KRS-One can suck a bag of dicks

[lizard]

KRS-One: "I Cheered 9/11"

Rapper's remarks set off controversy


KRS-One has ignited controversy with his comments as a panelist at The New Yorker Festival on October 2nd, claiming that he and other African-Americans "cheered when 9/11 happened . . . I say that proudly."

As reported in the New York Daily News and confirmed by a New Yorker spokeswoman, the rapper explained his views by saying that prior to the attack World Trade Center security guards prevented black people from entering "because of the way we talk and dress. So when the planes hit the building, we were like, 'Mmmm -- justice.' [9/11] doesn't affect us. 9/11 happened to them, not us. The rich . . . those who are oppressing us. RCA or BMG, Universal, the radio stations."

KRS-One also criticized recent voter registration campaigns by members of the hip-hop community. "Voting in a corrupt society adds more corruption," he said. "America has to commit suicide if the world is to be a better place." This comment drew a heated response fellow panelist and former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic, who yelled, "That is wrong, man. Suicide is not the answer."

Since emerging as the leader of hip-hop troupe Boogie Down Productions in the Eighties, KRS-One has been an outspoken social critic. He delivered a stinging indictment of commercial airwaves on R.E.M.'s "Radio Song" in 1991, and in recent years he actually served as an executive with Dreamworks Records. His most recent solo album is 2003's Krystyles.

The Web site for Temple of Hip-Hop, the self-proclaimed hip-hop preservation society founded by KRS-One, includes a "declaration of peace" that seeks to "establish a foundation of health, love, awareness, wealth, peace and prosperity for ourselves, our children and their children's children, forever."

 

[minxnim]

what a tard

 

[The Dope]

God, this guy sounds like a grade-A certified idiot. First, what kind of rap name is KRS-One? And second, the Temple of Hip-Hop?!? Why does the world need a hip-hop preservation society? I'm definitely bombarded by enough of it daily as it is. This brings up that same issue as when Nils posted that Jadakiss song...radical hip-hop artists who feel the need to speak up about politics or world events should have a friendly invitation to shut the hell up extended to them the moment they open their mouths.

 

[lizard]

I mean, this is wrong on numerous fronts.

he thinks he speaks for all black americans. I happen to live with one and work with many others, and they were all as horrified as I was on 9/11.

he purports to advocate for the disenfranchised, but he says don't vote...sorry dude, does not compute.

minx, were you in the city on that day?

 

[The Dope]

The Web site for Temple of Hip-Hop, the self-proclaimed hip-hop preservation society founded by KRS-One, includes a "declaration of peace" that seeks to "establish a foundation of health, love, awareness, wealth, peace and prosperity for ourselves, our children and their children's children, forever."

He seems to be leaving out his grandchildren's generation. He wants all these things for himself and his children, but not for his children's children. Just the children of his children's children, his great-grandchildren. What a hater.

 

[lizard]

Dope, "KRS-One" is supposedly derived from the phrase "Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Everyone" but you wouldn't know it from his pan-faced comments.

he's probably just pissed because he's a has-been and has to go on package tours with other has beens.

 

[Baliset]

i used to respect krs-one alot.

 

[lizard]

I don't listen to rap but I gave him credit for moving from a homeless kid to a self taught, self made man. I understand the effects of racism and some of the deeply held beliefs of the African American community. But to bluntly state that all of a particular race or group feels only one particular way is as racist as the thinking of the klan.

 

[xfer]

I'm sure KRS-One doesn't believe this so much as he's just trying to be shocking, which is kind of cheap and pathetic.

 

[FalseTodd]

Was he tied into the whole Farakhan business back in the day? I can't remember. Farrakhan makes me hate Public Enemy.

 

[RjBeals]

When some punk jumps up to get beat down,
Broken down to his very last compound,
See how it sounds,
a little unrational,
a lota mc's like the use the word dramatical.
--- Fresh for 88' you sucka's

 

[xfer]

What does KRS-One do on a reverse bicycle?


