bigd99999's Full Review: By All Means Necessary by Boogie Down Productions
This is my second entry into the May Music Madness Write-Off, Hosted by Kristinafh. This is my entry into the first category, the "I've Got The Music In Me Review".
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In hip hop there have been tons and tons of duos to bring hip hop into formation. From Mobb Deep, to Gangstarr, to Outkast, to even the more recent Blackalicious, and Dogg Pound. Duos have always had a strong outing. Usually, these duos are split between jobs. Some are both emcees, some share the job of both being rappers and producters, some alternate. However, the age old hip hop formula has always been a DJ and a rapper. No other groups have been more influential in creating and forming the current hip hop age than Eric B. and Rakim... and Boogie Down Productions.
The Teacher, The Architect, Mr. Hip Hop, all of these titles belong to KRS-One. KRS-One has come out with countless albums, non-stop hits, and even through it all has never even shown a shred of selling out... not even once. Many Hip Hop heads, including myself, consider KRS-One to be the apitamy of what real hip hop stands for, as he raps about it on a variety of songs. Back before he was considered a legend, he was just an up and coming South Bronx emcee, a member of Boogie Down Productions.
The original BDP was KRS-One and DJ Scott La Rock. Unfortunately, Scott was murdered in 1988, and KRS had to forge onward. So he teamed up with D-Nice to reform Boogie Down Productions into a new entity, with KRS as the head once again. Their first showcasing of the new BDP came with their 1988 album By All Means Necessary.
Track Listing and Ratings
1. My Philosophy (*****)
2. Ya Slippin' (*****)
3. Stop The Violence (******)
4. Illegal Business (*****)
5. Nervous (****)
6. I'm Still #1 (******)
7. Part Time Suckers (*****)
8. Jimmy f/ DJ Red Alert (******)
9. T'Cha - T'Cha (*****)
10. Necessary (*****)
By All Means Necessary kicks into high gear with "My Philosophy". Basically, KRS-One begins his teaching skills about his return to hip hop, mixing it with a braggadiocio style of hip hop, educating about the streets, showing black pride, and proving he is the greatest. As for the instrumental, D-Nice gives us a mix of a fast drum loop, low bassline, constant snare, scratching, and some trumpets, which provides a great atmosphere for KRS-One to rap over. He continues this style on "Ya Slippin", which is the same, but a bit more venomous.
Moving on we get to a more introspective BDP style with "Stop the Violence". KRS feels that the unfortunate killing of DJ Scott La Rock had to be focused. KRS teaches with tight poetic lyrics where he narrates about the problems with the world. He storytells about some people who he has seen in his lifetime, but brings it back to basically rapping about hip hop culture, which is what KRS does best. This is one of the BDP Classics which im sure you've heard of.
BDP continues their introspectiveness on "Illegal Business". KRS storytells about a certain individuals struggle and problems through life, which mirrors the other BDP classic "Jimmy". The first is basically about the life of a drug user, who tried his best to achieve his dreams of being a hip hop artist, but never completes it due to the fact that hes got the police after him. Its an interesting tale, masterfully produced with scratching and snares to move the song. The second is the legendary "Jimmy". On here, he is joined by DJ Red Alert. KRS raps about a boy named Jimmy who is girl-crazy, but he knows that STDS are out there. KRS educates about safe sex, and metaphors it extremely cleverly telling Jimmy to wear a "hat", which is obviously a condom for those laymens. This is one of my favorite BDP and KRS tracks due to the clever lyricism, intellect, and positive message. Not to mention the production is masterful and old school.
Boogie Down Productions decides to end By All Means Necessary with "Necessary". This is an extremely interesting educational track. KRS spits over a unique acapella styled track (which has a beat, but its very distant), as he poetically reads a very well-written, intelligent, and purely genius poem onto the microphone. He basically reads it slowly, so that he can be clearer. It is an extremely insightful look into the mind of Kris Parker, and a pure classic.
Without a doubt, with a plethora of hits, including this one, KRS-One is the greatest rapper in history. With about 15 years of experience in hip hop and albums, he has had plenty of time to earn that title, and he undoubtedly does, specially with By All Means Necessary. No doubt, a pure hip hop classic, even by today's standards. Extremely reccomended for everybody...
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