KRS-One – The Unkut Interview Part 2

Posted on by Robbie

Note: This wasn’t included in the first version since it was meant to be used for a print mag. Turns out they didn’t run it anyway!

You know how there’s always a guy you know who just never stops talking when you’re trying to enjoy a beer and annoy some dames? KRS-One is sort of like that, except he usually says something worth hearing – either because it’s so spot-on, or just completely bananas. Sometimes it’s a combination of the two. When I got the chance to pick at his brain to celebrate the release of his new album with former rival Marley Marl (as well celebrate twenty years of releasing music) we covered a number of topics, but it was one question in particular that seemed to really spark his interest. So much so, that it took-up half of the interview. But given that race is always a hot topic in America, it’s only right that one of hip-hop’s most outspoken and articulate representatives has the chance to speak his piece.

Robbie: What are your feelings on Russell “Rush” getting on Bill O’Reilly and apologizing to him? Talking about banning words – it seems kind of ironic considering he used to sell dust and promoted all kinds of ignorant Def Jam artists, and suddenly he wants to be holier-than–thou. What are your thoughts on that situation?

KRS-One: Well you just said my thoughts. That’s really it. Russell’s a great friend – not a best friend – but a great friend and a great ally. Russell’s an intelligent man – he is hip-hop. His legacy in hip-hop is unmatched. Def Jam is an institution in our culture, no doubt about it. But everything you just said is my feeling and is my thought. We’re talking culture now, we’re talking community now. We’re talking within the culture now, and when you look at Russell as a brother now – not a mogul, not a CEO – no Russell, you just a hip-hopper like the rest of us now. And we’re now sizing-up your contribution, and sizing-up who you really are now. Here’s where these questions come in now, and they’re to be kept in this context as well. What are my thoughts on it? First of all, for me, we need more niggas. I don’t think we need less niggas, we need more niggas. I was with Afrika Bambatta last night, and Bam was explaining to me the use of this word “nigga” – we need to chill with that shit, totally. According to Bam, it is degrading. We don’t need to be calling each other niggas, bitches and hoes. We just don’t need to be doin’ that. We need to call ourselves Gods, Goddesses, queens and kings. I take my orders from Afrika Bambatta. That’s where I get my orders from. Al Sharpton said the same thing – we need to ban the use of the “N” word. Russell Simmons has said we need to ban the use of the “N” word. Afrika Bambatta has said “we need to ban the use of the “N” word”. I take my cue from Afrika Bambatta! But I take my cue from Afrika Bambatta because he’s a real nigga! No doubt! And he’s surrounded by real niggas – no doubt! I was with real niggas yesterday – Afrika Bambatta and I hung out, then I went over to his radio show, and I started talking about this. “What is your stance, Bam? What is Zulu Nation‘s stance on this use of the word nigga?” And Bam is real surface with it because he know what time it is. We not really banning the use of the word nigga – you’re not gonna do that. But….can we teach our children something different? Bam’s thing is balance. If you’re gonna call your brother a nigga – call him God, too. Don’t just call him nigga. Call him God, call him king, call her queen. That’s where Bam is coming from, and I’m taking my cue from that.

