csberry

Before Public Enemy and gangsta rap, there was BDP. Criminal Minded is notable for both its "conscious" rapping (not necessarily political, but using rap as journalism from the street) and for the beef the album promoted between BDP and MC Shan and other Queensbridge rappers. The samples are funky punches in the gut. The lyrics mention gun fights, crack, and prostitution. KRS-One's boasting of his emcee skills isn't in the silly vein of rappers just a few years before. You get a feeling he's backing up his skills with armed force.

But this isn't a couple of thugs trying out rap. "Poetry" is a great demonstration of KRS-One's rhyming and delivery. Although, at this time, I have a hard time hearing KRS-One without envisioning him delivering these lines with a smile on his face. At the time, however, this was rough stuff.

Songs I knew I liked: "South Bronx"

Songs I didn't know but now like: "Poetry," "9mm Goes Bang," "Dope Beat," "The Bridge is Over," "Super-Hoe," and the frequently sampled "Criminal Minded"

Songs I can go the rest of my life without hearing again: None in particular.