KRS-One (album)
Untitled | |
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
Allmusic | [2] |
Robert Christgau | [5] |
Rolling Stone | [3] |
The Source | [4] |
KRS-One is the second album released by hip hop artist KRS-One under his own name. The album was originally meant to be titled Hip-Hop Vs. Rap, as can be seen in the early The Source's and Rap Pages reviews, which also reveal that a few tracks were scrapped at the last minute; all of these songs still remain unreleased to this day although they have all been posted at XXL Magazine's website for streaming.
Background
The album is weaved together by a string of interludes appearing between songs featuring radio shoutouts to Kris from hip-hop heavyweights including Lord Finesse, Rakim, Method Man, Mr. Magic, Jeru the Damaja and even MC Shan, who had famously feuded with KRS and his group Boogie Down Productions a decade prior. Inside the CD booklet KRS-One gives shoutouts to additional producers who worked on the LP but whose songs didn't make the final cut. The names are Pete Rock, Freddie Foxxx, Kenny Parker (brother of KRS), DJ S&S, Kenny Dope, Kid Capri and Domingo.
The song "Ah Yeah" originally appeared on the compilation album Pump Ya Fist. A limited promotional EP sampler of the compilation was released in 1995 featuring three exclusive remixes of the song (in addition to previews of featured selections by Jeru the Damaja and Rakim) - one produced by KRS-One himself and the other two by Diamond D.
Track listing
# | Title | Songwriters | Producer(s) | Featured Performer (s) |
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1 | "Rappaz R. N. Dainja" | L. Parker | DJ Premier | |
2 | "De Automatic" | L. Parker | Big French Productions | Fat Joe |
3 | "MC's Act Like They Don't Know" | L. Parker | DJ Premier | |
4 | "Ah Yeah" | L. Parker | KRS-One | |
5 | "R.E.A.L.I.T.Y." | L. Parker | Norty Cotto | Dexter Thibou |
6 | "Free Mumia" | L. Parker | KRS-One | Channel Live |
7 | "Hold" | L. Parker | KRS-One | |
8 | "Wannabemceez" | L. Parker | DJ Premier | Mad Lion |
9 | "Represent the Real Hip Hop" | L. Parker | Showbiz | Das EFX |
10 | "The Truth" | L. Parker | KRS-One | Rich Nice |
11 | "Build Ya Skillz" | L. Parker | Diamond D | Busta Rhymes |
12 | "Out for Fame" | L. Parker | KRS-One | |
13 | "Squash All Beef" | L. Parker | Diamond D | |
14 | "Health, Wealth, Self" | L. Parker | KRS-One |
Versions
U.S. vinyl version missing CD tracks "Ah Yeah", "Hold", and "Health, Wealth, Self"; substituted are previously released tracks on side D, which are "I'm Still #1", "My Philosophy", "Jack of Spades", and "Why Is That".
Unused tracks
- "What I Know" (Produced by Diamond D)
- "Clubs Dem"
- "Kris Is..." (Interlude)
- "Meta-physician" (Interlude)
Album singles
Single information |
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"MC's Act Like They Don't Know"
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"Rappaz R. N. Dainja" [UK release]
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Chart positions
Album
Chart (1995) | Peak position |
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US Billboard 200[6] | 19 |
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[7] | 2 |
Singles
Year | Song | Chart positions | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
US Hot 100 |
US R&B |
US Rap |
US Dance Singles Sales | ||
1995 | "MC's Act Like They Don't Know" | 57 | 35 | 9 | 1 |
References
- ^ "KRS-One - KRS-One (Overview)". allmusic.com. All Media Network, LLC. Retrieved 2014-09-29.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. KRS-One at AllMusic
- ^ Rolling Stone review
- ^ The Source review
- ^ Robert Christgau Consumer Guide
- ^ "KRS-One Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
- ^ "KRS-One Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.