The other side to it is – you can’t make no demands unless you can physically back ’em up. I’m part of Zulu Nation’s military wing as well. So when Afrika Bambatta speaks, it’s not that their looking to kick my ass – ’cause I will fight to the end – but we are all part of the ass-kickin’ committee. So when Bam says: “Yo, I think we need to chill with the word ‘nigga'” we then leave Bam and we have a discussion amongst ourselves. “Well I think we need this word ‘nigga'” Somebody else says “Nah, man. We don’t need that shit. That shit is foul” We had a serious discussion on the use of the word nigga and the improper use of it, and it boils down to balance. If you wanna call yourself a nigga, then go ahead. You a nigga. But if I call myself God, you gonna respect me as God. And that’s the point – if I say “Peace God” – white folk aren’t respecting that either! So if I say “Whaddup dog! My dogs in the house!” – they ain’t respectin’ that either! “Yo my nigga!” – you ain’t respectin’ that either! The bottom line is – you just not respectin’ me! That’s Zulu Nation’s stance. I think Al Sharpton is highly respected, I think he’s sharp. I like Al Sharpton, personally, but I think he’s on the wrong side on this one. We don’t need to ban the use of the word “nigga” we need to keep it where it is. We need to say “Listen, if you’re gonna upgrade yourself to a higher level – a superior level – if you’re really gonna go there, call yourself something different than nigga”. But if you are not gonna elevate yourself and the word “nigga’ is in your tongue, then we’re gonna treat you like that. There’s certain rules for niggas, you know what I’m sayin? There are! Niggas get shot and niggas go to jail. Niggas are climbing through your window and shit. Niggas is fightin’ in the street, niggas is shootin’ and doin they shit. That’s niggas. But even in the midst of all that? I can depend on my niggas. I get love from my niggas. My respect comes from my niggas. The people that call themselves African-Americans don’t respect me or my views. Fat Joe – he Puerto Rican, and he says he’s a nigga. “He’s an ill nigga” is what Fat Joe would say. [chuckles] He Puerto Rican, but he’s a nigga. And at the end of the day when I say “Yo! Where’s my niggas at?” – Afrika Bambatta knows exactly what we talking about, and this is where we flip it now to the next level, from Zulu Nation, and we say “We need more real niggas! We need real niggas, right now” Not N-I-G-G-E-R. N-I-G-G-A. We own that word. That’s our word. We need more niggas.

Now jump to the Temple of Hip-Hop – the Temple of Hip-Hop says: “Wait a minute, let’s hold-on to this word “nigga”. “Nigger” is clearly disrespectful, we don’t use that term. That is a racist epithet…but so is the word “American”. In England, in the 1600’s, to be called an “American” was to be called “nigger”. It was the same thing! It was a lower race of people! It was a lower standard of people. In fact, the British people who came to the America’s, their argument back to the British Crown – the King – was that Americans – this “lower group” – deserves the same rights as British citizens! They said “We’re British citizens! We’re not Americans!” Because English Englishman were calling these, lower-class Englishmen, “Americans”. Because they would frequent America, hang-out with these Native Americans and these Blacks and these Mexicans that were over here. These white folk would be hangin’ out with them, come back with their hair cut like ’em, talking like ’em, doin’ they music – just like hip-hop today – and they would them Americans. It was a racial epithet. It was not a good title to be called “American” in the 1600’s, like being called “nigger” or “chink” or “wop” or “cracker” or “spic”. Same thing with “Christian”. “Christian” was a racial epithet until Constantine made the religion legal! So what do these words mean? The Temple of Hip-Hop would argue that none of these words mean anything without a graphic description. If I say “nigga” to you and a man hanging from a tree comes to your mind, then that’s your problem! If I say to somebody else “nigga” and immediately the image in his mind is safety, trust, honesty…somebody on my level , my brother, family member, my sister. If that’s the image that comes into your mind, then what’s the problem? If I say “bark”, and bark means the bark of a tree, the bark of a dog, to embark on a mission…we gotta know what we talking about!

