KRS-One [click here] recently made an appearance at the PowerHouse Book Expo in Brooklyn where he announced his upcoming book, The Gospel of Hip Hop. Although the book is not set for release until later on this year, those who attended the event received a pamphlet version of it.
According to BrooklynTheBorough.com, the rapper shared with the audience his views on what Hip Hop was in the past, what it has become, and what its purpose is in the larger framework of society.
He said, “Hip Hop is recession proof. Here we are, the whole world is going crazy and we’re still spending money on jewelry; could be stupidity, too. But I mention this to you because, ladies and gentlemen, the world is changing around you. Hip Hop – what we saw in the 1970s and 1980s – no longer exists. Hannah Montana is Hip Hop; Britney spears just did a mixtape. Don’t laugh, this is real.”
KRS-One, whose gospel is drawn from his experiences in the Hip Hop game, explained how Hip Hop can be used in positive ways despite the media’s negative portrayal of the genre.
“You can actually be a deejay and wind up in Hong Kong, China getting $10,000 for twenty minutes. You can actually be a graffiti writer, end up in France somewhere selling your pieces for $20,000 a pop. This is what Hip Hop is experiencing today. But the mass media is just letting you know two things: Hip Hop is about bitches, hoes and niggas. And the whole music industry has collapsed. Damn. Not much left for the kids, is there?“
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The Gospel of Hip Hop will release this fall. To read a complete transcript of KRS-One‘s appearance, click here.
