gangster crooner is still recovering from multiple strokes.

Other highlights of the Dogg's set included "Doggy Dogg World" and "What's My Name." He started with "Gin and Juice" and "ended" with "What's My Name," but we all know a Dogg Pound party don't stop, so Pharrell Williams appeared on the video screen in a tux singing his parts of "Minnie the Moocher." He then did a call-and-response of Snoop's name with the audience, before Snoop tackled "Drop It Like It's Hot" and "I Wanna Rock."

Were you at the show? What were your favorite moments? Let us know in the comments!

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Wu-Tang Clan's Raekwon Says Rock The Bells Tour 'Concept Is Great'

01 Jun 2010 21:20:33 EDT

'We never sung the whole album,' Raekwon says of performing entire Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers).
By Shaheem Reid

This summer, the Wu-Tang Clan return to headline the heralded Rock the Bells Tour. But unlike the Killer Bees' previous stage ventures for the annual outing, the Clan's set will have a twist. The group will perform their classic debut, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers), in its entirety.

"We never did that before," Raekwon the Chef told Mixtape Daily last week. "We never sung the whole album, the 36 Chambers.

"That's gonna be interesting to see these cats do some of the records that really bust hip-hop's cherry open," Rae said. "I can't wait to see this because I never seen it like that before. The concept is great. It gives fans the opportunity to go back and rewrite their history, go back and check it out, see what made dudes who they are. ... This [tour] is gonna allow races to come together and have fun for one night. This is gonna be the event of events. This is gonna be the Royal Rumble of hip-hop. I'm sure that everybody is gonna come out and represent this. It's gonna be right. I can't wait."

Rae said every time he gets to perform among the legends that Rock the Bells welcomes onto its treks, he feels another year younger.

"It's always good to get out there with my brothers. We going to get money, pay them bills, take care of them kids. Then getting back in front of them fans again and giving them what they want," the MC said. "Nobody can say Wu-Tang is a wack group to get onstage and perform. I really feel that these are some of the best entertainers in the world when it's time to get onstage. You're gonna hear clear mics, you're gonna hear us do it the way it's supposed to be."

Besides the Clan, KRS-One will run through Criminal Minded, his 1987 Boogie Down Productions LP; Rakim will perform his Paid in Full opus; and Slick Rick will be rapping The Great Adventures of Slick Rick. Wiz Khalifa and the Clipse are among the featured openers.

"Rock the Bells, it's good," Rae continued. "Rock the Bells is one of the biggest functions when it comes to MCs on one list getting it in. They make it universal where it ain't just about New York or the South or West Coast — it's a gumbo of all that. The fans get to come out and see their favorites and see different sides of every MC. It feels good to be a part of it because hey, I'm still a kid at this sh--. It's about having fun."

Last year, Raekwon was involved in a now-infamous physical altercation with Joe Budden during an August date on Rock the Bells, although the two MCs' camps had appeared to squash their beef on an earlier July stop.

The Chef is finishing up his forthcoming Shaolin vs. Wu-Tang album, which should drop around September.

If you could choose any hip-hop act to perform their album in its entirety, who would you pick and which album? Tell us in the comments!

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Rock The Bells 2010 Lineup Includes Wu-Tang Clan, Clipse, 'Special Guest' Lauryn Hill

25 May 2010 09:40:59 EDT

Rakim, Wiz Khalifa, the Clipse, Immortal Technique, Slick Rick and Street Sweeper Social Club also on four-city tour.
By Gil Kaufman

