05/29/07 - KRS-One & Marley Marl - Hip Hop Lives(HHDX review)

YounG AleX · 05-29-2007, 07:26 AM

Hip hop these days really isn't much different than a Happy Meal; cheaply manufactured, mass-produced, no nutrition, childish, full of gimmicks and unsatisfying, fake beef. 20 years ago, before the game became likened to the Golden Arches, Hip hop's beef was slow cooked and left you drooling for more. In those days, if you tried to sit at the table with KRS One, you got ate.

Make no mistake about it, the reason for the verbal fist fights really weren't any different than they are today; trying to take the spot of those above you. People like to think it was more pure back then, hell no! It was just up and comers trying to get on...only difference was they actually meant something. Reputations were at stake, careers were on the line.

In 1986, when Queensbridge's MC Shan and Marley Marl made The Bridge, they were just making a song about their hood. KRS knew that, but he saw his opportunity to get on and the legendary Juice Crew/BDP battle began after he attacked with South Bronx. After the Blastmaster destroyed'em with The Bridge Is Over, KRS was a star and Shan faded into relative obscurity.

Two decades later KRS has teamed up with Marley, the man who he once claimed was gay, out of touch, and a shitty DJ. The gem of the album is without question Rising To The Top, an autobiographical joint in the vein ofKris’ classic Outta Here. Marley flips the same sample Pete Rock used for The Game and laces it with some of that ol’ boom bap while KRS details his come up some 20 years ago with the help of MC Shan and Marley; “spittin’ rhymes over the radio set/these are the days and the ways I could never forget/so I don’t forget it, to Marley and Shan I am indebted/for the start of my career these guys can take credit/for my rappin’, the whole battle they let it happen/Marley and Shan and Shante coulda been gun strappin’/cousin, but they wasn’t/you know why? Cause they was on some real hip hop…let’s keep it buzzin’”

The Teachas Back is more vintage hip hop with both men rocking at their best. KRS caps the song off with another lesson; “on my block, women get respect and trust/cause when you dissin’ a woman, you dissin’ her fetus/and dissin’ our unborn children will defeat us/I’m not an elitist, I just know the world need us.” DJ Premier joins the duo (drool here), and adds his incomparable cuts to The Victory that also has QB’s Blaq Poet joining Kris on the mic. It’s sounds as good as it looks on paper. All Skool is another ridiculous banger, only let down a bit by the fact that Marley flips another familiar sample - last heard in Ghost’s Run - but truthfully, Marley’s trump’s the RZA’s.

The one and only Chief Rocker Busy Bee Starski comes through to pay tribute to Marley’s legendary studio the House of Hits in another great history lesson. School is indeed in session for much of the album as KRS never really stops dropping the knowledge he is so famous for. Unfortunately, not everything is done as well as Kill A Rapper or the title track. I Was There has KRS letting everyone know he has been there and seen it all, the concept is great…the execution? Horrible. KRS has probably done more concept rhymes than anyone else, and they are usually unbelievable. I don’t know what he was thinking with this one. Another track that isn’t up to par with the rest of the LP is Over 30. It isn’t terrible, just doesn’t really come together.

Both are arguably the best and most influential artists at their respective crafts. Unfortunately, they are both - with all due respect - past their primes. If KRS and Marley had teamed up 15 or 20 years ago most people would be expecting an album that could be the greatest of all-time. Now, I was just expecting something great, and that is exactly what they delivered. When our legends are putting out music this good, this late in their careers, hip hop will be alive for a long time.

source-hiphopdx.com

Vjay88 · 05-29-2007, 08:02 AM

props on this man, but you can bet on one thing, this LP got more knowledge on it than all the albums dropped in 2006 combined

Aceis²FresH. · 05-29-2007, 10:03 AM

Chea........... KRS n Marley Legendz......

dunson23 · 05-29-2007, 01:28 PM

this album will be a classic in the future

We Got It 4 Cheap · 06-01-2007, 02:39 PM

This album is definately the best Hip Hop album in 2007, easily.

Aceis²FresH. · 06-02-2007, 10:44 PM

no............^^^

they're past their prime
n dis was good but not great.........

