Return of the Boom Bap
click the image to get it in cd-cover size
| Release Date: |
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| Label: |
Jive |
| Rating: |
4.5 |
Description: By 1993, hip-hop was transitioning from an organic form of musical expression into a big business fabricating stars. With many icons from his era either aging or losing their relevance (e.g., Chuck D, Rakim), KRS-ONE dropped a gem of an album that not only navigated the sound of the day but led the charge. Shedding his previous Boogie Down Productions moniker, KRS-One's
Return of the Boom Bap is not just an album: it's KRS's call to arms for the return of hard beats and real rap in hip-hop music. The former took many forms, thanks to the recruitment of Gang Starr's DJ Premier, who was hitting his stride as hip-hop's preeminent beat-maker. Primo crafted the classic head-nod rhythm of the title track, the bump of "Outta Here," an autobiographical tale of KRS-One's rise in hip-hop, and the dancehall-inspired riddims of "Black Cop" and "Sound of da Police." Lyrically, KRS-One displayed variety in both style and content, meshing old-school bombast ("Mortal Thought"), consciousness ("Higher Level"), and crafty and conceptual wordplay ("I Can't Wake Up"). The album opens with KRS-One boasting, even decreeing, that he would "be here forever." At the crossroads, this album made it seem true.
--Joseph Patel
Tracklist of Return of the Boom Bap
Reviews:
Great Album
The album adresses issues that are real, just brushed under the carpet by many people. to the guy ADL123 who calls him a terrorist, thats a very republican(stupid) thing to say. Its a shame when people die, but you know what, now we just have a slightest taste of what its like for most other countries. To call this guy a terrorist and tell people to not buy his album because of his freedom of speech is stupid. And you are obiously one of those people who live in your own fantasy land while chanting 4 more years...4 more years...well you got your 4 more years, enjoy them while millions suffer.
Not his strongest effort but still good
Boogie Down Productions leader KRS-One's reputation began to slip in the early '90s, as he spent more time educating than performing. He hit back at his critics with the slamming Return of the Boom Bap, his first official solo release. Leaving behind the detailed production of the last BDP album Sex and Violence, Boom Bap returns the MC to the spare, gritty territory of Criminal Minded. KRS-One sounds reinvigorated, as well, spitting out his rhymes with fury and intelligence. Although the record isn't as didatic as Edutainment or Sex and Violence, KRS-One hasn't made his lyrics simplistic, nor has he abandoned his cutting, intelligent social commentary. The combination of hard, basic beats and exciting rhymes makes Rerturn of the Boom Bap a genuine comeback for KRS-One, one of the founding figures of modern hip-hop.
RETURN OF DA BOOM BAP.
CLASSIC.
LYRICS ---------- 10/10
PRODUCTION COURTESY OF D.J PREMIER --------- 10/10
THEME --------- 10/10
ALBUM COVER --------- 10/10
CONCEPT --------- 10/10
GUEST APPEARANCE --------- NONE
STAND OUT TRACKS -------- OUTTA HERE
OVERALL ----------- EXCELLENT
O.KAKA GOD'S GIFT TO DA UNDERGROUND.