This summer's "Rock the Bells" tour will feature some of hip-hop's most legendary MCs and crews performing iconic albums in full. Among the acts on the lineup announced on Tuesday (May 25) on the tour's site are the Wu-Tang Clan, who will serve up their groundbreaking 1993 debut, Enter the Wu-Tang 36 Chambers; Rakim performing 1987's landmark Paid in Full; KRS-One doing 1987's Criminal Minded; and Slick Rick, who will run through his iconic 1988 debut, The Great Adventures of Slick Rick.
The tour announcement also mentions "special guest" Lauryn Hill, but does not elaborate on what role the former Fugees and solo star will play on the tour.
With more names to be added later, the current lineup also features Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello's side project with the Coup's Boots Riley, Street Sweeper Social Club, as well as Murs & 9th Wonder, Wiz Khalifa, the Clipse, Immortal Technique, Brother Ali, Jedi Mind Tricks, Supernatural, DJ Muggs with Ill Bill, Big Sean, Yelawolf, and DJ Rocky Rock.
The tour will hit four cities, kicking off on August 21 at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, California, then hitting Shoreline Amphitheater outside San Francisco on August 22, Governors Island in New York on August 28 and Merriweather Post Pavilion near Washington D.C. on August 29.
"This time of year is always filled with anxiety, excitement, and even relief," said Bells founder Chang Weisberg. "Rock the Bells fans have the craziest expectations, and the days and nights leading up to our initial announcement are surreal. Ultimately, our goal is to always present something that is historic. This year's show is the epitome of that tradition. Some things new and fresh, some things classic and legendary, and something that you've never seen or may never see and hear again. That's the formula. I am excited for this year's festivals and hope everyone is as hyped up as I am."
A portion of the proceeds from the four shows will go to Haiti relief efforts through the Hip-Hop and Hope for Haiti organization. The shows will also feature freestyle sessions and breakdancing performances.
Which Rock the Bells act are you most looking forward to? Talk about it in the comments.

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DMX, KRS-One Say They're Still The 'Heat' And The 'Fuel'

30 Sep 2009 06:52:00 EDT

New York legends trade compliments on the red carpet of VH1's "Hip Hop Honors," in Mixtape Daily.
By Jayson Rodriguez, with additional reporting by Shaheem Reid and Yasmine Richard

Celebrity Favorites
"That's the maaaan! That's the maaaan, right there! That's the maaaan!"
The booming voice delivering the props was instantly recognizable to anyone within earshot. DMX had just arrived on the red carpet at VH1's "Hip Hop Honors" in Brooklyn last week and caught sight of KRS-One.
"Don't even start it, that's the man," the Blastmaster said back to X.
The New York icons instantly hugged and connected. It's the kind of behind-the-scenes moment that makes events like these so memorable, when legends turn into fans and exchange compliments like business cards.
"You got me through two years up north with 'The Bridge Is Over,' " the Dog told the Bronx bomber. "Real talk. Real talk. You got me through it, baby. You got me through it."
KRS-One pulled X beside him and then began talking to MTV News about this year's Hottest MCs list. Even though DMX has as many New York hits as Derek Jeter, due to recent troubles — like a three-month prison sentence for animal-cruelty, drug and fraud charges — he hasn't been active musically for a while. But the Teacher put up the case for X anyway.
"DMX, everything this brother spits is hot," KRS said. "Everything. This is the heat right here. When I stand next to MCs, this is who I wanna stand next to. This brother gets it in. And not many cats that make hit records can also get it in on the mic. It's sorta like you trade in one for the other: You make a hit, you leave the streets. You stay in the streets, you can't make a hit. This right here, [though,] is living proof. Get at me, dog."
"If I'm the heat, this is the fuel," X countered. "This is the fuel that's off the heat. It's an honor, real talk."
VH1's "Hip Hop Honors" air on October 13.
For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines.