So this whole argument of the use of the word “nigga” really stems along the lines of cultural illiteracy. Our older generation is not taking the time to learn what they’re children are saying. It’s kind of embarrassing, because we’ve now taken control of the word. We’ve taken that worse word – “nigger” – and turned it into a tool of empowerment. That is God! That’s hip-hop. That’s self-creation. Here’s a final view – the view of Al Sharpton and Quincy Jones: The term “nigga” could never mean brother, it could never be a term of endearment. When we use the term “nigga”, it’s just like saying Britney Spears is hip-hop. In the future, our children may be like “Go Britney! Yo, Britney Spears was hip-hop back in the days! Dad, lemme show you this! Yo, Paris Hilton was hip-hop cause she had a spliff in her hand!” Our children can say that if we don’t get this right. Now imagine Al Sharpton and Quincy Jones and Jesse Jackson, who were raised in a time when you were called “nigger” and shot at, and Black men were hanging from trees! Imagine them now today, hearing their children call each other “Nigga! Nigga! Yo nigga nigga! My nigga! Your nigga! These niggas!”? They must be going crazy! And if we respect them at all – even though we could philosophize the word “nigga”, we can have stances on the word “nigga”, we can rationalize the use of the word, we could socialize it, we could politicize it – even though we could do all of that, if our parents say “The word offends us”, why don’t we just stop? Why don’t we just stop using the word? If we have any love for our parents, why don’t we just stop using it? Fuck what we think! Fuck the rationalization and shit. We should stop using it, because mom said she don’t like it. Because dad said he don’t like it. Why we can’t just do that? I think that’s the argument that Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton are waging. There’s a spiritual part, there’s a cultural part that we can’t see because we were not part of that other era. We were children – we weren’t even born! But they were, and they can see an importance to the use of the word “nigga” or the not use of the word “nigga”. They can see an importance to why we should or shouldn’t be using this word. I think we should trust them on this and just stop using the term. So that’s all the terms and that’s the stance.

KRS-One – The Unkut Interview Part 1

Boogie Down Productions – “P Is Free (original version)”

KRS-One TV Spot from 1988:

31 thoughts on “KRS-One – The Unkut Interview Part 2”

  2. KRS is kinda not saying much.He doesn’t know the history of the word Nigger.Nigga and Nigger are the same word.
    March 28th, 2007
    Chuck D is totally incorrect by saying Nigger is not an african word. NGR is the ankh formation which comes out of nubia and forms all of the tying together words in the “western world”. NGR means black in french and spanish.There are no vowels in Meroitic,Egyptian,Hebrew, or Arabic.(the 1st languages of the world). The Hebrew L is the egyptian R which is why the foreigners call the Nile the Nile. The G is an I and a J and last but not least a K. The CoNGo is named NGR the NIGER is named NGR Negro Is named NGR NOIR is named NGR. These words are all influenced by the AFRICAN who created WORDS.Now the ANKH is an Ancient Egyptian symbol which means to tie things together,more importantly mommy daddy and child. This is Y King is written in the ankh formation.King is the master of all things tied together rather the material world and the knowledge about it.King in Zulu is NKOSI. The word Join is in the same formation as is neck ankle knee knife anchor angle knot ….I can go on but u get the idea.THIS IS THE ANKH FORMATION WHICH FORMS ALL JOINING WORDS AND EXISTS IN ALL LANGUAGES ON EARTH.IT WAS NUBIA BEFORE EGYPT AND IT WILL NEVER LEAVE BECAUSE LANGUAGE ORIGINATED IN PLACE AT ONE TIME.BY THE WAY WE ALL BELIEVE IN THE SAME GODS WHICH ARE THE SUN MOON AND STARS SO STOP SAYING DUMB SHIT ABOUT WHICH ONE IS REAL. THEY ARE ALL REAL BECAUSE THEY WILL BE HERE WHEN U DIE AND THEY WERE HERE BEFORE U WERE CONCIEVED.sorry for the rant.LOve the Interview though. Peace

  3. there is a fine line between solidarity/brotherhood and isolation/ignorance.

  6. First of all,I love the fact that we get the opportunity to read this piece.But in all honesty,with respect to Russell and his contribution of Def Jam,he’s too hollywood now,he has no business apologizing for anything this generation of rappers say or have said on cd’s.
    The way the”powers-that-be”are trying to tie HipHop culture to this”Vegas-style-hollywood-script”Bullshit is insult enough.No,we shouldn’t parade the word”nigga”all over cd’s,but get a forum that consist of today’s culprits to speak on their own behalf(50,Cam,Snoop,a host of Southern rappers)not Golden Era emcees and fore fathers like Russell,Herc,Flash,DMC,& yes,KRS-One,nothing anything these men were apart of or recorded even comes close to the nonsense these”Hammer-like-entertainers”are making today.
    I love KRS,and the BDP/edutainment legacy,but this piece solidifies my arguement recently to some fellow”vets”,Kris has explained every theory,quoted every great quote,he needs to fall back,he’s run out of those profound statements that made us bring him up in emcee arguements,either he makes a cd confronting the problem today’s would-be-rappers are encouraging,or stop making(just okay projects)like”Krystles”,Sneak Attack,and Yes”HipHop Lives”school these young cats with skills,not babble like this interview.