KRS Replies To New York Daily News
By Nolan Strong
Date: 10/15/2004 8:57 am

KRS-One has hit back at the New York Daily News, after the newspaper ran an article that labeled him a “Hip-Hop Anarchist.”

In yesterday’s (October 14th) popular Rush & Malloy’s daily gossip column, the paper accused the Bronx bred rapper of defiling the memory of people who were killed in the 9/11 attacks on the United States at the New Yorker Festival, where KRS was a panelist.

The article also accused KRS of siding with Al Qaeda, the terror organization that is blamed for orchestrating the deadly attacks.

“Like everyone I was shocked to read that I and other African-Americans actually ‘cheered when 911 happened’ and that I have ‘declared my solidarity with Al Qaeda,’” KRS said in a statement. “When I read my words taken out of context I was shocked and disappointed that the Daily News would go this far to assassinate my character and distort my views.”

KRS called the piece irresponsible journalism and pointed out that the magazine never attempted to follow up or even interview him to clarify his statements.

“I was making an objective point about how many Hiphoppas as well as the oppressed peoples of the world felt that day,” KRS continued. “I am a philosopher and a critical thinker, I speak truth and I urge people to think critically about themselves and their environment. Yes, my words are strong. Yes, my views are controversial. But to call me a terrorist is simply wrong!”

KRS said that he never intended to disrespect the memories of those who lost their lives and said that he was making a statement.

“I was just as saddened as everyone else on 9/11,” he continued. “However, for many of us that were racially profiled and harassed by the World’s Trade Center’s security and the police patrolling that area as well as the thousands of American protesters that spoke out against the World Trade Organization months before in Seattle, Washington there was a sense of justice, a sense of change, a wake up call watching the twin towers fall.”

Read the KRS One’s full rebuttal here: http://www.allhiphop.com/editorial/?ID=218

 

[lizard]

this clarifies some things but I still get a sense of overweening hubris.


KRS One Rebuttal To NY Daily News Article
KRS-One

Like everyone I was shocked to read that I and other African-Americans actually “cheered when 911 happened” and that I have “declared my solidarity with Al Qaeda”. When I read my words taken out of context I was shocked and disappointed that the Daily News would go this far to assassinate my character and distort my views.

Such statements with no follow up explanation or interview from KRS-ONE as to what he may have meant or even a complete quote of my point is simply irresponsible journalism on the Daily News’ part. I would never just say something as crazy as “we cheered when 911 happened!” I was making an objective point about how many Hiphoppas as well as the oppressed peoples of the world felt that day.

I am a philosopher and a critical thinker, I speak truth and I urge people to think critically about themselves and their environment. Yes, my words are strong. Yes, my views are controversial. But to call me a terrorist is simply wrong!

A young lady asked about what we can do beyond voting to change the political state of things in our country? I responded not by irresponsibly stating that “America has to commit suicide if the world is to be a better place” and that’s all. I am a poet and I speak poetically. My full statement was “America has to commit suicide if the world is to be a better place.

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. The real question is are you a citizen of the United States or are you a citizen of the world? And so for me, I would say voting in a corrupt society adds more corruption.”

I was asked by the New Yorker magazine to discuss “different and personal beliefs musicians hold and the contribution artists like myself can make to the nation’s political dialog”. My views were indeed different and most were personal. However, when I was asked about why Hiphop has not engaged the current situation more (meaning 911) my responds was “because it does not affect us, or at least we don’t perceive that it effects us, 911 happened to them”. I went on to say that “I am speaking for the culture now; I am not speaking my personal opinion”. I continued to say; “911 effected them down the block; the rich, the powerful those that are oppressing us as a culture. Sony, RCA or BMG, Universal, the radio stations, Clear Channel, Viacom with BET and MTV, those are our oppressors those are the people that we’re trying to overcome in Hiphop everyday, this is a daily thing. We cheered when 911 happened in New York and say that proudly here. Because when we were down at the trade center we were getting hit over the head by cops, told that we can’t come in this building, hustled down to the train station because of the way we dressed and talked, and so on, we were racially profiled. So, when the planes hit the building we were like; mmmm justice.” And just as I began to say “now of course a lot of our friends and family were lost there as well” but I was interrupted.