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Mary J. Blige Joins Buckshot And KRS-One On 'The Way I Live'

03 Sep 2009 21:50:00 EDT

'She's 'hood, she's elegant, she's real,' Buck says of Blige -- listen to the full song here!
By Shaheem Reid

Former Black Moon frontman Buckshot said getting Mary J. Blige on his new single wasn't about money — it was about friendship. Buck and the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul go back to the '90s, when Buck's artists and Boot Camp Clik members Smif-N-Wessun rapped on the remix to MJB's "I Love You." The two have been cool ever since.
"One of the last times I saw her before this song was in front of Sony studios," Buck remembered. "Me and Mary played a game of basketball right in front of Sony studios. You know how you would be in front of your building and you would use the wall as a hoop? So me and Mary was literally on the sidewalk just playing ball, bugging out. Mary, she really is Mary J. Blige. She's 'hood, she's elegant, she's real."

Buck also developed a great relationship with Blige's husband/manger Kendu over the years, so when he and KRS-One were coming up with the first single from their dual LP Survival Skills, they decided to call on old friends.
"The song is called 'The Way I Live,' " Buck said. "In the chorus, Mary says, 'I'm in the grind every day and that's the way I live.' When she started to sing that chorus, it's like, OK, [the song] became that much brighter. KRS-One said in the song, 'When you lose your job, you find your work.' A job is a job, when you lose it, you feel your work and your worth. The song is about being on the grind, but not accepting the grind — changing the grind.
"Everybody's got a song: 'I'm out there hustling, putting in work,' " Buck added. "But everybody does the same thing. What make this song different ... we're not talking about trapping and hustling. We say we go to the depths of who we are to find our true hustle. And that's why I love Mary J. When she started to go in on the end of the song, she has a name we call her: MC Brook. So we was like, 'Brook is about to go in.' She loves rhyming. Mary loves to flow and she's nasty. That's basically what the song is about — reaching within the depths of yourself to find a grind you created."
Survival Skills is due in stores September 15. Buck says he and KRS have known each other for over 15 years and decided to make an album together for the love of the sport.
"Kris has got this hunger that's impeccable," Buck said. "He's like a 16-year-old kid. You gotta be there to watch somebody who really loves to construct, build a house. You get to see the bedroom, the bathroom — you get a whole love for it because you see it constructed right before your eyes."

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Big Daddy Kane Dreams of Battling Rakim And KRS-One, Celebrates 20th Anniversary

20 Nov 2008 08:00:00 EST

'It's a celebration that means a lot to me,' MC says of star-studded show.
By Shaheem Reid

