KRS One : "I Can't Make Money In The U.S.A. Due to Lack Of Respect Of Hip Hop"

BK The Great

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KRS-One labels himself "an architect of Hip Hop culture," says Afrika Bambaataa "is the sole author of Hip Hop’s cultural existence."
After being asked about the connection between the social context, political context, and the official birth of Hip Hop in the 70s, during an interview with Vlad TV, KRS-One addressed a number of topics including the lack of respect for Hip Hop in America, Public Enemy’s pull on revolutionary white kids, and more.
The Bronx, New York lyricist started off by stating that being a part of America was never a goal for those in his generation. He then questioned why he has to currently travel to a country like Switzerland to make money as a Hip Hop artist.
According to KRS-One, Hip Hop is more accepted by the government in a place like Switzerland than it is in the United States.
“Our parents were on their hands and knees begging to be a part of America,” KRS-One said. “We were never part of that, ever…Blacks and Latinos get it the worst. We get it the worst in America. But the white people in America too started looking. And just a sense of justice. Was just like ‘Wait a minute, why is it like this if it should be like this?’ And this is when Hip Hop exploded. With Public Enemy who was representing Minster Farrakhan of the Nation of Islam. And their whole audience was white kids…You can tell that the government here [Switzerland] is lenient towards Hip Hop. Towards it elements. Breaking in the street, graffiti on the wall, people rapping. I can’t make money in America. Why am I here? It’s 2013, okay. Why is KRS in Switzerland and not in Ohio…The political leadership of Ohio don’t respect me.”
KRS-One also spoke on one of the founders of Hip Hop, Afrika Bambaataa. While speaking on Bambaataa, the rapper revealed that Hip Hop wasn’t as impromptu as a network like MTV might have led people to believe, and was instead a deliberate and carefully planned out movement.
“What built this movement, what made this all come together is a guy names Afrika Bambaataa,” he said. “He is the sole author of Hip Hop’s cultural existence. I’m called an architect of Hip Hop culture cause I popularized it. But Afrika Bambaataa is the first one to tell all of us, ‘Let’s come together under this banner called Hip Hop. And we gon’ call ourselves Zulu Nation. But really, it’s Hip Hop. It’s this new thing that we’re gonna cause in the world.’ It was deliberate. Hip Hop was never a mistake…Those principles: peace, unity, love, and having fun. Became the principles for this new culture called Hip Hop. Afrika Bambaataa would meet with us regularly. This was no haphazard thing. We just rapping on the corner. That’s MTV’s history. Real Hip Hop history is Afrika Bambaataa sitting everybody down and saying ‘Listen, all this black, white, red, yellow is stupid. We’re all human beings. Let’s come together on that.’”
KRS-One’s interview with Vlad TV can be found below.


KRS-One Says He Can't Make Money In The U.S. Due To Lack Of Respect For Hip Hop




damn that's harsh dude's a legend too :francis:
 

BK The Great

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This is part of the reason I lost respect for him years ago.

When you don't know when to get out of the way, you get ran over...and he's been bitter about that for a while now.


you can't blame him, people don't want to listen to rap that isn't dumbed down. his last album he's rapping about shyt that's going on right now. everybody just want to turn up and not realize it's more than that in hip hop.
 

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KRS does make money in the U.S, probably more aboard though, he is probably talking in general. Many artists, such as RZA have said sometimes the fans can be more authentic Hip Hop heads than in the U.S. I think he has some very valid points, I see a lot of dope acts sell out abroad and people go crazy for them while in their own countries they aren't regarded sometimes like THAT respect wise or financially. However of course it's not where ya from but where ya at so there's authentic and fake Hip Hop heads everywhere.
 

BK The Great

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this dude dropped before i was born. how long can you really expect to eat in the rap game? are 80s nba dudes complaining about not getting checks?


they probably getting liscensing deals and shyt, do retired players get paid to be in NBA 2K and stuff? wrestlers sign legends deals and probably get paid for being in their WWE games :yeshrug:
 

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this dude dropped before i was born. how long can you really expect to eat in the rap game? are 80s nba dudes complaining about not getting checks?

This is a good question. It should be as long as you make quality music and not dependent on age. Unlike basketball, as you referenced, music can be done until the casket closes. Unfortunately hip hop culture hasn't afforded our legends the same luxuries as other genres. I'm not sure how active he is with new music or how much he reaches out to the younger generation but there are younger rappers that I'm sure can rap about the same topics he does. It would probably be good if he did that, if he doesn't already.
 

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This is a good question. It should be as long as you make quality music and not dependent on age. Unlike basketball, as you referenced, music can be done until the casket closes. Unfortunately hip hop culture hasn't afforded our legends the same luxuries as other genres. I'm not sure how active he is with new music or how much he reaches out to the younger generation but there are younger rappers that I'm sure can rap about the same topics he does. It would probably be good if he did that, if he doesn't already.
of course

the question is, how long can you do what you do and still command an audience

i respect krs, but if you wanna listen to krs....hes given us enough opportunity to do so :yeshrug:
 

BK The Great

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This is a good question. It should be as long as you make quality music and not dependent on age. Unlike basketball, as you referenced, music can be done until the casket closes. Unfortunately hip hop culture hasn't afforded our legends the same luxuries as other genres. I'm not sure how active he is with new music or how much he reaches out to the younger generation but there are younger rappers that I'm sure can rap about the same topics he does. It would probably be good if he did that, if he doesn't already.


maybe they should make a luxury like that for hip hop, some of these rappers are on top of the world then hit rock bottom and can never climb back at times.
 
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