Every other week some bullshit blogger ranks Kanye West albums, so here’s a ranking that’s actually worth a damn. I stopped after 1997 because I haven’t enjoyed any of them enough to remember much about them after point.
1. ‘Criminal Minded’
A pioneering showcase of new raps styles at a time when the old guard were being superseded by the new kids on the block. Between Scott La Rock’s keen ear for samples, Ced-Gee’s programming finesse and KRS-One’s determination to make a name for himself from the humblest of beginnings, this album remains as the ultimate b-boy document that provides the perfect blue-collar compliment to Ultramagnetic’s astral travelling.
2. ‘Sex and Violence’
Much maligned for ignore the sonic trends of the day, this LP was punished in the press for the Blastmasta’s perceived sins against his own mantra of non-violence when his crew made an example of Prince Be. But thanks to audio assists from Prince Paul, Pal Joey and the best kept secret known as DJ Kenny Parker, this turned out to be the most well-rounded and effective statement of intent outside of BDP’s debut, staking KRS-One’s legacy while reminding fickle rap fans of the raw roots of the music with great aplomb.
3. ‘By All Means Necessary’
While this album boasts some of the greatest songs in the crews discography, it’s also extremely top heavy in the way that most rap records of it’s day tended to be, gradually losing momentum by the end of each side after powerful opening salvos. The tragic loss of Scott La Rock is also apparent as KRS strives to establish his own identity without his mentor.
4. ‘Live Harcore Worldwide’
Considering the fearsome reputation that Boogie Down Productions has always had for ripping down stages, it was only right for them to record a live album showcasing their mastery of the live form – especially as the performance aspect was already beginning to play second fiddle to the rise of video. If you’ve ever harboured any doubts as to the legend of Kris Parker on stage, have a listen to the ‘Still #1’ freestyle.
5. ‘Edutainment’
Impressive in it’s ambition, this was a brave album which tackled issues that no one else had even considered in a thoughtful and concise manner. Incorporating reggae and ska beats into the mix more effectively than Ghetto Music, it solidified KRS’ position as one of hip-hop’s leading thinkers without sacrificing listenability, just as the title implies. Bonus points for using the Apple Mac defult font on the cover.
6. ‘Return of the Boom Bap’
Wisely recruiting the likes of DJ Premier, Showbiz and Kid Capri to add a little sugar to the Kool-Aid, Kris answered the naysayers with this cutting-edge display of his talents which demonstrated his versatility and love for wordplay.
7. ‘Ghetto Music: The Blueprint of Hip Hop’
Many BDP fans weren’t ready for the new musical direction of the crew on this one, but thanks to the quality of the lyrics it mostly works, and set the foundations for it’s more accomplished follow-up. That ‘You Must Learn’ remix though…
8. ‘KRS-One’
Attempting to carry on the good-will generated by Boom Bap, KRS once again recruited a fine assortment of producers for an album that could still impress, but it seemed that he was doing his best work on Hot 97 freestyle sessions rather than the often uninspired performances that drag the latter half of this record down.
9. ‘I Got Next’
Apparently this is Kris’ best-selling solo album, but it felt like he was just going through the motions by this point. The fact that he thought that getting radio hack Angie Martinez on board to rap on a track really speaks volumes. I’m still that Jive Records blew the last of their reserve cash on Puff Daddy remix of ‘Step Into A World’ though.
Major yes to Sex & Violence at number 2
Oh man and that rock song on I got next was kinda scary
Edutainment should be higher. I say #2 or 3.
I would have ranked I Got Next higher.
Truth be told if KRS retired (or got killed like Pac and Biggie) after I Got Next he’d be the GOAT. But those independent albums didn’t help his legacy (neither did that battle with Nelly).
Anyway, KRS’s work on Jive is his best work.
It just shows how major labels operate. If the album isn’t ready and doesn’t have a hit single they won’t release it. Whereas an independent label will release an album even if there’s no hit single, which makes for a weak album.
Nice one Robbie
“Let us move on” to other artists discographies. Can I suggest PE next please?
Since it’s Albums rather than select tracks on them, my list is:
1. Criminal Minded
2. By All Mean Necessary
The end.
Will play the odd track from everything else but these are the only 2 I can listen to end to end.
I guess I’m the only one that liked Return Of The Boom Bap…I have it ranked number 4
My top 3, criminal minded, by all means, return of the boombat!.
Those albums were strictly for the streets, for the b boy, 5 boros.
There are honarable mentions, but we need a greatest hits playlist of the top 12 somgs.
You lasted longer than I did I tapped out after Boom Bap. Major Edutainment fan as well I would have bumped that up to #2
Would prob have ROTBB in place of S&V.
If you put KRS’ 10 best songs up against anyone there are too many that can match him or best him though.
I listen to KRS when I need a nice long nap. J Cole of ’89.
Really? South Bronx, Outta Here, My Philosophy & Bridge Is Over are your go to tracks for bland background music are they?
Please share more edgy insights.
The last KRS CD I bought was either “Adventures in emceein'” or that “survival skills” jawn with Buckshot. I have checked subsequent albums but they’ve all been
one or two decent cuts lost amid seas of garbage (e.g. that one song where he just goes “bla bla bbla bla” in time with the beat).
My fave KRS/BDP LPs:
1) Sex & Violence
2) Ghetto Music
3) Edutainment
4) KRS ONE
5) By all means necessary
6) Criminal Minded
7) Return of the Boom Bap
8) I got next
9) The Sneak Attack
10) Adventures in emceein
Ahem….The metahistorical album with true master of Wu tang
Yeah Rob, ” Criminal Minded” is an ultimate journey through the b.boy space but “By any means necessary” paved the way to ” It takes a nation to hold us back” and both rule in 88
Yeah pretty right bit I also think boom bap needs to be higher up.