"Rap soloist, you don't want none of this." What if RakimRakim did listen to a lot of cats in the streets back in the day, and took Big Daddy KaneBig Daddy Kane's lyrics from "Set It Off" as a stone-cold dis? We might have seen the greatest battle of all time. Or, what if Kane decided to test the blast master KRS-OneKRS-One? What a showdown that would have been.
Last Friday night in New York, BDK was sitting back in chill mode, fantasizing about two dream battles with his peers.
"It would have to be Rakim and KRS-One," Kane answered, when asked whom he would have wanted to battle back in the day in a dream face-off. When asked how the battles would go, Kane displayed the humor that enhanced his obvious lyrical and style acumen in the late '80s and early '90s.
"How would it go?" he asked, before impersonating a boxing commentator. "Out comes Hardy. Griffin retreats back to his corner." (Kane's real name is Antonio Hardy, and Rakim was born William Griffin.)
A big burst of laughter immediately filled the room ("Mad Money" Murph, whom you've heard shouted out in plenty of Kane's records, was there as well). Then, getting a little more serious, Kane explained the rationale behind his dream battle.
"It's the type of thing where, if you gonna battle somebody to prove your greatness, you wanna go to somebody that shares that same seat with you," he said. "Those are probably two of the ones who I felt like [could present a challenge]. Also, [Kool] G. RapG. Rap, but I've always felt like G. Rap was like a brother. With us, it was friendly competition."
Kane was in New York on Friday celebrating his 20th anniversary in the rap game. Not only was he partying at B.B. King's Bar and Grill, Daddy Kane was also rapping, sounding as great as he did two decades ago.
"Well, who's gonna come, we will see," he said backstage before his performance. "That's based on surprises, but I know on my part, I'm here to have fun and do the damn thing. I wanna entertain and make sure people have a good time. It's a celebration that means a lot to me."
A little before showtime, friends and famous fans of the Prince of Darkness such as Ice-TIce-T, Sugar Hill GangSugar Hill Gang's Wonder Mike, Greg Nice, XXL Editor in Chief Datwon Thomas, Tony RockTony Rock, AZAZ, Roxanne Shanté, Positive K (who performed his classic "I Got a Man"), DJ Polo, DJ Enuff, Miss Info and Busta RhymesBusta Rhymes crammed into the jam-packed building — everybody wanted to hear those hits.
"My best album is probably my second one, It's a Big Daddy Thing," the MC said. "I like a lot of the songs on there. It was put together ... just the structure of the album was tight." He said that Long Live the Kane was his favorite to make, though, because it was his first.
One of Kane's closest friends and collaborators in rap, Biz Markie, was the first to touch the stage on Friday night. The diabolical one set it off with hits such as "Something for the Radio," "Going Off" and "Pickin' Boogers." Roxanne Shanté then got onstage with Biz and the MC-turned-doctor blessed the mic with some throwback flavor on "Def Fresh Crew": "I'm Shante, he's Biz Markie/ Side by side, you know it's we/ No, I don't speak French, when I say 'we'/ I mean us two, not 'Yes, sirree'/ Everyone knows that I am much better/ Come on Biz Markie, get it together/ Talk to the girls, you know they are wack/ Tell those crabs they sound like cats."
Biz killed it, wowing the crowd while finishing off with "Nobody Beats the Biz," "Vapors" and "Just a Friend."
When it was time for Kane to come on, a live band, dressed in black suits and red shirts, played the beat to "Another Victory." Kane arrived onstage, wearing a black vest, red dress shirt and jeans.
His first four records were unmerciful: "Set It Off," "Warm It Up, Kane," "I Get The Job Done" and "Smooth Operator." The second verse of the latter was rapped over Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On."
Later, when Kane asked the crowd what year they wanted him to take it back to, a man in the crowd yelled, "Take it back to them bad Reagan years." As the show progressed, BDK told the audience, "No excuses now that Barack is in the White House," before going into "Ain't No Half Steppin'."
Kane's finale included cameos from Masta AceMasta Ace, Craig G and Marley MarlMarley Marl, but unfortunately no Kool G. Rap. The Brooklyn King's send-off was "Raw," which made everyone in the crowd look forward to the 25th anniversary.

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Common, Ludacris, Q-Tip, Roots, Busta Rhymes Hit The Stage During Hip-Hop-Heavy NYC Weekend

08 Oct 2007 14:58:00 EDT

Swizz Beatz, Yung Joc, Keyshia Cole, MC Lyte, Big Daddy Kane, KRS-One round out bills at Friday, Saturday, Sunday shows.
By Shaheem Reid

