I thought it would be good to start off with an introduction of who K-Rino is....
K-Rino is a Hip Hop and street legend from South Park, Houston Texas. He is hugely admired and respected by many Hip Hop legends, street legends and legends in general. He is considered an OG and pioneer, particularly for H Town rap.
He paid his dues as a legendary battle MC, slaughtering MC's from all over and performing from as early as 1983. He released a single in around 1986 with his group at the time and this was 1 of the first (I think the 2nd) rap records to come out of Houston, he also toured nationally due to this at just 16 years old. In 1987 he founded the now legendary South Park Coalition which includes notable names such as DJ Screw, Gangksta Nip, Dope E (of The Terrorists), Klondike Kat, Top Dog & affiliates such a Z-Ro, Trae Tha Truth.
In 1992 he started his own record label Electric City Records (now Black Book International) and in 1993 released his solo debut album Stories From The Black Book which is regarded as an underground classic by many. He has gone on to release 36 albums and counting overall, which makes him possibly the most prolific MC off all time.
K-Rino was honoured by being inducted into The Houston Music Hall Of Fame Class Of 2014.
He is noted for being arguably the greatest lyricist ever, and his conceptual, creative substance filled style with strong views and diverse street and social content that emotionally captivates his audience. Many fans have said his music has changed their lives positively. He inspires, motivates and amazes with his gift
simultaneously.
This was an intro video that was made for him for his 30th anniversary show with contributions from Scarface, Z-Ro, Canibus, Killer Mike, Bun B, Wicked Cricket, Ganksta Nip and many others....
"K-Rino is the hardest nikka in rap, period" - Z-Ro
"I think y'all do a lot of sleeping on K-Rino, K-Rino is the best rapper in Houston" - Scarface
"When you look at his catalogue you gotta give it up to him, sick
with it man, for a long time too, that's what people don't really (realize), it's like everybody wanna run their mouth about ability but then how long can you do it, everybody listen, K-Rino made me write, he made me spazz the fukk out " - Canibus
"He was like the God I never met around these parts" - Point Blank
"To this day if I got a top 12 of rappers he's in it, and I'm talking Ice Cube, Chuck D, Rakim, cause he is just that gifted lyrically" - Parrish Murphy
"Real raw lyrics, from a real MC" - Bun B
Bun B also said this quote regarding K-Rino....
"I was barely a BG in the game
when this man got on the mic. And this is 1 of the brothers that inspired me to do what I do today, and it is an honour and pleasure for me to present to the city of Houston, celebrating 30 years of H town Hip Hop, in my humble opinion the greatest battle rapper ever, and you can tell em Bun said that, ladies and gentleman please give it up for my OG and your OG, Houston's OG, Hip Hop's OG, ladies and gentleman K-Rino - Bun B on K-Rino
"Shout out to Rino, a living legend, you know he run this" - Trae Tha Truth on K-Rino
Scarface on K-Rino....
DX: That’s saying something, that’s a hell of an endorsement to say that he’s (K-Rino) got you when it comes to the H-Town hierarchy.
Scarface: Man, that muthafukka is the truth.
DJ Premier put K-Rino's song Antagonistic Radio as 1 of his 12 top songs of 2013 and has said he would LOVE to do a full album with him.
K-Rino has multi millions of views on youtube. His song Grand Deception was 1 of his most viewed tracks....
K-Rino has toured worldwide, and with artists such as Masta Ace, Stricklin & Wordsworth.
His album Book Number 7 was placed as 1 of the greatest Hip Hop albums of that decade.
His song Grand Deception was named as 1 of the top 12 songs of 2009 by Kevin Nottingham.
His album Deeper Elevation was also rated as 1 of the top 10 slept on albums of 2012.
His album Deprogrammed was named as the 2nd most slept on album of the year of 2014.
He has worked with artists such as Scarface, Spice 1, DJ Premier, Lil Fame (of M.O.P), Willie D, Z-Ro, Devin The Dude, Top Dog, Trae Tha Truth, OG Styles, Canibus, Klondike Kat, Ganksta Nip, Dope E (The Terrorists), Killiah Priest, Slim Thug, Keith Murray, Yukmouth, Ras Kass and MANY more.
K-Rino says of his influences....
In 2006, K-Rino was interviewed by HipHop4Eva where he described his favourite artists growing up: "It started out being singers like Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Prince, then as Hip Hop came to birth, my early influences were Run-DMC, T-La Rock, Sugar Hill Gang, KRS-One to name a few. Sam Cooke is also a major influence, along with Dolemite."[12]
In the same interview K describes the importance of storytelling in not just his rhymes but in Hip Hop generally:
Storytelling is a lost art in rap. Not many do it anymore. Storytelling is a testament to a writer's creativity, all great writers have a great imagination. So you have to be able to create a plot that people can visualize. With a movie, you can see whats going on but when you can make someone see what you're saying as you're saying it, then thats a special talent. The knowledge comes from my roots in Hip Hop. In the beginning there were songs like "The Message", "The Breaks", then Public Enemy, KRS, X-Clan...those groups raised social consciousness in rap and thats the era i came up in, so naturally i understand the obligation to teach in my music, words are powerful and the things you say carry weight. I had to evolve and im still growing to where i dont get too wild anymore because i've corrupted enough minds.
In 2010, he further expanded on his favourite hip hop artists - in a candid interview with Rapbzdury - labelling Kool G Rap as one of the "top 5 best MCs EVER".[13]
In an interview with Houston Press in 2013, K-Rino listed five of his favourite albums as Stevie Wonder's "Songs In The Key Of Life", Sam Cooke's "Greatest Hits", Prince's "Sign O' The Times", T La Rock's "Lyrical King (From The Boogie Down Bronx)" and Boogie Down Productions' "Criminal Minded".[14]
K-Rino is a Hip Hop and street legend from South Park, Houston Texas. He is hugely admired and respected by many Hip Hop legends, street legends and legends in general. He is considered an OG and pioneer, particularly for H Town rap.
