KRS-One was noticeably absent from the Grammy Academy’s most recent Hip Hip 50 show – and that was very intentional.
In a new interview published on Tuesday (December 12), the legendary MC explained he turned down a personal invite from LL COOL J himself as he feels the Grammys hadn’t shown love to the culture until Hip Hop 50 celebrations began.
“I was asked about two months ago; they asked me to do it and I turned them down,” he said. “With all due respect, LL COOL J himself called me, spoke to my wife and pretty much begged for me to be on the show but we turned him down. And reason being is because I know people don’t understand this — and I say this respectfully. KRS-One is a Hip Hop extremist. I’m not violent, a violent extremist. I’m insane with this culture. I know I must have lost my mind in this.”
He continued: “I don’t fight it, I don’t apologize for it. I recognize that my experience in this thing called Hip Hop is different from mostly everybody else’s experience with Hip Hop. […] I restrict myself in a certain way, because I know who I am in this culture. You’re in the temple of Hip Hop, this is our home. This place, this institution can never side with, come under, understand the exploitation of our culture. Never will you ever see me standing in the environment where our culture is being exploited.
“So when I got the call, I immediately said nah. First of all, it’s the Grammys? You get no respect here. None. Now we respect your existence, we know you exist. And we know that you’re the Grammys and we understand that and we respect that. But you ignored Hip Hop for 49 years. At the 50th year, you wanna call us? You couldn’t even call on 47 and gear it up to 50. You wait to the 50th year to call Hip Hop’s authentic teacha? Nah, you don’t get that privilege.”
You can check out the interview below:
Pete Rock reposted KRS’ comments, adding: “Some of yall aint gon like this. What burns me is to hear people say how good this show was lol. Not when you missed 60% of major artist and producers and DJ’s,thats not a complete hip hop 50 show. You know what? smh go siddown or sum. i know Real Historians did not appreciate what they saw if they even saw it.”
Nikki D also reshaped the clip, writing: “Stop playing with #HIPHOP it’s a culture not a rapper! @teacha_krsone I LOVE YOU!! You always respectfully put things in perspective! #Thisishiphop #Krsone #grammys #scammys2023”
On Sunday (December 10), ‘A Grammy Salute to 50 Years of Hip Hop’ featured, among others, Queen Latifah, Common, Public Enemy, Rakim, Doug E. Fresh, MC Lyte, Rick Ross, Jeezy, Jermaine Dupri, YG, Too Short, E-40, De La Soul, Akon, Black Thought, Nelly, Gunna and Chance The Rapper.
It was capped off by a reunion of DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, who performed a medley of group and Will Smith solo hits including “Brand New Funk,” “Miami,” “Summertime,” and the theme to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Along with KRS-One, MC Hammer apparently declined to appear as well, according to executive producer Questlove.
The same day the event was aired on television, the Roots drummer answered questions about the show on X/Twitter.
Of all the people who said no to being a part of the TV special, Quest said that Hammer‘s response “hurt the most.” “We begged him to open,” Quest explained. “We really wanted him to have his flowers.”
HI, HAPPY HOLIDAYS, I FEEL THE SAME WAY THANK GOD IT’S NOT JUST ME THINKING THE SAME WAY KRS-ONE N MC HAMMER I AGREE WITH YOU GOD BLESS YOU, YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE IN LIFE PEACE( OH YEA FAKE PEOPLE I LOVE IT THE TRUTH)
KRS One is still stuck in 1987. Let it go! That is like saying “in my day we didn’t have mobile phones…we only used phones with cords and rotary dial. That is a real telephone.” Hip hop evolved like any other industry. KRS One sounds bitter. Be happy hip hop is now a billion dollar industry that is way more than a DJ and graffiti. If that is the case then remove all of your music from streaming since you are so pure to the culture. Don’t pick and choose what you want to attack about hip hop when KRS One himself is benefiting from technology innovation to bring him better exposure. Stop it!
I agree. I’m no fan of the Grammys, let’s get that clear but he’s acting like hip hop hasn’t been apart of the Grammys before. That’s ignorant. They may not cater to your likings and make the whole show hip hop and hip hop only celebrating everyone down to the fucking people who made the mixing table they’re working on. It doesn’t happen like that. It’s common sense. They’re only going to bring the legends just like the Oscars only celebrates the actors and a small number of other participants that work on films. KRS1 wants them to do it his way and his way only. Also, he isn’t as smart as he thinks he is. Wise either. He knows a lot because he’s been alive a long time but that means jack shit when you’re an ignorant person with ignorant beliefs. Your wisdom is garbage juice, KRS1. You’re old as fuck. Live out your days and shut the fuck up.