NEW YORK — Friday, Saturday and Sunday? Hip-hop addicts were OD-ing this weekend as rap concerts monopolized the Big Apple. The Roots, KRS-One, Big Daddy Kane, Ludacris, Busta Rhymes, Common and Q-Tip kept the b-boys saying, "Hoooooo!" and the fly girls doing the wop.
Friday night at the Nokia Theater, the Roots headlined a concert in conjunction with VH1's Hip Hop Honors show, where not only did they perform, but they backed Big Daddy Kane and MC Lyte.
Black Thought showed mind-blowing breath control as he channeled the spirit of Kool G Rap during a cover of the lispy legend's "Men at Work."
"Dope 'cause I'm a death wish, not even Bob Hope's," he rapped. "Rhymes are rugged, soul flooded, cold-blooded/ You ain't better, you're butter, so just shut it/ Here to perform, having a brainstorm, make a rain form/ How rap groups run to keep the name warm/ Putting heads to beddy-bye like Freddy so get ready/ 'Cause I'mma get crazier than Crazy Eddie."
Thought also imitated the entire Wu-Tang Clan for "Protect Ya Neck." MC Lyte paid homage to her brother Milk Dee with a verse from "Top Billin' " (that's Milk's voice looping in 50 Cent's "I Get Money") and brought back classics like "Paper Thin" and "I Cram to Understand U."
After presenting Black with a pimp cup for his birthday (and a cake at Thursday's Hip Hop Honors — see video at left), Big Daddy Kane made the theater go dizzy with a handful of classics from "Set It Off" to "Warm It Up, Kane" to "Smooth Operator." Big Scoob came out for "Raw," during which he and Kane did an electric dance routine that included splits and midair chest-thumping.
On Saturday night, Boost Mobile held its annual Rock Corps concert at Radio City Music Hall. Yung Joc, Hurricane Chris and Swizz Beatz (Swizzy brought out Jadakiss and Eve) were the appetizers, and later NYC favorite Fabolous came out for a handful of joints, including "Make Me Better," "Baby Don't Go" and "Keepin' It Gangsta." For "Gangsta Don't Play," reggae icon Junior Reid came out. Keyshia Cole's set was as brief as a cup of coffee, but she did have one of the biggest pops of the night with her hit "Let It Go."
Co-headliner Busta Rhymes tried to make the most of his 15 minutes — yes, 15 minutes for Bus is sacrilege — teasing the crowd with snippets of his monster hits, such as "Put Your Hands Where My Eyes Could See" and "Break Ya Neck." Ludacris' time was limited as well, but he did squeeze in "Number One Spot" and more.
Sunday (insert fatigued intake of breath here) was the last night of shows. It all pointed back to the Nokia Theater, where Common and Q-Tip — who have joined forces for a side project called the Standard (album due in 2008) — performed separate sets at a concert presented by 2K Sports.
Tip opened, and fans were hoping to be surprised by a reunion of A Tribe Called Quest — but the Abstract Poetic went it alone.
"New mutha----in' York," he yelled, excited to be in his hometown.
"We're winning, by the way: 8 to 3," he added, pointing to the Yankees logo on his hat. Although nothing can compare to seeing Tip and Phife Dawg do Tribe joints in their entirety, the music is so beautiful, everyone was excited to hear Tip do half a record here and there, such as "Check the Rhime." Tip did Phife's rhymes on "Award Tour" and "Electric Relaxation." And let's not forget, Tip does have two very big solo tracks: "Vivrant Thing" and "Breathe and Stop."
Common was theatric, poignant and potent during his show.
"Go!," "U, Black Maybe," "Testify" and "Drivin' Me Wild" riled fans up. He then started paying tribute to hip-hop, with a bevy of covers such as N.W.A's "Straight Outta Compton" and Nas' "N.Y. State of Mind." Then he gave fans the ultimate moment with an off-the-head freestyle cipher that included KRS-One and Q-Tip.
"We do this here, and you know we don't stress/ I got my n---a Common and KRS," Q-Tip rhymed.
"Right here, this is the Teacha/ I wanna hear a shout from Nokia," spit KRS, who had just minutes earlier surprised everyone with "The Bridge Is Over" and "South Bronx."
Common followed with a warning to sucka rappers: "I put you on a stretcher, you can call me love 'cause love's gonna get ya/ When it comes to this, MCs, you know I gotta snuff ya, and when it comes to this you can't tell me nothin'."
Later, at the end of "Misunderstood," Common listed some people who he thought were misunderstood: Tupac, Malcolm X, Kurt Cobain, Lauryn Hill, Michael Vick and the Jena Six. He finished his set with "The Light."
For more sights and stories from concerts around the country, check out MTV News Tour Reports.

