Microphone Mathematics

I am the manifestation of study
Not, the manifestation of money
Therefore I advance through thought
Not what’s manufactured and bought

Back in February I had a post on this album – so being lazy today – y’all get that post (mostly) again except this time you get the whole album and a few original samples to go with it.

About two years ago I saw KRS-One play a show in what used to be a mattress warehouse facility off of Mississippi Ave. in Portland. The show itself was filled with some technical issues that screwed up the mic volume a bunch of times but other than that……I’ve never seen an MC get the crowd as hyped and into a show as he did or stay as hyped throughout a entire show as he was. KRS’s skills are beyond top notch! Highlight of the show: seeing KRS drop rhymes over Beethoven and do it well. Here’s a short clip from the show:

The album Edutainment might be my favorite BDP recording. It’s not the groundbreaking album that Criminal Minded was but its got deep lyrics and dope beats to it. Unlike the other BDP albums this one is more afrocentric and takes on everything from politics to slavery to guns & violence to hip hop to racism to even the beef industry. Plus, it’s got my favorite BDP track: “Love’s Gonna Get’cha“. Just all around good stuff.

Boogie Down Productions’ “Edutainment” (1990) – HERE

If I say stop the violence I won’t chart
Maybe I should write some songs like Mozart
‘Cause many people don’t believe rap is an art
Wake up shake up hypocrite look alive
Blastmaster KRS-One will revive
Four or five million still deprived
When out to survive wake up and realize
Some people say I am a rap missionary
Some people say I am a walking dictionary
Some people say I am truly legendary
But what I am is simply a black revolutionary

BONUS: A few original samples from Edutainment

Average White Band’s “TLC” [sampled on Ya Know the Rules] – HERE

Rasa’s “Chanting” [sampled on Beef] – HERE

The Skatalites’ “Man in the Street” [sampled on "Edutainment"] – HERE