KRS-One Hip Hop Lives Review by Samir Siddiqui
KRS-One & Marley Marl
Hip-Hop Lives
Koch Records
7.5
Nas proclaimed hip-hop to be dead, and it resulted in Nasir Jones dropping
arguably one of the best albums of the year in a respectable 2006. Roughly
half a year later, hip-hop veteran KRS-One and legendary producer Marley
Marl, formal rivals, have hooked up to paint an alternate picture regarding
the state of hip-hop. Hip-Hop Lives balances underground and mainstream
appeal through straightforward, yet intriguing lyricism and expectedly solid
production. KRS doesn’t attempt to drop anything over-the-top technically,
but his ability to make un-conventional subject matter clear and relatable
is a key reason for this albums’ high quality. On the production end, Marley
Marl abstains from rehashing the popular sounds of the mainstream, and
instead, adds extra bounce and versatility to his old-school style, matching
the right beats to compliment the unique flow of KRS.
The album’s title track is one of it’s strongest, as KRS drops passionate
rhymes regarding the “eternal” nature of hip-hop culture over a layered Marl
backdrop which uses subtle key loops and well-placed scratches alongside
basic drum-kicks. While “Nothing New” is plagued by an annoyingly
reggae-sounding chorus, “I Was There” is a clever first-person outlining of
KRS’ hip-hop history, with Kris questioning “where were you?” at the times
of various marquee events in hip-hop. “Kill A Rapper” seems like the kind of
song that should have popped off about a decade ago, as KRS questions the
unresolved cases surrounding high-profile MC murders (B.I.G., Big L, etc.)
with a vicious, meaningful hook, “You wanna get away with murder, kill a
rapper! The investigation won’t go further, kill a rapper!” Marley Marl
provides a brilliantly jazz-heavy beat on the Magic Juan collabo “Musika”
which uses a smooth sax sound which mixes well with the Spanish undertone of the song. Marl brings back a classic Ghostface production (”Run”) on “All
Skool,” yet another track where the dynamic duo bridge old-school rhymes
with relevant themes, “I’m not old school, or new school, I’m all skool,”
raps KRS.
While solid in essence, there is something lacking on Hip-Hop Lives that
holds it back from true excellence, and it comes in the minor details.
Whether it be Marl’s reusing of two old productions (the other on “Rising to
the Top”) or KRS One’s somewhat repetitive hooks and flow, Hip-Hop Lives is
not quite the album that will resurrect 2007. But its a good start.
Suggestion Box
May 28th, 2007 at 11:09 pm
Nas’ hiphop is dead album is garbage who the hell uses the same beat of your first single from your previous album to be the first record you release off your recent one? Nas’ career is shot and Jay-Z saw that and reconciled with him and signed him now he works for him and he’s working for the same nigga that fucked your babymom and left condoms on the baby seat lol 50 Cent, Jay-Z and Cam is sonnin that nigga his character is inconsistent which reflects in the messages he tries to teach us on his records. But Krs-One is one of my favorite emcees and that kill a rapper joint is fuckin fire im fa sho coppin that album. Im a street nigga but a part of me understands conscience artist’s like Krs-One and he’s the truth and anybody that disagrees with me is a sucka str8 nas aint have nuttin on KRS-ONE
May 28th, 2007 at 11:21 pm
this guy above me is a dickhead…NAS is album is at the very least on everybodies top ten if not top five…u apparently didnt listen to the album…go back to suckin dipsets dicks
May 28th, 2007 at 11:26 pm
They still got it but lets be real if u not a true hip hop head u not gone feel this cd I brought and its hot but if u under 21 u not gone to feel this. My true heads cop that disc u new school hip hop heads go get that method man disc.
May 29th, 2007 at 2:10 am
i’m a fan and i was greatly dissapointed…shit album imo
May 29th, 2007 at 3:21 am
Cam Lost…
May 29th, 2007 at 7:09 am
LOL at Montana haha u tell’em BWOY!!!!!
May 29th, 2007 at 7:49 am
at #3, I’m under 21, and I still thought the album was dope.