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Big Daddy Kane, Melle Mel, KRS-One's NYC Takeover: That '80s Show

13 Aug 2007 17:10:00 EDT

Sugar Hill Gang, Slick Rick, Doug E. Fresh also bring back the good ol' days at show honoring Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five.
By Shaheem Reid

NEW YORK — Circa the late 1980s, Hurricane Chris — the kid who can be heard lately singing "Hey Bay Bay" — was just a bayyy-bee. And when somebody said, "Superman that ho," chances are they were referring to the actual Man of Steel thwarting one of the Legion of Doom's dastardly plots, not the new dance by a rapper named Soulja Boy.
On Friday night at the Paradise Theater in the Bronx, rap's golden era was back in full effect with a party and concert held in hip-hop's birthplace. There was a tribute to Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Grandmaster Flash & the Furious Five, and while the Grandmaster himself wasn't present, the fab quartet of four MCs (founding member Cowboy passed away in 1989) — Melle Mel, Kidd Creole, Rahiem and Scorpio — didn't just sit back and let everyone tell them how beloved they are. Nah, the FF actually took the stage and performed.
Melle Mel's fanny pack gave away his age — after all, who under age 40 that doesn't play in the NFL wears one of those outside the gym? — but he showed youthful energy with his boys, sliding from side to side on several records and even leading the audience in a three-step (not the same old two-step). The highlight was their performance of "The Message" and bringing out the Sugar Hill Gang for "Rapper's Delight."
Big Daddy Kane's dance steps were undeniably a fan's delight. Kane, who performed before the Furious Five, had most of his hits handy, but he really tore down the house when his former backup dancer Scoob Lover made a surprise appearance. Scoob's fancy feet showed he can still spar with movers like Omarion, especially when he did the classic step of holding his right foot in his hand and using his left leg to jump over it. Kane joined in, standing in front of Scoob in the handshake position and both doing a split. "Come get some, you little bum!"
KRS-One came out later, showing that when you have skills, you can rap over anything. He dropped lyrics to "You Must Learn" over classical music, and "The Bridge Is Over" and "Black Cop" especially did it for the people. Marley Marl was KRS-One's DJ for the night and fellow Queensbridge native/ former KRS foe MC Shan, who stood next to Marley enjoying the Teacha's set. Shan had opened the night's festivities.
Slick Rick and Doug E. Fresh closed the concert with the tag-team precision of wrestling legends the British Bulldogs. Rick did "Hey Young World," then Doug joined in for "The Show and "La-Di-Da-Di." Then the Ruler fell back and let Doug do his own songs like "Freaks" with Lil' Vicious.
The party continued at a separate event Saturday night at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill in Times Square, where Roxanne Shante held a 1987-themed party. Dookie-rope chains, flattops with blond streaks and even custom-made Dapper Dan suits could be seen in the crowd.
MC Shan came out once again and performed as did Just-Ice, Kangol from UTFO, Bow-Legged Lou from Full Force, Smooth Da Hustla and his brother Trigga Da Gambla, Lovebug Starski, Mobb Deep's Havoc and Roxanne herself.
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Randy Hubbard Parker, KRS-One's Son, Dead At 23 In Apparent Suicide

10 Jul 2007 10:40:00 EDT

Rapper's son suffered from 'severe depression.'
By Shaheem Reid

Randy Hubbard Parker, son of rapper KRS-One, was found dead in his Atlanta apartment over the weekend in an apparent suicide. He was 23.
Simone Parker, KRS-One's wife and Randy's mother, said Tuesday (July 10) in a statement that her son's death was related to "severe depression." The family is planning a private memorial service in Florida on July 18, which would have been Randy's 24th birthday. Plans for an August memorial service in New York are under way.
The Fulton County Medical Examiner's office said Parker died on Friday from a gunshot wound to the head, and listed the cause of death as suicide.
KRS-One was on tour overseas with producer Marley Marl and was not available for comment at press time, but the statement conveyed his and Simone Parker's appreciation to everyone who has offered condolences.

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