KRS-One is an American rapper and music producer who came into the spotlight in the mid-1980s as part of the hip hop music group Boogie Down Productions. He is best known for hit songs such as My Philosophy (1988) and Sound of da Police (1993). After the release of the group’s first album titled Criminal Minded (1987), his partner DJ Scott La Rock was shot and killed. KRS then started the Stop the Violence Movement against the culture of gun crimes in African-American communities and continued to work as a solo artist, releasing new records under his name from 1993. He is a noted and vocal political activist and has often used his music to raise his voice against issues such as racism, violence, and political apathy.
Sun Sign
Leo
Manager
He is represented by Simone G Parker, Booking Agent, Ramp Entertainment Agency, Los Angeles, California, United States.
Genre
Hip Hop, Conscious Rap, Political Hip Hop, Hardcore Hip Hop
Instruments
Vocals, Turntables
Labels
- Jive Records
- Duck Down Music Inc.
- E1 Music
- Aftermath Entertainment
Girlfriend / Spouse
KRS-One has dated –
- Ramona “Ms. Melodie” Parker (1987-1992) – KRS had married rapper and collaborator Ramona Parker in 1988 and got divorced in 1992. She passed away in 2012. KRS had a stepson, Randy Parker, who passed away in 2007.
- (2001) – Rumored
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
- Dreadlocked hair
- Sports a lightly trimmed beard
- Has moles under his eyes
Brand Endorsements
KRS-One has promoted brands such as –
- Smirnoff Vodka
- Nike
- Sprite
KRS-One Favorite Things
- Hip Hop Albums – Run-D.M.C. (1984) by Run-D.M.C., Paid in Full (1987) by Eric B. & Rakim, The Great Adventures of Slick Rick (1988) by , Long Live the Kane (1988) by , and It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back (1988) by Public Enemy
- DJ/Music Producer – DJ Predator Prime
- MCs/Lyricists – Ras Kass, , , Rah Digga, Joell Ortiz, Cassidy-The Hustler, and Naughty By Nature
- Music Festivals – Rock The Bells, Made In America, Roots Picnic
- Concert Venues – S.O.B.s in New York, Whiskey-a-Go-Go and The Roxy in Los Angeles, The Middle East in Boston, and Yoshe’s in Oakland
Source – , GrimeLight.blog
KRS-One Facts
- KRS left home at the age of 16 to pursue a career as an MC. He started to live at a homeless shelter in the Bronx where the residents named him Krishna due to his interest in the Hare Krishna spirituality of the anti-poverty workers who used to work there.
- The acronym KRS-One stands for ‘Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone’. Before he met youth counselor and future collaborator DJ Scott La Rock, KRS used to draw graffiti and would often scribble KRS-One on walls.
- After the death of DJ Scott La Rock in 1987, KRS-One continued to work through the tragedy and released his 2nd album titled By All Means Necessary in 1988. During this phase, KRS gained a lot of acclaim for being a pioneer in the fusion of Jamaican music with American hip-hop, using the Zung gu zung melody.
- In 2002, he released a gospel-rap album titled Spiritual Minded and founded a society named ‘The Temple of Hip-hop’ to preserve ‘Hip-hop Culture’. The society calls on fans of Hip Hop to celebrate and appreciate the music genre in the 3rd week of May every year.
- In 2004, KRS was heavily criticized for stating in a panel discussion that he had cheered during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He later clarified in an editorial that he was quoted out of context and was targeting the menace of racial profiling by the political establishment in the United States.
- In 2007, he was honored with the “Lifetime Achievement” award at the BET Hip Hop Awards. He received the “Living Legend” award at the Urban Music Awards in 2009.
- In 2010, he performed at the State University of New York for their annual “Rock Against Racism” concert. In 2011, he narrated a documentary called Rhyme and Punishment, which focused on hip-hop artists who had served time in jail.
- KRS-One is scared of flying and when he had to tour Australia in 2012 for the first time, he traveled there by a cruise ship. He is also a vocal advocate for veganism.
- He has published 4 books, the first one being Break the Chain KRS-ONE (1994).
Featured Image by InkwellDesignGroup / / CC BY-2.0
Loading...
Facts of Lawrence Parker
- Gender Male
- full nameLawrence Parker
- nicknamesKris, Krishna, Teacha, KRS-One, The Blastmaster, Big Joe Krash, The Temple of Hip Hop
- birthplaceBrooklyn, New York City, New York, United States
- Date of Birth August 20, 1965
- Age 59 years 4 months
- Horoscope Leo
- Lucky Number 4
- Lucky Stone Ruby
- Lucky Color Gold
- Best Match for Marriage Sagittarius, Gemini, Aries
- ethnicity / ethnic backgroundTrinidadian and American
- nationalityAmerican
- religionGnostic Theism
- net worth$6 million
- professionRapper, Music Producer, Actor, Activist, Author
- weight88 kg or 194 lbs
- height6 ft 4 in or 193 cm
- hair colorBlack
- eye colorDark Brown
- body type / buildSlim
- motherJacqueline Jones
- fatherSheffiend Brown
- brothersKenny Parker