KRS-One (album)

KRS-One
Studio album by KRS-One
Released	November 7, 1995
Recorded	1994–1995
Genre	East Coast hip hop, Conscious hip hop, Hardcore Hip Hop
Length	65:49
Label	Jive Records
Producer	DJ Premier Big French Productions KRS-One Norty Cotto Showbiz Diamond D
KRS-One chronology
Return of the Boom Bap (1993)Return of the Boom Bap1993 KRS-One (1995) I Got Next (1997)I Got Next1997

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic
Robert Christgau
Rolling Stone
The Source

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 reveals that a few tracks were scrapped at the last minute in addition to the change of album title and all of these songs still remain unreleased to this day although they have all been posted at XXL Magazines webpage 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)
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)

Samples

Track	Sample type	Sampled track	Artist	Year
Rappaz R. N. Dainja	Multiple Elements	Come On, Come Over	Jaco Pastorius and Bob Herzog	1976
	Drums	Telephone Girl	Assagai	1971
	Multiple Elements	Toys (Live)	Herbie Hancock	1976
	Vocals / Lyrics	Time's Up	O.C.	1994
	Vocals / Lyrics	Richard Pryor Dialogue	Richard Pryor	1976
	Vocals / Lyrics	South Bronx	Boogie Down Productions	1987
	Vocals / Lyrics	World's Famous Supreme Team Show (Remix)	Malcolm McLaren and World's Famous Supreme Team	1990

• "MC's Act Like They Don't Know"
  • "Yesterdays" by Clifford Brown
  • "Hip Hop vs. Rap" by KRS-One
• "R.E.A.L.I.T.Y."
  • "Papa" by Prince
• "Free Mumia"
  • "Rushmore Tune-Up" by DC the MIDI Alien
• "Wannabemceez"
  • "Back to the Hip Hop" and "Pure" by Troubleneck Brothers
  • "Buns O' Plenty" by Isaac Hayes
• "Represent the Real Hip Hop"
  • "We Run Things (It's Like Dat)" by Da Bush Babees
• "Build Ya Skillz"
  • "Incognito" by Oneness of Juju
  • "Sorcerer of Isis" by Power of Zeus
  • "Just Rhymin' With Biz" by Big Daddy Kane
  • "N.T." by Kool & the Gang
• "Out For Fame"
  • "My Melody" by Eric B. & Rakim
• "Squash All Beef"
  • "Mystique Blues" by The Crusaders
  • "You're Getting a Little Too Smart" by Detroit Emeralds

Album singles

Single information
"MC's Act Like They Don't Know" Released: August 28, 1995 B-side: "Represent the Real Hip-Hop"
"Rappaz R. N. Dainja" [UK release] Released: 1995 B-side: "Ah - Yeah (Mellow Vibe Mix)", "Sound of Da Police"

Chart positions

Album

Chart (1995)	Peak position
US Billboard 200	19
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)	2

Singles

Year	Song	Chart positions
		The Billboard Hot 100	Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks	Hot Rap Singles	Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales
1995	MC's Act Like They Don't Know	#57	#35	#9	#1