May 29th, 2007 at 7:58 am
A Yo! Killaman your mom head skills is garbage.. Tell her to smarten up.. Fall back homie.. Whats with the insults? Respect your elders. Nas is a legend.. By the way you imbecile, its spell “CONSCIOUS” not “CONSCIENCE”…..
May 29th, 2007 at 9:05 am
KRS One is an icon. Hip Hop still breathes good music. Everyone wants to point fingers at the South for making “bullshit” music. Its “bullshit” music everywhere. If the East Coast flooded the airwaves now, I’m pretty sure you would hear some “bullshit”. If the West Coast was getting airplay all day, I’m quite sure you would hear some “bullshit” in the mix. The South got it locked right now, so for every good artist that’s from the South that gets played, it’s 5 wack ones. 10 years ago was the shiny suit era. Remember? You had niggas going against that too. Niggas are gonna always have something to say. If you’re real lyrical, you’re too complicated. You spit something simple, you’re elementary. What the fuck do y’all want? Don’t blame the South. Cause a wack rapper exists everywhere.
http://www.myspace.com/jaisaunmusic
May 29th, 2007 at 9:07 am
P.S. Nas album was HOT!
May 29th, 2007 at 9:15 am
lol,marley marl look like jeezy on the cover
May 29th, 2007 at 12:51 pm
I’ve heard the cuts from this release. While there are solid beats and solid lyrics in places, this album is still missing a key componet of Hip Hop.
All in all, it’s not very FRESH. BDP and Marley, back in the day, had FRESH approaches to their cuts.
FRESH is having a very unique sound, approach, topic, verbal flow, and concept. FRESH is a gamble, because its so edgy and different.
AS an example:
“Kill A Rapper” is safe. Tight beat, tight lyric.
“Illegal Business” is FRESH. Wild sample, crazy hook, innovative verses and flow.
FRESH has to be handled with 100% confidence, because mainstream will only accept it if the underground feels it (think Outkast).
If you have any one of KRS’ last few projects, beginning with Sneak Attack, then you understand my point. The songs started to sound too much alike. The songs on “…Is Dead” are safe, but they are not FRESH.
There was alot of holding back on both ends. Thats nothing new either, Kanye holds the best tracks for self. The Common tracks are almost always “medium”.
The basic flow of the album cuts goes
beat/chant/verse/hook/verse/hook/outro. While that’s fine for the novice- this is far from meeting the creative potential of either Marl or Kris.
There was hollaring and hype on each cut, but did you listen and really hear any “heat”? Something that made you burn the song- take it to your man’s crib- because you wanted to be the 1st cat to say you were up on it!
The music wasn’t as bold or commanding as the title of the album. The listener deserved more.
That’s my say.
I’ll read up on yours.
Thanks for checking my post out.
May 29th, 2007 at 12:54 pm
My bad, I meant to say this on my last post.
If you have any one of KRS’ last few projects, beginning with Sneak Attack, then you understand my point. The songs started to sound too much alike. The songs on “Hip Hop Lives” are safe, but they are not FRESH.
May 29th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
Definetly, its lack of reach in terms of being “fresh” holds the album back from being a top-tier LP
May 29th, 2007 at 8:57 pm
Nas is a sucka he doesnt apply what he says in his lifestyle his character is inconsistent like look when his crew bravehearts had momentum with the oochie wally record he didnt even support them when the album dropped nor did he show his face when they made public appearences then he changes frm nasty nas to escobar what work has he put in on the street to name himself escobar? like his character is not solid and he is a confused person he has no loyalty just like when kay slay had his album out and nas contributed vocals on the Too Much record he was the biggest out of the artist on that track and he didnt wanna show up in the video because he doesnt like loon? and kay slay was like what the fuck is wrong with this dude, he aint real. All his records he tries to teach you about being strong and having knowledge and wisdom when he doesnt apply any of that to his character so opposed to sayin he’s real and dope lets just say he’s just reciting the quote he read from the book he was reading. Nas is a good lyricist as in he can put words together that make it sound super inteligent but there is no real substance behind it if he doesnt apply it and live it through his own experience and thats not real. you internet thugs can shit talk about this comment but thats the real str8 up
May 30th, 2007 at 7:11 am
I always find it funny how people on the net speak on rappers lives as if they actually know these people personally