Two weeks ago the blastmaster, the teacher, and one of the greatest emcees of all-time, KRS One dropped his 11th LP (excluding his live album & greatest hits). The album entitled “Spiritual Minded” represents KRS coming full circle from his debut album, entitled “Criminal Minded.” While KRS was just as conscious and concerned about hip hop culture back then, his frustration and anger has gave way to understanding and wisdom. No other emcee has ever preached their message quick like KRS, he proved this when “Spiritual Minded” landed number one on the Gospel charts. While it certainly does not sound like your run of the mill Gospel album (cause for the mill, he don’t run), the message isn’t any less spiritual than the others on the chart.
It is really a shame that people turn on award shoes and see hip hop represented by people like Ja Rule and Nelly and develop their stereotypes based on that. Meanwhile, KRS One, who could change the lives of a lot of young people with his message, has a platform that is only a fraction of multi-platinum artists. Like he says on his album, “See how they shuttin’ out KRS One? Cause I’m not sexy, thuggin,’ or dumb.” There is one line on the album that really sums it all up though, “many say they’d like to see a better day, but when the conscious album drops they all jet away.”