Rap legend visits Auraria
KRS-One describes his dream of founding a city and civilization based
on hip-hop
by N.S. Garcia
The Metropolitan
(Jason Chevarria / The Metropolitan)
KRS-One holds up the documentary “BEEF” as an introduction
to material related to topics he covered in his two hour speech on the
hip-hop way of life, Sept. 2 in the Tivoli Turnhalle.
KRS-One, recognized in the industry as one of the very first hip-hop
artists, shared with Auraria students his dreams of starting a new nation
of hip-hop Thursday Sept. 2.
His two-hour speech touched on politics, his plans to find land, work
with other nations, and establish a community of ‘hiphoppas,’
as well as the history and future of hip-hop, and hip-hop as a way of
life.
“This is a historical day,” KRS said, speaking without a
script. “These are the days we’re finally putting together
what it means to live hip-hop.”
The speech was given in the Tivoli’s Turnhalle. UCD organizers
said about 600 people attended the event sponsored by the university.
The prominently white audience was warm to KRS’ message.
People drifted in and out as the speech progressed.
KRS, who spoke with reporters after he signed autographs for some 75
attendees, clarified that he would like to start with a city of hip-hop
in America and eventually have a ‘new civilization’ in or
outside of America.
“I plan to lead the U.S. in 2006 on a trip into Africa, Europe,
by Iraq and India. This is my life’s work,” he said. “This
nation needs a 51st state.”
KRS said he has spoken with the mayors of Oakland and Detroit. He explained
his city would be built around hip-hop as Las Vegas is built around gambling.
He said he would like an area of 200 acres, or the size of Manhattan,
for the city to build on.
KRS spent a large portion of his speech talking about the upcoming election
and issues important to the hip-hop “kulture.”
He said politicians aren’t speaking about the issues important
to the hip-hop community. Some issues include recognizing hip-hop as a
culture, the education system, and art.
KRS, who advocates change in the political system and cultural identity
of America, said that will only occur when the heart changes.
“We need completely different leadership,” he said talking
about the political parties. “Hip-Hop, that is change.”
One idea that stirred the audience was KRS’ idea on how to change.
He said, “What if nobody voted? Stop; anyone who votes is not patriotic.
Why vote for anyone who doesn’t represent your interest.”
The largest applause came from KRS’ comments on the education system.
He said he’d like “to totally re-organize the present American
educational system.”
“No paper can validate you as a person,” he said. “They’re
developing you for a job, jail, or the military.”
KRS said he’d like to see more ‘edutainment.’ He said
the FCC should work with radio stations and broadcast companies to make
general knowledge a regular fixture in the line-up of programs.
KRS, along with other hiphoppas created a list of seven political issues.
He said the list distributed to the audience was just the surface of some
of the community’s real goals.
Another issue which garnered applause was about the judicial system.
KRS said, “We don’t need more cops on the streets. We need
to know more about the laws of our country than even the police themselves.”
Early in his speech, KRS talked about some of the concerns he had with
hip-hop as an art. He said many critics are worried about the violence
of the culture and he is, too.
“It is self-destruction,” he said. “It can get very
violent, like any culture. A lot of people have lost their lives…”
He also pointed out that the mainstream public cannot decipher between
rap and hip-hop.
“Rap is something we do; hip-hop is something we live,” KRS
said. “Hip-hop is not even music, it’s a conscious attitude,
a way to be.”
KRS gave a ‘101’ lecture on hip-hop and some of the terms
associated with it.
Continuing on the theme that rap and hip-hop are different he said, “Rap
is when you go rhyming on behalf of corporations. MCing is when you rhyme
for culture.”
He said to most hiphoppas they are one in the same. “We have to
balance the two as an artist,” he continued. “We have to deal
with corporate America with our culture. The rapper is sacrificing his
self for the expansion of hip-hop.”
KRS said that no matter what corporate America does, rap may come and
go, but hip-hop will stay strong. “Hip-Hop is real, nothing real
could ever be destroyed.” He said, as an artist, one must realize
that your popularity might last three or four years.
“The real power of any art is the people, as an MC you stay grounded
with the people,” he explained.
Great applause came when KRS said, “Corporate America is not real.
Corporate America gets its power from real capital—the people.”
He continued, “It has no life onto itself, so it must extract the
resources of others.”
He said corporate America is “raping the resources of hip-hop for
its own benefits,” but hiphoppas understand and enter ‘an
agreement’ with corporate America.
KRS shifted gears slightly, saying corporate America has a large hand
in the government’s foreign policy. He said the two are working
together to create fear in the American public.
“The American people don’t have a problem with terrorists.
We don’t need duct tape,” he said. “They (corporate
America) have a problem.”
KRS changed tones from politics to philosophy. He asked the members in
the audience to know their purpose and have the courage to fulfill it.
He explained his purpose was hip-hop and that at 15 years-old he left
home to live on the streets and learn breaking, graffiti, and MCing.
“I didn’t know how bad it was going to be,” he said.
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