You kids have no idea
“You kids have no idea” proves exactly they’re point lol.
Just goes to show how you don’t know JACK SHIT about Hip Hop culture. Better yet you don’t understand the premise of foundation…
He’s is more than aware of Hip Hop’s evolutions, but he is specific as to if the changes are part of the core foundation, as with anything with a purpose you always acknowledge its “core”.
Your disposable perspective is typical of one who talks loosely and tries to make some of the bullshit in the industry count as progress.
For what ever value you see in your comments, we see dollar store bullshit…
Damn you dumb as fuck…
If you had any ounce of brain activity in your statement you’d realize that those that participated in the Oscars wasn’t fully embracing the original premise of hip hop which was ALREADY DEFINED before any of those rappers had a career, and the agreed to definitions of Hip Hop was already agreed upon and lived by those who were around before you were born and maintained by many in this generation who know much more than your goofy, trying to be relevant ass….
Nah, JUST YOU, WASHED UP PEDO APOLOGIST!
KRS is right. The Grammy’s based on sales, not on talent or art. Peace to the Teacher.
Peace to the teacher who defends molesters like afrika boombatty lol. He ain’t no teacher he just a dusty musician. Real teachers are parents, teachers in school and professors not musicians. Get ur head outta your ass
That’s all award shows. Hell, the Oscar’s won’t even consider giving out awards to movies that don’t have enough racial diversity quotas met in them.
This statement would carry more weight if the last 2 best pictures weren’t Nomadland and CODA.
That’s sad you actually know what stuff receives awards lol. Anyone who can just name any actor or movie or award is a media slave.
You can’t please everybody. Kris is certainly entitled to his opinion, and I get that the Grammy’s certainly have a rocky relationship with hip hop (namely the nominees and winners they’ve chosen. Ex. Diddy winning over Biggie and Wu-Tang, ex 2. people like Iggy Azaelia, Flo-Rida, DJ Khalid, or Skee-Lo ever being nominated). That said, it’s not the first time they’ve put a spotlight on hip hop, and it’s kinda of a backhanded insult to those that did agree to perform… Is Rakim less hip hop now to Kris for accepting the invite? Does this change De La’s legacy in his eyes? He may arguably be the best live performer I’ve ever seen (seriously, his show is unreal… and he was super nice when we ran into him afterwards at a restaurant), but far too often he comes across as the old man yelling at the clouds.
I don’t think KRS cares about the performers he offended here. Based on what he said they should be offended.
You’re saying that because you don’t shit about him, the culture, or the dynamics within that culture. People who make comments like you are ignorant within the realm of your own understanding of things, in other words foolish opinions that you hope other dull minded people will catch on to…
GTFOH
If he’s so hip hop. TELL HIS ASS TO CALL OUT THE NEW AGE GATE KEEPER THAT INTRODUCED HIPHOP TO SATAN (JAY Z).
Do that or stfu!
Kanye west and Jay Z each have over 20 Grammys. What is this washed up weirdo talking about?
Hip-Hop industry needs to create their own version of the Grammys and stop depending on the Grammys to recognize them, the Grammys are in a league of their own…white actors, actresses and white movies. Take lead Hip-Hop!
The hip hop culture and era that krs want is long gone. He must understand that many popular rappers today weren’t even born during hip hop’s early culture phase. Rap music is regional now and means different things across the globe. There isn’t anything wrong with that. I hope krs and other early generation rappers can understand that there is enough rap music for everyone. Hip hop is global and not just hijacked by New York culture. There is nothing wrong with the Grammys showcasing hip hop as it has done countless times. Krs is incorrect that the Grammys waited 49 years to properly recognize hip hop.
More black on black BS. There was absolutely nothing wrong with this 50th Anniversary celebration. KRS ONE was, at one time, my favorite MC, but he’s no longer a teacher, just an egotist. He could have just said no, and kept it moving, instead of being a d—- about it. Especially when his claim about the Grammy’s is easily disproven.
He gave his opinion and stood by it. He didn’t perform. That’s one hell of a decision. To be asked to perform with his status in hip hop history and choose not to. I didn’t know about the performance but I’ll hit YouTube.
KRS you couldn’t perform in the shower in your own home, glad you said NO. You’re a slave to your habits. You will never evolve or be enlightened. Bye bye KRS-Zero
KRS you couldn’t perform in the shower in your own home, glad you said NO. You’re a slave to your habits. You will never evolve or be enlightened. Bye bye KRS-Zero