KRS-One

KRS-One, born Lawrence Parker in the South Bronx, New York, is one of hip-hop's most influential and outspoken MCs, rapping since the mid-1980s. His name is an acronym for «Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone», reflecting the strongly educational, self-styled «edutainment» philosophy that has run through his entire career.

He first rose to prominence as the frontman of Boogie Down Productions, the group he formed with DJ Scott La Rock. Their 1987 debut «Criminal Minded» is regarded as a foundational record in hip-hop, and the group's answer track «The Bridge Is Over», aimed at Queens rapper MC Shan, remains one of the genre's most famous diss records. After La Rock's death in 1987, KRS-One kept Boogie Down Productions going through several more influential albums before launching a long solo career in 1993.

As a solo artist he scored major hits including «Sound of da Police», «MC's Act Like They Don't Know», and «Step Into a World (Rapture's Delight)», tracks that combined sharp social and political commentary with a commanding, battle-ready delivery. Widely regarded as a father figure of conscious rap and an ambassador for hip-hop culture itself, KRS-One has remained a fixture of the genre across four decades.