Easy to rank Kanye albums:
1 beautiful twisted fantasy
2 college drop out
3 the one with Jay z
Forget the rest…
I would rank them exactly the same. Thats cool! I listened to my Sex and Violence cassette over, and over, and over, and over….
KRS post 95 is mostly garbage sans a few odd guest appearances.
Honestly i’m fine with the original order that everything came out. Too put Sex and Violence over My Philosophy is crazy talk FOH…Just my opinion. Salute to the BLAST MASTER!!!!!
Whoop’s I mint By All Mean Necessary.
@Step One Just not my thing. My favorite album of his is Return of the Boom Bap.
BDP was too preachy for me.
Gotta say too KRS is probably one of the few who would still have it with the live show … I saw him a few years back in Sydney when he was out here and what an awesome show.
Still got my signed tennis ball I caught that he threw out to the crowd (apparently his non-flying self signed tennis balls to fill time on the long cruise ship haul out here).
original order or this list can’t hate on the convo spark
yeah I got next was def the low point in that sequence (or beginning of the ending). I sold my copy not long after copping it.
So if I had to check one album post ‘I Got Next’ what would it be ? Whats the best one ?
@Oneam: The LP with Marley was OK. It also had three bonus tracks excusive to the Australian release for some reason.
@DialTone: Only if you rate albums by classic songs instead of as a complete package.
@Robbie: Cheers – I’ll have to check that one then.
@oneam: The ‘BDP Album’ also has a shout out to this very site on the intro, which was a pleasant surprise.
Krs has to do a full on riddems album with jamaican artist, get them spiritual cats and slow the beat down just a bit.
What about the bdp practice sessions album that Kenny Parker plugged on here?
@Norm: Closest we got was this: http://www.unkut.com/2013/10/krs-one-criminal-minded-practice-sessions/
Great list. One of my favorite albums post I Got Next has to be the one with True Master called “Meta-Historical”. Dope album.
Right. That makes no sense at all.
It all boils down to the producer.
How KRS(much like NAS and other legendary emcees), cannot get it together in 2017 and tap the likes of DJ Premier, Showbiz, Diamond D, etc to produce an album for him is a mystery to me.
Makes me wonder what goes on in their head. Do they really care about the art? Do they honestly not see a difference in aesthetic quality in a DJ Premier beat vs a Snowgoons one? Are they just egotistal persons that think their voice is enough to elevate a mediocre beat?
WTF happened?
@Chaleee Chace: I’m guessing a DJ Premier beat costs 100x that of a Snowgoons album or 1000000x that of a soundcloud “producer”‘s life work. That said, even UK acs have been able to buy Premo beats so maybe his stock has fallen too… KRS has no clout these days.
imo, the problem with KRS is that he stopped being preachy/message-oriented and decided to rap almost exclusively about himself/his (lack of) popularity. ZZZznozzeville.
1. Criminal Minded
2. By All Means Necessary
3. Return Of The Boom Bap
4. Sex And Violence
5. Edutainment
6. KRS One
7. Ghetto Music The Blueprint of Hip Hop
8. Live Hardcore Worldwide
9. I Got Next
Helluva 10 year run
Album with Showbiz ‘Godsville’ had some shots too!!
I think age has a lot to do with rankings. Anybody who compares. KRS of 1989 to that wack Hick Jcole of today truly want listening to Hip Hop in 1989 or the early 1990’s.
Keep listening to overrated lox and dog pound Bullshit.
1)Criminal Minded
2) By any means necessary.
3) KRS
4) Edutainment
5) The Blue Print
6) Return of the Boom Bap
7) Sex and Violence
8) BDP live
9)I got next
“Truth be told if KRS retired (or got killed like Pac and Biggie) after I Got Next he’d be the GOAT.”
Truth, 5 Grand.
Only change I would make is Ghetto Music being dead last. I never liked that album.
$yk, what up!
Why has nobody mentioned 1995’s “Strictly for da Breakdancers and emcees?” I mean, if you’re gonna count the live album….
What became of that KRS/Mad Lion album “Just like that” that was supposed to drop in 2012?
Is there a reliable site for hard copies of post-2001 KRS joints? Amazon is charging silly money.
Would be interesting to run a poll on this and see what the crc general public end up voting on. (is it still OK to say the word ‘vote’ in a post trump world?)
You should do a 20 best of KRS collab tracks, with stuff like Mad Izm and the likes
Its going, its going,its going,/
Its gone
Ya heart has left because Kris is strong/
And mighty/
Undefeated/
I mean it/
Pick up the album turn it over and read it/
Written produced directed and mixed/
Get off the tip/
Or get off the many tips/
The freestyle from still number 1 on BDP live was crazy
An article about the Curse Of Krs might be in order analysing the career trajectory of Channel Live, Mad Lion, G Simone, Broadway, Truck Turner etc.
In most cases it’s been one big single and then see you later.
Hey Robbie, I’m an old school rapper and my cock is itching, can I get some sc-sc-sc-scratching?
You reminded me that I have to put up my I got next and krs one lps on eBay
I Got Next would’ve been much more solid had it scrapped that awful rock track (“Just To Prove A Point”), the Diddy remix (which isn’t horrible, but sounds very out-of-place), and some of those pointless skits. And why’d they leave off “Word Perfect” (always liked that one)? Would still not be KRS’s best, but there’s some solid stuff on there.
Keep Right is one of his best albums ever. Period. Aside from stop scheemin the whole album knocks.
Edutainment, edutainment-kenny Parker show-breath control ll, those tracks put that album ontop alone,add in black man in effect, know the rules, 100 guns, love gonna get cha, original lyrics,7djs..