By All Means Necessary
| By All Means Necessary | ||||
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| Studio album by Boogie Down Productions | ||||
| Released | May 31, 1988 | |||
| Recorded | 1987–1988 | |||
| Genre | Golden age hip hop | |||
| Length | 47:28 | |||
| Label | Jive/RCA Records 1097-J |
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| Producer | KRS-One | |||
| Boogie Down Productions chronology | ||||
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By All Means Necessary is the second album from hip hop group Boogie Down Productions, released in 1988 on Jive Records. After the murder of DJ-producer Scott La Rock in 1987, MC KRS-One moved away from the violence that dominated its debut Criminal Minded and began to write socially conscious songs, while using the moniker the Teacher.
Contents |
Album information [edit]
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| The cover as compared to the famous Malcolm X photo (right). "By any means necessary" is an oft-quoted statement made by Malcolm X. | |
Many themes, which surface a minimalist production accompanied by hard-hitting drum beats, cover social issues that include government and police corruption, safe sex, government involvement in the drug trade, and violence in the hip hop community.
As of September 25, 1989, the album was certified gold in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America.[1] Both the album cover, depicting KRS-One, and the album title make reference to Malcolm X.
Reception [edit]
| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |  [2] |
| Robert Christgau | B+[3] |
| The Daily Vault | B+[4] |
| Rhapsody | (favorable)[5] |
| Rolling Stone |  [6] |
| The Source | [7] |
| Spin | (8/10)[8] |
| Trouser Press | (favorable)[9] |
| Virgin Encyclopedia |  [10] |
The album is widely seen as one of, if not the first, politically conscious efforts in hip-hop. Allmusic.com described the album as a landmark of political hip hop and Rolling Stone praised its social commentary.[2] Anthony DeCurtis of Rolling Stone wrote, "Over irresistible beats provided by his BDP cohorts, KRS delivers the word on the drug trade, AIDS and violence—three forces that threaten to destroy minority communities."[11]
In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source's 100 Best Rap Albums.[12]
In 2008, the single "My Philosophy" was ranked number 49 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.
Track listing [edit]
All songs were written, produced and performed by KRS-One.
| No. | Title | Length | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "My Philosophy" | 5:41 | |
| 2. | "Ya Slippin'" | 4:56 | |
| 3. | "Stop the Violence" | 4:42 | |
| 4. | "Illegal Business" | 5:22 | |
| 5. | "Nervous" | 4:13 | |
| 6. | "I'm Still #1" | 5:13 | |
| 7. | "Part Time Suckers" | 5:32 | |
| 8. | "Jimmy" | 4:16 | |
| 9. | "T'Cha-T'Cha" | 4:35 | |
| 10. | "Necessary" | 2:57 |
Samples used [edit]
- "My Philosophy" contains a sample from the Stanley Turrentine song "Sister Sanctified".
- "Ya Slippin'" contains a sample from the Deep Purple song "Smoke on the Water" and has the beat from "Poetry" from BDP's Criminal Minded.
- "Stop the Violence" contains the riddim from the Courtney Melody recording "This Sound A Dem Trouble".
- "Illegal Business" contains samples from the Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids recording "Creativity" and the Jefferson Starship recording "Rock Music".
- "Nervous" contains samples from the Rhythm Heritage recording "Sky's the Limit" and the War recording "Galaxy".
- "I'm Still #1" contains a sample from the All the People (featuring Robert Moore) recording "Cramp Your Style".
- "Part-Time Suckers" contains samples from the Smokey Robinson & the Miracles recording "Mickey's Monkey" and Stevie Wonder's hit song "Part-Time Lover".
- "Jimmy" contains the basic rhythm from the Wings song "Let 'Em In" and a sample from the Sequence song "Funk You Up."
Chart history [edit]
Album chart positions [edit]
| Year | Album | Chart positions | ||
| Billboard 200 | Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums | |||
| 1988 | By All Means Necessary | #75 | #18 | |
Singles chart positions [edit]
| Year | Song | Chart positions | ||
| Billboard Hot 100 | Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | Hot Rap Singles | ||
| 1988 | Stop the Violence | - | #76 | - |
Later samples [edit]
- "My Philosophy"
- "Gangsta Gangsta" by N.W.A. from the album Straight Outta Compton
- "How Many MC's..." by Black Moon from the album Enta Da Stage
- "The Sounds of Science" by the Beastie Boys from the album Paul's Boutique
- "M-Sea-Creasy" by Canibus from the album Rip the Jacker
- "Wack Mc's" by Slaughterhouse released on the internet
- "Part Time Suckers"
- "Part Time Mutha" by 2Pac from the album 2Pacalypse Now
- "Bug A Boo (Refugee Camp Remix)" by Destiny's Child and Wyclef Jean from the album This Is The Remix
- "Sea Mammal" by Mr. Scruff from the album Mrs Cruff
- "Ya Slippin'"
- "Kod specijalnog suda" by Prti Bee Gee from the album Tačno u pre podne
- "Stop the Violence"
- "Vocab" by Fugees from the album Blunted on Reality
- "Definition" by Black Star (altered chorus) from the album Mos Def & Talib Kweli Are Black Star
- "Execute the Sounds" by P.O.D. from the album Payable on Death
- I'm Still Number 1"
All The People - Cramp Your Style (feat. Robert Moore)
References [edit]
- ^ RIAA database search item By All Means Necessary, retrieved 22 May 2008
- ^ a b Huey, Steve. "Allmusic review". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
- ^ "Christgau review". Robertchristgau.com. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
- ^ "Daily Vault review". Dailyvault.com. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
- ^ Brolin Winning (1988-05-31). "Rhapsody review". Rhapsody.com. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
- ^ "Rolling Stone review". Books.google.com. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
- ^ Kazeem (August 4, 2010). The Complete List Of 5 Mic Hip-Hop Classics. The Source review. Retrieved on 2010-12-23.
- ^ "Spin review". Acclaimedmusic.net. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
- ^ "Trouser Press review". Trouserpress.com. 1987-08-25. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
- ^ "Virgin Encyclopedia review". Acclaimedmusic.net. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
- ^ "Home:Rolling Stone - RollingStone.com the online version of Rolling Stone Magazine: music news, entertainment". RollingStone.com. 2009-05-28. Archived from the original on 2009-05-28. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
- ^ "100 Best Rap Albums + 100 Best Rap Singles.". Rocklist.net. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
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