By All Means Necessary

By All Means Necessary
Studio album by Boogie Down Productions
Released	May 31, 1988
Recorded	1987-1988
Genre	Hip hop
Length	47:28
Label	Jive/RCA 1097-J
Producer	Kris Parker
Boogie Down Productions chronology
Criminal Minded (1987) By All Means Necessary (1988) Ghetto Music: The Blueprint of Hip Hop (1989)

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 their debut Criminal Minded and began to write socially conscious songs, while using the moniker "The Teacher".

Album information

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 has been certified gold in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America. Both the album cover, depicting KRS-One, and the album title make reference to Malcolm X.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Robert Christgau	(B+)
The Daily Vault	(B+)
Rhapsody	(favorable)
Rolling Stone
The Source
Spin	(8/10)
Trouser Press	(favorable)
Virgin Encyclopedia
This table needs to be expanded using prose. See the guideline for more information.

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 rap" and Rolling Stone praised its social commentary. Anthony DeCurtis of Rolling Stone wrote that "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".

In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source's 100 Best Rap Albums.

In 2008, the single "My Philosophy" was ranked number 49 on VH1's 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop.

Track listing

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

• "My Philosophy" contains a sample from the Stanley Turrentine recording "Sister Sanctified".
• "Ya Slippin'" contains a sample from the Deep Purple recording "Smoke on the Water". And has Poetry's beat from Criminal Minded
• "Illegal Business" contains samples from the Fat Albert and the Cosby Kids recording "Creativity" & the Jefferson Starship recording "Rock Music".
• "Nervous" contains samples from the Rhythm Heritage recording "Sky's the Limit" & 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" & the Stevie Wonder recording "Part-Time Lover".
• "Jimmy" contains the basic rhythm from the Wings recording "Let 'Em In" and a sample from the Sequence recording "Funk You Up."

Chart History

Album Chart Positions

Year	Album	Chart positions
		Billboard 200	Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums
1988	By All Means Necessary	#75	#18

Singles Chart Positions

Year	Song	Chart positions
		Billboard Hot 100	Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks	Hot Rap Singles
1988	Stop The Violence	-	#76	-

Later Samples

• "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)