October 15, 2004

• "Like everyone," he wrote, "I was shocked to read that I and other African-Americans actually 'cheered when 9-11 happened,' and that I have 'declared my solidarity with Al Qaeda.' agreed.
• I am a poet and I speak poetically. He is an idiot and speaks idiotically.
• This story appears to be much ado about nothing -a read of the article shows he was misquoted and/or quoted out of context. He was making a point about racial profiling and American foreign policy. And I do like the gist of this; "If you want to go beyond voting, American interests must put a gun to its head and commit suicide, because as long as we are only interested in American interests, we go out and invade the rest of the world." And there is definitely some validity to this; "However," he added, "we do have a voice and a point of view, and if you are not prepared to hear what hip-hop has to say about its view of world events, then don't ask!" If they wanted to hear the usual crap, they should have asked Britney Spears. Or maybe Mary-Kate.
• Sounds like a washed up performer trying to generate some hype for his next album. Only if he can get thrown off of US bound airplanes.
• There seems to be some confusion. As I read the MTV article, he was misquoted as saying something much more inflamatory than he actually seems to have said, then clarified his position. But then it seems like the clarification wasn't all that clear and if one doesn't read it carefully it can be read as saying that he is reafirming the highly inflamatory comment when he does not see to be doing so.
• Yeah, yeah... Someone quoted him, so it must be true. Context? Fuck you, context. Seriously, the guy wrote "Stop The Violence." He's a pacifist. He was refering to the initial, split-second gut reaction of a people that feel oppressed, not the celebration of murder. So you wanna be a conscious rapper Can you handle the press and they negative chatter? - Concious Rapper, KRS-One Also, the comment about KRS trying to generate record sales through bad press is pretty off-base. He's famously embraced the "underground" hip-hop concept. Sure, like anyone putting out albums, he'd like them to sell, but he's had 20 years to sell out his repuatation for a gold record, and he's steadfastly refused. "We ain't about sellin' records, we ain't music merchants We emcees we go straight to the club and hurt shit" - The Movement, KRS-One Yo, you rhymin for the TV, or a million CD's? You ain't a MC, you ain't UNDERGROUND You could be platinum or gold, hot or cold But it's the respect you hold that's UNDERGROUND - Underground, KRS-One But last but not least racial prejudice Is the black man speakin' out of ignorance Whitey this and Ching-Chow that Is not how the intelligent man acts You can't blame the whole white race For slavery, cos this ain't the case A large sum of white people died with black Tryin' hard to fight racial attacks The media wants you to think that no whites Really fought and died for Civil Rights - Racist, Boogie Down Productions I'm sure this quote is probably all some of you will ever hear of him, so I wanted to provide some more background on what he represents, and the positive message he's fought to keep in hip-hop.
• Here's a profile of the hard-hitting journalists who broke this story.
• Holy knee-jerk. What hutta said. Pyrrthon, Pete, did you guys read the linked article? This whole post is pretty much analogous to that guy from Nirvana who freaked out because KRS said the word 'suicide', and screamed out "That is wrong, man. Suicide is not the answer." As in, he didn't understand anything else, but only understood and responded to that one word.
• A point that is always worth making is that on September 11th the attacks were clearly targeting the financial and military symbols of American imperialism. If they were attacking freedom, they would have hit the Statue of Liberty and the White House or the Capitol Building.
• But what happens now? The irresponsible journalists that misunderstood him because he was attempting to elevate the discourse to something more meaningful than just "Freedom Good! :) Terrorism Bad! :( --they get to keep their jobs and their name isn't slandered. But KRS, as evidenced here, becomes an unpatriotic prick in the eyes of many who have never heard of him. Great.
• Those darn negroes! Hooray for 2004, where uppity=terrorist. This is the very first time I've actually understood how different our world is post 9-11, and the first time I actually felt a visceral chill that shut my brain right up. Another quote from Rush and Malloy; "KRS-One, decency zero If Osama Bin Laden ever buys a rap album, he'll probably start with a CD by KRS-One."
• why make apologies for comments, even when he was given the chance to explain them, still sound incredibly stupid? There a lot of good points to be made about keeping 9/11 in context- but he has not even remotely close to making any of them. I support his right to free speech, just as I support the rights of the KKK and everyone else. But this is stupid.
• "come remotely close"
• God Bless America, where Dissent is Unpatriotic and anyone who disagrees with the Party Line is Stupid. Four More Years!
• Perhaps he said stupid shit, perhaps some of it was taken out of context, perhaps his rebuttal was less than clear. That doesn't give these "journalists" license to make up stories and distribute them as fact. "Hmmm...justice" does not equal cheering and I do not see anything anywhere about "declaring allegiance to Al Queda". You'd think a declaration, being and oral or written announcement, would have a quote to tie to it. Just saying... Personally, weighing this against everything KRS-One has done as an "edutainer", I'll give him a little latitude and benefit of the doubt. For instance, just think how many lives may have Jimmy reached that may have had no real idea about AIDS at the time?
• Just realized the song Jimmy may be perceived as a slight to drjimmy. Not intended, just always a BDP song that kinda stuck with me.
• Thank goodness for MTVnews! That's some wonderful journalism... Dudes.
• KRS ONE is the fucking man. It stands for Knowledge Rules Supreme Over Nearly Everyone. He worshipped the BUDDHA in his early years. Than man is above our contempt, and his music rules. And all y'all who don't agree can go fart yourselves.
• Considerable discussion Methinks the teacher could go back to school now.