  10. I have been struggling with myself for quite some time to stop using the word nigga, and this was a little while before the Imus thing, and the other situations that caused mainstream media to point the finger at hip hop as the blame. It started when i was reading the book Monster, by Sanyika Shakur (b/k/a Monster Kody Scott). The knowledge that i gained about the black man in america and the struggle that they faced, was enough to make me question my use of the word. These feelings were further compounded when i read Eldrige Cleaver’s Soul On Ice.

    I say that to say this, I came up listening to Biggie, Onyx and everyone else that propelled this rap game to the level its at now. And my use of the word nigga still plagues me to this day. But the fact that I have the knowledge of the word’s history, is what is missing from many of the others in this culture. If you can understand, and i mean truly understand why the older folks are set against the use of the word, then you would be able to form a better reason for your continued use of the word, as opposed to saying, “I’m not saying Nigger, I’m saying Nigga!”. That reasoning is stupid. Period. Educate yourselves brothers and sisters. That’s the only way that we will ever move forward in life.

  11. The bottom line is that “nigga” is a racially divisive term. By using it, you perpetuate racial divisions.

  12. i think the real problem lies in little white kids saying it to one another like they are black, they don’t even know what that shit means, its just like another way of saying homie to them, regardless, when krs says that “nigga” is equivalent to robbing, stealing, criminals, yet people he can trust, respect and understand, its like he is still putting that negative connotation into it, like black folk are all criminals or some shit, yet, and this is a big yet, he can trust them, i think krs is getting stereotypes and culture/race confused, either way its a pretty interesting interview, what i’d like to see is kris’ opinion of NYOIL’s track y’all should all get lynched, i bet you could fill a book with his response

  14. (1) Guess it is truly NOT possible to be older, wiser, enlightened, intelligent, AND be represented as such by hip-hop. Seems its either “Kings or niggas”, “Queens or bitches” (something like that Mos Def said). Every artist in hip-hop today seems to pledge full allegiance to the street thugs (the cats exploiting, robbing, killing, and hooking their own people on drugs) and views anyone who is not street/crime affiliated as being a sucka. Even people out fighting at various levels (civil rights, corporate, legal, etc.) to improve the plight of all minorities are suckas in hip-hop’s world.
    (2) I respect KRS’ musical accomplishements…but he definitely is not a civili rights spokesman that I would respect. For that I have more respect for Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, etc. – the men who face death threats, imprisonment, etc. – not rappers who talk a good one but are nowhere near the front lines in the “real battles” facing real people (not the soap opera hip-hop world).
    (3) If a white man called your mother a whench (or worse) everyday at her job would you start calling her that also…in a misguided attempt to “take the word back” and redefine it? That’s foolish. It was meant as an insult, should be taken as an insult, & is universally accepted as being just that. Why not show some heart and insist on the proper respect?
    I was improperly guided by the ghetto into thinking that the term nigga was OK. Then I elevated my understanding and wiped that word from my vocabulary.
    (4) It takes heart, hard work, discipline, etc. to elevate (improve) from one level to the next. That’s true in rap, sports, business, life. Especially when you have forces holding you down. Our parents and grandparents had far greater forces holding them down than we do today. Today we embrace the forces holding us down (crime, drugs, lack of education).
    It’s easy to stay on your current level or allow forces to push you to rock-bottom. Easier to play mind tricks with yourself, convince yourself that being at rock-bottom is OK, & try to pull others down who are trying to improve.
    Rappers are becoming the crabs at the bottom of the barrel. Many aren’t trying to elevate themselves or anybody else. They seem to want everybody either selling or doing drugs, shooting or being shot, bitches or niggas.
    I have struggled with this for many years now. Was C. DeLores Tucker right? Is this rap/hip-hop really just mind-poison? When I see vets of the game defending the word nigga and downgrading activists it makes me wonder.