MaxOne · 06-02-2007, 10:52 PM

I haven't heard it all but everything i've heard was dope! Sounded like the Krs-One of old (ala BDP)...i was feelin' it.

J Dior · 06-03-2007, 12:11 PM

i have only heard "hip hop lives" and that shit is fire

LCFC 21 · 06-03-2007, 03:45 PM

good review

sunhead · 06-12-2007, 04:56 PM

go cop that REAL HIP HOP man i hope marley lives after that heart attack get well soon

MaxOne · 06-12-2007, 04:58 PM

this is good stuff. I wish that more records like this were released.

THA WEATHA MAN · 06-13-2007, 04:37 PM

This album is dope.

05-29-2007, 07:26 AM	#1
YounG AleX AleX iS Like... Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Where haven't we been yet? Posts: 3,195 Repped: 892 Repped 5,210 Times in 714 Posts Neg Reps: 66 Neg Repped at 13 Times in 8 Posts	05/29/07 - KRS-One & Marley Marl - Hip Hop Lives(HHDX review) 05/29/07 - KRS-One & Marley Marl - Hip Hop Lives(HHDX review) Hip hop these days really isn't much different than a Happy Meal; cheaply manufactured, mass-produced, no nutrition, childish, full of gimmicks and unsatisfying, fake beef. 20 years ago, before the game became likened to the Golden Arches, Hip hop's beef was slow cooked and left you drooling for more. In those days, if you tried to sit at the table with KRS One, you got ate. Make no mistake about it, the reason for the verbal fist fights really weren't any different than they are today; trying to take the spot of those above you. People like to think it was more pure back then, hell no! It was just up and comers trying to get on...only difference was they actually meant something. Reputations were at stake, careers were on the line. In 1986, when Queensbridge's MC Shan and Marley Marl made The Bridge, they were just making a song about their hood. KRS knew that, but he saw his opportunity to get on and the legendary Juice Crew/BDP battle began after he attacked with South Bronx. After the Blastmaster destroyed'em with The Bridge Is Over, KRS was a star and Shan faded into relative obscurity. Two decades later KRS has teamed up with Marley, the man who he once claimed was gay, out of touch, and a shitty DJ. The gem of the album is without question Rising To The Top, an autobiographical joint in the vein ofKris’ classic Outta Here. Marley flips the same sample Pete Rock used for The Game and laces it with some of that ol’ boom bap while KRS details his come up some 20 years ago with the help of MC Shan and Marley; “spittin’ rhymes over the radio set/these are the days and the ways I could never forget/so I don’t forget it, to Marley and Shan I am indebted/for the start of my career these guys can take credit/for my rappin’, the whole battle they let it happen/Marley and Shan and Shante coulda been gun strappin’/cousin, but they wasn’t/you know why? Cause they was on some real hip hop…let’s keep it buzzin’” The Teachas Back is more vintage hip hop with both men rocking at their best. KRS caps the song off with another lesson; “on my block, women get respect and trust/cause when you dissin’ a woman, you dissin’ her fetus/and dissin’ our unborn children will defeat us/I’m not an elitist, I just know the world need us.” DJ Premier joins the duo (drool here), and adds his incomparable cuts to The Victory that also has QB’s Blaq Poet joining Kris on the mic. It’s sounds as good as it looks on paper. All Skool is another ridiculous banger, only let down a bit by the fact that Marley flips another familiar sample - last heard in Ghost’s Run - but truthfully, Marley’s trump’s the RZA’s. The one and only Chief Rocker Busy Bee Starski comes through to pay tribute to Marley’s legendary studio the House of Hits in another great history lesson. School is indeed in session for much of the album as KRS never really stops dropping the knowledge he is so famous for. Unfortunately, not everything is done as well as Kill A Rapper or the title track. I Was There has KRS letting everyone know he has been there and seen it all, the concept is great…the execution? Horrible. KRS has probably done more concept rhymes than anyone else, and they are usually unbelievable. I don’t know what he was thinking with this one. Another track that isn’t up to par with the rest of the LP is Over 30. It isn’t terrible, just doesn’t really come together. Both are arguably the best and most influential artists at their respective crafts. Unfortunately, they are both - with all due respect - past their primes. If KRS and Marley had teamed up 15 or 20 years ago most people would be expecting an album that could be the greatest of all-time. Now, I was just expecting something great, and that is exactly what they delivered. When our legends are putting out music this good, this late in their careers, hip hop will be alive for a long time. source-hiphopdx.com __________________ I learned that everybody is not your friend. You have to watch who you associate with and surround yourself with positive things and people who want to do something positive.- Gucci!

