Isn't KRS-One also supposedly a man of god? The same man of god who got in a rap 'battle' with Nelly?

I wouldn't take much of anything he has to say seriously.

Dude is just trying to stay relevant and on the scene. I guess now we can look forward to a Larry King interview yeaaaaaa !

Pssh. One of my girls went toe to toe with him at a lecture he gave at H.arvard Law School a few weeks back. He was going on and on about how WE SHOULDN'T VOTE. Period. Then he tried to get his agenda going, which had something or other to do with some resolution he had drawn up with the UN. Clearly he is crazy.

Well, I'm not sure this KRS One has really thought this through. After all, if America "commits suicide," how is he going to get all the obscene money and welath he has thus far gained.

Great post, Ambra. But I do have to take exception to one comment: "and at age 39, is notably too old to still be called a "rapper"

I know you kids today think you invented hip-hop but its been around for a long time now. In fact, I think you have it backwards. I don't think that anyone under 30 should be called a "rapper." All the great rappers were born long before 1975 -- Kool Herc; Kurtis Blow; Wonder Mike, Big Bank Hank, and Master Gee (Sugar Hill Gang); Jalil Hutchins, John Fletcher and Drew Carter (Whodini); Chuck D.; MC Hammer.

I mean, seriously, you kids today think that P. Diddy is a rapper!

And yes, I realize I sound like Grampa Simpson. ; )

People who claim to speak for others usually don't. People who need to cloak their own opinion if the wrap of "we" should just take their opinion and "we" on it.
And I speak for all white folk when I say that.
Well, for all white males over 72. Named Walter.

Uhh, Joe...MC HAMMER?! a great rapper? *chokes* I won't touch that.

Memer,

Uhh, Joe...MC HAMMER?! a great rapper? *chokes* I won't touch that.

Oh, the people scoff now, but Hammer was once the man. In fact, almost every wannabe-rapper rips off either Chuck D. (or his first generic knock off, Ice Cube) or Hammer.

For example, look at P.Diddy. He's nothing but Hammer with a better wardrobe.

Well actually Joe, I don't say that about everybody. I realize that we didn't invent hip-hop. In fact, you'll NEVER hear me say that (and for some reason I think you already know I don't think that).

I have much respect for the pioneers in the game and I'll have you know that I don't even consider "Puff" whatever a rapper. He's a pimp..lol I oke at KRS One because I do think he's all washed up--by choice. I start to lose resepect for people when they don't know how to respect the "seasons of life" if you know what I mean. WHY oh why was Boyz II Men trying to come out with another album? Let it got fellas. Become producers. Write, mentor, do something! I see KRS One in that same category.

That was my point, no disrespect to KRS One, although at this point, I question how much respect he really deserves. And I agree, Hammer was a pioneer. When dude was hot, he was hot.

NOBODY put on a better show than Hammer.
(either work hard or you might as well quit)
Still one of my favorite lines.

Don't forget about Kool Moe Dee.

KRS-1 is a babbling idiot who wants people to think he's "deep"

Ambra,

Are you saying that performing hip-hop is only for the young?

I'll be the first to admit that I know very little about contemporary hip-hop. I'm probably a bit more in touch with the original hip-hop back in the 40s and 50s; one of the progenitors to R&B, country, and rock'n'roll.

But still, there are quite a few folks who have been excellent singers/performers well into their autumn years. Frank Sinatra, for example, or Aretha Franklin. Or Ray Charles, or Pablo Casals. Ok, Pablo was an instrumentalist. ;)

There are quite a few singer/songwriters out there who do well, without respect to age. Then again, I'll concede that some folks might consider retirement. It seems that both Elton John and (worse) Phil Collins have become generic theme music producers for Disney soundtracks. Pity. John wrote some fantastic stuff back in the day; Tickin' should be required study for any music composition major. The rythms and patterns of the notes draw a picture of what was physically happening in the story as much as the lyrics were. And Collins was a charter member of Brand X, and Genesis.

Even some of the rockers have shown excellent longevity; Aerosmith, for example. One of the few groups who's work has been covered by rappers (Walk this Way w/RUN DMC), and country singers (I Don't Wanna Miss a Thing, by Mark Chesnutt)

Heck, I'd still rather listen to Wilson Pickett today, or Sam Moore than most of the new folks around. But then, what's called R&B these days isn't worth the name, if you ask me. :)

But that's just me...

All I have to say is that did you, Ambra, bare witness to his complete thoughts? You held me accountable, last weak, for failing to not the context and spirit in which a thread of yours was created. I ask you…is there a possibility that you, in the absence of the full context of his conversation, are guilty of taking his quotes out of context?

There used to be a saying that what goes around comes around. To suggest that the USA has never done anything that would warrant something negative coming back around to it is simply delusional. Even ex president Clinton, not long after the incidents of 911, came out and said something to the effect that due to our history of slavery and other things…this event happened. Do you all remember that?

I felt nothing one way or the other after 911. There are people who die around the world every day…some as the consequence of our governments policies and actions. I do place premiums on lives based upon their nationality…but most Americans do…especially those who consider themselves to be conservatives. When Timothy Mcvey blew up the Federal building in Oklamhoma…a lot of white anti government types cheered in this nation. I do not doubt that many black people smirked or cheered too, that someone attacked the symbols of white supremacy and wealth... Personally...I was NOT one of them cheering...but I knew it was past due...given that every action eventually produces an opposite reaction

Noah, I agree with you on many levels. Did you even read the last paragraph of my post? I said there was some truth, however deeply hidden in a couple of KRS-One's words.

I never once suggested that America is beyond reproach. In fact, I think I spend a great deal of time around here talking about all the stuff I see wrong with America and us Americans.

The fact still stands that even in reading his rebuttal, it is clear that KRS One is for lack of a ebtter phrase, "on some other stuff". It's been long known that he himself if prone to say "off" things. Count this as one of them.

There is NO excuse for what happened on Sept. 11, period!

KRS is just a communist stuck in the world of September 10. To be honest. he hasn't even moved past the falling of the Berlin Wall.

He is still a communinst who wants to see the US loose to the USSR. Since they are gone, any facist-idealist types will do.

This month it it the Islamofacists, next month it will be the drug cartels. If they are against us, he's for it. This is not my complaint against protestors, it is my complaint aginst those who REALLY hate the US.

From what I've heard, this really makes me want to see "Team America" even more. It's nice to see the self-righteous ridiculed publicly.