KRS-One delivers a Sneak Attack to commercialism which puts New York to shame...
Written: Sep 11 '03 (Updated Oct 28 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Intelligent, Powerful Lyrics from the teacher, Some Dope Beats, Introspection, Knowledge, and Anti-Commercialism
Cons: Some weak production moments
The Bottom Line: Kris is loaded with intelligence and knowledge on The Sneak Attack. This veteran and hip-hop pioneer once agian drops yet another dope album for true heads, not idiotic commercial fans.
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| bigd99999's Full Review: The Sneak Attack by KRS-One |
Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone....
That is the acronym for one known as KRS-One. KRS-One is one of the founding fathers and pioneers of hip-hop music, and arguably the greatest rapper alive. His knowledge and creative intelligence has inspired nearly every single artist that you see out there right now (besides the sell-outs) since the late 80s era of Boogie Down Productions. In an age where commercial rap is now taking over everything around us, its good to see that the teacher himself KRS-One is still around and heard. Concerned about the current state of mainstream hip-hop, KRS-One returns in 2001 to drop The Sneak Attack, a blatant attack to commercial rap, showing that the teacher is taking our side: The underground...
Track List & Rating
1. Intro (NOT RATED)
2. Ghetto Lifestyles (4 Stars)
3. Attendance (5 Stars)
4. Hot (5 Stars)
5. Why (5 Stars)
6. Doth Thou Know (4 Stars)
7. The Lessin f/ April S. Williams (5 Stars)
8. The Mind (4 Stars)
9. Hip Hop Knowledge (5 Stars)
10. What Kinda World (4 Stars)
11. I Will Make It f/ The Hezekiah Walker Choir (4 Stars)
12. B Side Intro (NOT RATED)
13. Get Your Self Up (4 Stars)
14. Krush Them (5 Stars)
15. Hush f/ Nyce (5 Stars)
16. The Sneak Attack f/ April S. Williams (4 Stars)
17. Shutupayouface (5 Stars)
18. False Pride (4 Stars)
19. The Raptism f/ The Hezekiah Walker Choir (5 Stars)
The first actual full song on The Sneak Attack is the excellent "Attendance". On this track, KRS-One preaches about his extreme importance to hip-hop music. He goes back to the early days, explaining that it was Boogie Down Productions and himself were the original innovators, and that all of these new rappers and emcees are just wanna-be's and copiers. KRS-One reaches out to the truest hip-hop fans and backpackers, showing them exactly what hip-hop is, with an on-point flow, excellent vocabulary, and some amazing punches over some unique production featuring thumping bass and some synthesizers. "I'm the teacher, but you still can't see, cause while you respect Tupac, Tupac respected me". That line says it all...
The next highlight is the incredible "Hot". Featuring an amazing Redman sample backed up by some epic violins, banging drums and bass, giving it an epic feel. KRS-One turns up his delivery a bit to sound a lot angrier, while still dropping knowledge. This is one of my favorite KRS-One songs because not only does he spit his signature braggadiocio, but he also seemingly destroys commercial rap in every way. His well-written punchlines and intelligent statements are all factual, and he hits commercial, materialistic rap extremely hard. KRS-One definetely retakes his throne with this one. Some of my favorite lines: "I don't even sound like the rest of you kiddies, I study the ways of God, you studyin titties and a**, I pity your class, Cause you come out with a blast, But you're trash, so you really don't last".
KRS-One goes back to dropping intelligence and knowledge on "Why", an undisputed classic. KRS-One unleashes his brain all over the track, questioning seemingly every single thing that is wrong with the world around him. He goes against the law, government, education, and even misunderstood people. KRS-One shows off his true wisdom and intelligence while still keeping the track as a complete banger. KRS-One spits with an unbelievable confidence in him, using an incredible multi-syllable flow, vocabulary, and a hard hitting delivery. The opening lines say it all: "The mind, they usin until it's time they doin a rhyme, will ruin what you doin if you crime pursuin, Let me tell you bout gettin your family out the mean ghetto, to green meadows, where you can finally be settled, That street level, freak level, pullin out heat level, Eatin meat level, deceit level, that's that beast level, You gotta stand upright in a house with three levels, Where you don't even see devils"
"The Lessin" finds KRS-One collaborating with April S. Williams providing the hook for KRS-One to attack commercial rappers themselves on this track. KRS-One pokes fun at the hypocritism showcased in commercial rappers, saying that everything that they currently do he has done, and done better than them and done it years ago. Besides that, he also attacks the materialistic nature of their lyrics. Check out these lines: "Time to get it, now you did it, tryin to spit it, You don't fit it, ask the critics, already did it, skipped the gimmicks, I don't mimic, metaphysics, you'll admit it, better to live it, better to give it, so I spit it every minute so you get it". "The Mind" is the same idea, as he continues to destroy commercialism again.