He paid his dues as a legendary battle MC, slaughtering MC's from all over and performing from as early as 1983. He released a single in around 1986 with his group at the time and this was 1 of the first (I think the 2nd) rap records to come out of Houston, he also toured nationally due to this at just 16 years old. In 1987 he founded the now legendary South Park Coalition which includes notable names such as DJ Screw, Gangksta Nip, Dope E (of The Terrorists), Klondike Kat, Top Dog & affiliates such a Z-Ro, Trae Tha Truth.
In 1992 he started his own record label Electric City Records (now Black Book International) and in 1993 released his solo debut album Stories From The Black Book which is regarded as an underground classic by many. He has gone on to release 36 albums and counting overall, which makes him possibly the most prolific MC off all time.
K-Rino was honoured by being inducted into The Houston Music Hall Of Fame Class Of 2014.
He is noted for being arguably the greatest lyricist ever, and his conceptual, creative substance filled style with strong views and diverse street and social content that emotionally captivates his audience. Many fans have said his music has changed their lives positively. He inspires, motivates and amazes with his gift
simultaneously.This was an intro video that was made for him for his 30th anniversary show with contributions from Scarface, Z-Ro, Canibus, Killer Mike, Bun B, Wicked Cricket, Ganksta Nip and many others....
"K-Rino is the hardest nikka in rap, period" - Z-Ro
"I think y'all do a lot of sleeping on K-Rino, K-Rino is the best rapper in Houston" - Scarface
"When you look at his catalogue you gotta give it up to him, sick
with it man, for a long time too, that's what people don't really (realize), it's like everybody wanna run their mouth about ability but then how long can you do it, everybody listen, K-Rino made me write, he made me spazz the fukk out " - Canibus"He was like the God I never met around these parts" - Point Blank
"To this day if I got a top 12 of rappers he's in it, and I'm talking Ice Cube, Chuck D, Rakim, cause he is just that gifted lyrically" - Parrish Murphy
"Real raw lyrics, from a real MC" - Bun B
Bun B also said this quote regarding K-Rino....
"I was barely a BG in the game
when this man got on the mic. And this is 1 of the brothers that inspired me to do what I do today, and it is an honour and pleasure for me to present to the city of Houston, celebrating 30 years of H town Hip Hop, in my humble opinion the greatest battle rapper ever, and you can tell em Bun said that, ladies and gentleman please give it up for my OG and your OG, Houston's OG, Hip Hop's OG, ladies and gentleman K-Rino - Bun B on K-Rino"Shout out to Rino, a living legend, you know he run this" - Trae Tha Truth on K-Rino
Scarface on K-Rino....
DX: That’s saying something, that’s a hell of an endorsement to say that he’s (K-Rino) got you when it comes to the H-Town hierarchy.
Scarface: Man, that muthafukka is the truth.
DJ Premier put K-Rino's song Antagonistic Radio as 1 of his 12 top songs of 2013 and has said he would LOVE to do a full album with him.
K-Rino has multi millions of views on youtube. His song Grand Deception was 1 of his most viewed tracks....
K-Rino has toured worldwide, and with artists such as Masta Ace, Stricklin & Wordsworth.
His album Book Number 7 was placed as 1 of the greatest Hip Hop albums of that decade.
His song Grand Deception was named as 1 of the top 12 songs of 2009 by Kevin Nottingham.
His album Deeper Elevation was also rated as 1 of the top 10 slept on albums of 2012.
His album Deprogrammed was named as the 2nd most slept on album of the year of 2014.
He has worked with artists such as Scarface, Spice 1, DJ Premier, Lil Fame (of M.O.P), Willie D, Z-Ro, Devin The Dude, Top Dog, Trae Tha Truth, OG Styles, Canibus, Klondike Kat, Ganksta Nip, Dope E (The Terrorists), Killiah Priest, Slim Thug, Keith Murray, Yukmouth, Ras Kass and MANY more.
K-Rino says of his influences....
In 2006, K-Rino was interviewed by HipHop4Eva where he described his favourite artists growing up: "It started out being singers like Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, Prince, then as Hip Hop came to birth, my early influences were Run-DMC, T-La Rock, Sugar Hill Gang, KRS-One to name a few. Sam Cooke is also a major influence, along with Dolemite."[12]
In the same interview K describes the importance of storytelling in not just his rhymes but in Hip Hop generally:
Storytelling is a lost art in rap. Not many do it anymore. Storytelling is a testament to a writer's creativity, all great writers have a great imagination. So you have to be able to create a plot that people can visualize. With a movie, you can see whats going on but when you can make someone see what you're saying as you're saying it, then thats a special talent. The knowledge comes from my roots in Hip Hop. In the beginning there were songs like "The Message", "The Breaks", then Public Enemy, KRS, X-Clan...those groups raised social consciousness in rap and thats the era i came up in, so naturally i understand the obligation to teach in my music, words are powerful and the things you say carry weight. I had to evolve and im still growing to where i dont get too wild anymore because i've corrupted enough minds.
In 2010, he further expanded on his favourite hip hop artists - in a candid interview with Rapbzdury - labelling Kool G Rap as one of the "top 5 best MCs EVER".[13]
In an interview with Houston Press in 2013, K-Rino listed five of his favourite albums as Stevie Wonder's "Songs In The Key Of Life", Sam Cooke's "Greatest Hits", Prince's "Sign O' The Times", T La Rock's "Lyrical King (From The Boogie Down Bronx)" and Boogie Down Productions' "Criminal Minded".[14]
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