KRS-One
'Hip-Hop Lives'
Searching for new magic with his legendary '80s rival.
Twenty years after the South Bronx/Queensbridge throwdown, KRS-One and Marley Marl have squashed their beef; but the results are cause for only quiet celebration. The fortysomething MC still has his fastball -- both the title track and "Nothin' New" showcase provocative lyrics, original flows, and uninhibited enthusiasm. The production is another story: Marley Marl provides mostly gloomy backdrops hampered by lackadaisical crate-digging (or flat-out biting). For example, "All School" knocks, but it's only been three years since Ghostface's "Run," which used the same frantic beat to much more dramatic effect.
KRS-One - "Kill a Rapper" WINDOWS MEDIA
KRS-One - "Hip-Hop Lives (I Come Back)" WINDOWS MEDIA