05-29-2007, 08:02 AM	#2
Vjay88 VJay - TakeOver Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: NL/UK Posts: 2,396 Repped: 210 Repped 306 Times in 46 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	props on this man, but you can bet on one thing, this LP got more knowledge on it than all the albums dropped in 2006 combined __________________ "Shit I been hated since the 5th Grade Thats why my best friends the treypound, a Icepick and a Switch Blade" - Banks

05-29-2007, 10:03 AM	#3
Aceis²FresH. \|Negate the E-hate.\| Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: └A. Posts: 3,660 Repped: 618 Repped 1,952 Times in 296 Posts Neg Reps: 14 Neg Repped at 6 Times in 6 Posts	Chea........... KRS n Marley Legendz...... __________________

06-01-2007, 02:39 PM	#5
We Got It 4 Cheap Cuuurve Trick Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: On My Block Posts: 812 Repped: 13 Repped 117 Times in 38 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	This album is definately the best Hip Hop album in 2007, easily. __________________ I Can't Front Baby Girl I'm Somethin' To Watch I Asked Her 1 Thing, Girl You Comin' Or Not I Make Scrilla Melt, You Don't Need Killa Help My Doors Are Suicide... Bitch Go Kill Yaself

06-02-2007, 10:44 PM	#6
Aceis²FresH. \|Negate the E-hate.\| Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: └A. Posts: 3,660 Repped: 618 Repped 1,952 Times in 296 Posts Neg Reps: 14 Neg Repped at 6 Times in 6 Posts	no............^^^ they're past their prime n dis was good but not great......... __________________

05-29-2007, 01:28 PM	#4
dunson23 Hip-Hop We Won't Stop Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Hip-Hop Posts: 3,200 Repped: 741 Repped 1,144 Times in 168 Posts Neg Reps: 23 Neg Repped at 12 Times in 11 Posts	this album will be a classic in the future

06-02-2007, 10:52 PM	#7
MaxOne Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 350 Repped: 56 Repped 42 Times in 15 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	I haven't heard it all but everything i've heard was dope! Sounded like the Krs-One of old (ala BDP)...i was feelin' it.

06-03-2007, 12:11 PM	#8
J Dior Burbs Finest Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: The Burbs Posts: 2,124 Repped: 1,075 Repped 492 Times in 116 Posts Neg Reps: 3 Neg Repped at 7 Times in 6 Posts	i have only heard "hip hop lives" and that shit is fire __________________ myspace.com/thisisjdior twitter.com/thisisjdior

06-03-2007, 03:45 PM	#9
LCFC 21 Veteran Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: h Posts: 9,152 Repped: 2,605 Repped 4,139 Times in 608 Posts Neg Reps: 7 Neg Repped at 1 Time in 1 Post	good review

06-12-2007, 04:56 PM	#10
sunhead Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 58 Repped: 11 Repped 0 Times in 0 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	go cop that REAL HIP HOP man i hope marley lives after that heart attack get well soon

06-12-2007, 04:58 PM	#11
MaxOne Join Date: May 2007 Location: San Diego Posts: 350 Repped: 56 Repped 42 Times in 15 Posts Neg Reps: 0 Neg Repped at 0 Times in 0 Posts	this is good stuff. I wish that more records like this were released. __________________ thesyncast.com - myspace.com/nightowls - myspace.com/syntaxrecords - youtube.com/syntaxrecords - syntaxrecords.com - syntaxstudios.com - ************/profile/SyntaxRecords

06-13-2007, 04:37 PM	#12
THA WEATHA MAN Cud Make It Rain Or Snow Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Away From Home Posts: 7,500 Repped: 2,405 Repped 9,888 Times in 685 Posts Neg Reps: 1 Neg Repped at 13 Times in 12 Posts	This album is dope. __________________ "I was taught wise, Im known to extort guys, this aint Cali, its Harlem nigga we do walkbys" -Big L

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