  15. Thank you, JC. I think rap is what we make it. If we want to elevate the artform, the only obstacle is ourselves.

  16. Too bad for me that I have to wear a late pass on this thread. The truth or me is that more people need to use the word nigga or even nigger, to themselves, especially white folks from Germany.

    The etymology of the word is that nigger is derived from the German word for plowman – negger. The surname of California’s governor means black plowman – schwarze negger. Germans originally called themselves neggers. They should resume that practice.

    When America was based on an agrarian economy there was nothing more important than the neggers. When America became industrialized and farming was no longer the engine that drove our economy then being a negger wasn’t considered as important.

    So when someone (prah’lee a white) said to someone else (prah’lee a Black) that they were only a nigger no matter what the other person’s actual occupation was it was a statement on class even more than race.

    So I need more little white kids calling each other niggers and that is my take on the ‘N’ word.

    Peace.

  17. KRSONE IS A CULT LEADER. ALL THAT TEMPLE OF HIPHOP SHIT IS TRASH. DONT DRINK THE PUNCH

  18. Wow! I am still wozzy from someone actually mentioning Afrika Bambatta in an interview.
    KRS-ONE, has earned the right to talk about whatever… I have nothing but LOVE for this brother.

    “Chuck D is totally incorrect by saying Nigger is not an african word. NGR is the ankh formation which comes out of nubia and forms all of the tying together words in the “western world”.”
    ^^^^^^^^^^^^

    The word Nigger has nothing to do with Africa; our people wasn’t called nigger by slaveholders and ‘haters’ because they were well learned egyptologist. LOL!

    I love most people called nigga; but don’t love the word nigga. To me it’s a curse word; describing a cursed people. We have to break the curse and break the use of the word. Or at least acknowledge it for what it is.

    peace

  19. My theory on the use of nigger/nigga by Blacks…
    White slaveowner calls slaves nigger/nigga (with intended disrespect). Black “house Negroes” – viewing themselves as above the average “field Negroes” – seek to emulate the slaveowners. The Negroes seeking to align themselves with the slaveowners adopt the ways of their oppressors. Thus, your 1st instances of Blacks calling Blacks nigger/nigga.
    Today the closest things to house Negroes appear to be the hip-hop rappers.

  21. bottomline krsone is a blessing. at the end of the day you may not care for your mailcarrier but if the light bill has you address, and your name on it, you better go on and receive it pay that joker and keep the lights on. there is an old proverb that speaks of an old wiseman that by his wisdom saved a city; but no one remembered who the wiseman was. whether or not to use the word “nigga” can be debated till the Lord returns. what i thought was profound was after all of kris’ thoughts on the arguement he was like look out of respect to our forefathers why don’t we just not use it. i may be able to call my man “my nigga” with a clear conscience; but if it offends my brother it is love and honor shown if i don’t. krsone is arguably one of the most relevant voices of our time. don’t get it twisted. the one thing that offends most about him is what i beleive to be his greatest asset. his passion for the truth and his “stand on your toes and tell you so!” stance. and when he comes into a greater understanding, or even the place where what he thought to be the truth ends up being error he learns readjusts and keeps it pushing. the “Teacher” remains teachable. he also remains human. my question to all the naysayers is do you hate the personality or the principles he stands for. in an age where anything goes we need more watchmen like him ringing the alarm everytime some threat rises its head. if folks are going to hate you let it be for pursuing life, love, community, peace, knowledge, understanding, God. but know this the truth is not subjective to your personal “feelings”, the truth draws a line, it separates, it offends. which side are you on.