My intent is never to demean or disrespect anyone’s loss or gain; and of course I did not literally “cheer when 911 happened”. I made an objective statement about the feelings of those who were oppressed by world trade policies. I was just as saddened as everyone else on 911. However, for many of us that were racially profiled and harassed by the World’s Trade Center’s security and the police patrolling that area as well as the thousands of American protesters that spoke out against the World Trade Organization months before in Seattle, Washington there was a sense of justice, a sense of change, a wake up call watching the twin towers fall.

These are not my views only; these views represent a popular truth that few people are really ready to hear. No one wished death on anyone or just sat and “cheered when 911 happened”. But some of us can see through the bullshit! America must change its approach to the world and its citizens. This, I believe is what all Americans should be thinking about. How do we make our country better?

For years my career has been one of promoting peace, love, unity and having fun; such has always been Hiphop’s cultural principles. So how all of a sudden now can I be aligned with Al Qaeda? What happened to honest debate and freedom of speech! I don’t speak for the African American community exclusively, I speak for HIPHOP! And let me be clear here; most of the Hiphop community is against the war in Iraq! But to align me with Al Qaeda is clearly an attempt by the Daily News to interrupt the street voice of our Hiphop community, KRS-ONE’s leadership and the increased momentum of our Hiphop political movement.

I don’t think Al Qaeda needs my solidarity nor did I ever offer it, so what’s the point. For a major news organization to now align KRS-ONE with Al Qaeda shows the unwarranted contempt that such an organization has for me. Such is grounds for a law suit!

Finally, no one should ever believe anything that the one-sided Daily News has to say about the same Hiphop community that it (the Daily News) has tried so desperately to undermine for years. The only thing the Daily News seems to be interested in is scandal and controversy and for years I have challenged the Daily News on its depictions of Rap artists and Hiphop as a whole.

I know they don’t like me. However, I don’t give a ---- either! They never cover our efforts toward peace and all the charitable work we do within the Hiphop community. They never air our grievances or how we feel about the state of the world, nor have they ever aired our views on America’s invasion of Iraq simply because they just don’t want to hear them. The Hiphop community forces America to look at itself; and no one likes to take b.l.a.m.e. for their own for immaturity Because Looking At Me ain’t Easy!

For the record, I am an American philosopher. I speak and seek truth. If the slander that the Daily News has printed regarding my political views has disrespectfully offended anyone in any way I truly apologize. Again, it was never my or Hiphop’s intent to disregard, disrespect or demean the tragedy of September 11th 2001 and those that died that day.

However, we do have a voice and a point of view and if you are not prepared to hear what Hiphop has to say about its view of world events then don’t ask!

 

[lizard]

haha you beat me to it...

but I got to work "overweening hubris" into a UM post!

 

[The Dope]

Yeah, that does clear it up a bit, and I do agree that to align him with Al-Qaeda just for making those statements is inappropriate. I think it is fair to say, though, that he seems to think rather highly of himself and his status as an "American philosopher" and seems to feel the need to speak on behalf of individuals and groups who may or may not share his views.

 

[azal]

I really like KRS One.

 

[azal]

btw most Serbs cheered 9/11.

 

[lizard]

I'm going to begin making broad pompous statements as a self designated activist king of German-Irish-English Americans. I'm also going to mimic KRS-One by referring to myself in the third person.

My first proclamation: "When people attack America, they attack America's essence, namely, Lizard."

 

[lizard]

btw most Serbs cheered 9/11.

OMG Serbs are a part of the HIPHOP culture!

 

[azal]