If you still are not absolutely convinced that KRS-One is one of the greatest, if not, THE greatest rapper of all time, then listen to "Hip Hop Knowledge" and shut the f*ck up. KRS-One actually switched to a fast rapping, triple-cadence flow, which is something i had NO CLUE Kris was capable of until listebning to this. Featuring some melodic production with violins, KRS-One drops knowledge about the history of hip-hop going throughout the years since the late 80s and the 90s, as he storytells everything that happened during those days as he examines the change in the mainstream and the way hip-hop was accepted by the public. After the song, KRS-One gives us a VERY eye-opening speech on the very essense and lifestyle of hip-hop. For heads and fans who dont know the essense, LISTEN to this.
Skipping ahead through The Sneak Attack we find a lot of dope tracks, and the next highlight, which is "Krush Them". KRS-One decides to separate commercial sell-out emcees from underground emcees, basically separating sides. KRS cleverly combines anti-commercial sentiments with knowledge and braggadiocio, showcasing an amazing display of vocabulary and venomous punches. KRS-One explains the very differences between the mentality of a sell-out rapper and an underground rapper, explaining that the underground thirsts for knowledge and intelligence while the commercial rappers care only about a platinum plaque and their own selfish gain, hence proving that they are not true hip-hop.
"Hush" continues at the same pace. This time over more epic production with violins and thumping drums, KRS-One battles commercial sell-outs harshly, dropping venomous lines towards so-called "thugs", eliminating all of their credibility with his powerful lines. His lyrics, as expected, are well-written and loaded with intelligence.
When it comes to subject matter and lyrics, "Shutupayouface" could very well have been pulled from one of those many classic Boogie Down Productions albums. However, production-wise, there is a huge difference. Featuring some very dark, melancholy, yet head-bobbing and beautiful production loaded with a melancholy piano loop and violins, along with thumping bass, its very different than most of KRS-One's work, but perfect nonetheless. Lyrically, the leader of BDP shines once again, as he spits his clever mix of braggadiocio and street poetry, which is what he's been doing for years. Its amazing that a veteran like KRS-One still has the ability to be fresh and innovative, as well as not go down in skill level, even over a decade after his debut in rap music.
The Sneak Attack ends with "The Raptism", which is a perfect knowledgable close to the album. Featuring some incredible harmonizing in the background by The Hezekiah Walker Choir, along with some mafiosio guitar plucks, drums, and tambourines, giving the track a very atmospheric feel to it. KRS drops knowledge about the history of hip-hop, dropping some ill battle lines, summing up the whole message that he has been trying to say since the onset of this album: "Time for spiritual activism, life is a journey and Kris got the map with him, Teach latinos and blacks with 'em, It's amazing when whites and asians kick raps with 'em, Cause out of a thousand MC's, believe I taught half of 'em, Knowledge Reigns Supreme... I beam through many images, My origin is a mystery like capstones on pyramids".
Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone is definetely true when trying to categorize and identify with The Sneak Attack. KRS-One proves that he is the closest yet to being a perfect emcee, with everything from a sheer love of the hip-hop lifestyle, to introspection, to intelligence, to dope lyricism, as he proves that he is not just doing hip-hop, but that he IS hip-hop. This is an excellent addition to any one's BDP collection, or for that matter musical collection period, specially for hip-hop fans. For heads out there, i highly suggest you also BECOME hip-hop, as i have, and buy this album...
4 Stars
Recommended:
Yes
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bigd99999
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Location: Tampa, FL
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Niggas wanna be the King but the Ace is back...
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