  22. Whats up Roger Jones. Who wins a battle in 88 between Krs One, Kane and Rakim? I heard that Rakim didn’t really like Krs One too much. Email me so we can discuss this old school hip hop. [email protected] How about when Krs ended the careers of PRT,X-Clan, D-Nice,PM Dawn and the Juice Crew!!!! Hit me back

  25. Mercilesz, Kris truthfully dismantled the Juice Crew by himself in many live battles and shows. Everybody knew that he was really speaking to Shan, Shante and Marley, but he would call out the Juice Crew. Kane, Craig G, Masta Ace or G Rap never shot back at him. Kane eventually went on to write Shante’s Have A Nice Day, which dissed BDP, but that was it. You dont let one man, diss a whole crew of heavy hitters like that, regardless of whether he called them by name or not. BDP Crew is the Don!!!! This is Big Kris with a hit listen me non miss!!! Also, note that Krs is the ONLY one of that era who’s lyrical ability significantly increased over the years to wear he was better then how he started. He was crappin on mad MC’s between 92-97. He ripped many crews. But lets keep it real, Kane was of the Juice Crew, arguably the dopest lyracist in the group, and you got Kris dissing the Juice Crew….I’ll let you tell it…

  26. krs aint end nobody career in the juice crew.not one. kane was his friend,shan continued to put ot material including snow,g-rap is live to this day and had a longer career than krs,masta ace has put out alot of material, craig g put out u r not the one and still got joints and wrote for eight mile and marley is the man and made an album with krs…..like dude what r u talking about?

  27. You missing my point. As far as being a Juice Crew he ended it!!!! Masta Ace has always been hot and Craig G

  28. u know what everybodys point of view is right the real question is what are we gonna do that word NIGGA nigger boy its deep im in my late 30s and i try not top speak like that but at the same time its in me JUST BE CAREFULL when using that word PEACE GODS

  30. My name is Dani Atkins and I am one of 4 surviving children of Ronald Edward Atkins and Clancyna Marie Atkins. On January 26, 2008 my father was killed in a tragic car accident that took place only 2 minutes away from my home. My parents had been married for 30 years at the time of the accident without separation. As I have been assisting my mother with putting together various lawsuits and claims against several different persons, insurance companies, and even the Los Angeles Police Department regarding several acts of negligence and dishonor surrounding my fathers death, I have come across a disturbing piece of information that I, being a 24 year old African American person am appauled. My father having been born on April 9, 1955, has a birth certificate that identifies his color and race as being “NEGRO.” My grandmother, Eloise Marie Harrison having been born on April 4, 1933 has a birth certificate that identifies her color and race as being “NEGRO”. My mother, who is still alive, Clancyna Marie Atkins born on September 4, 1956 has a birth certificate that identifies her color and race as being “NEGRO” as well. And I am quite sure there are thousands if not milliions of other African American people dead or alive who have been identified on paper at birth as being “NEGRO” I am absolutely disgusted that the United States of America even in 2009 have not made an attempt to make right this defamation of character in administering all new birth certificates to those who have died as well as those still living to identify these HUMAN PEOPLE with dignity and respect. I am passionately committed to make my fathers name wholly reflect the honorable father, husband, and man that he was and the fact that his life was not even given an opportunity to start before he was branded on United States of America paper as being a “NEGRO” is a disgrace and a shame on America.

    PLEASE SUPPORT THIS MESSAGE TO THE WHITE HOUSE BY SIGNING MY ONLINE PETITION at: http://www.gopetition.com/online/29117.html

    If you have any questions e- mail me at: [email protected]

    Thank You,
    Dani

  31. I agree with MERCILESZ. The word is a sacred formation from the beginnings of civilizement. As for its “profane” use among whites, I personally think that as a sacred word it should be restricted. I think its right for “whites” to feel its off limits. People shouldnt use words they dont understand.

    Imagine, at one time people thought tomatos were poisonous and water bathing would be detrimental! And this is AFTER it had already been established in the world that water is godly and tomatos were too. So you see how knowledge can be forgotten or totally inverted and misunderstood by the average person.

    At one time less that 50 years ago our ancestors were largely embarrassed to be associated with the African continent because of lies they were taught about their own people. “The N Word” is the same thing; one of our most revered words retaught to us to be a slur. What a head game.

    Peace Family

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