Hip Hop Lives
KRS-One · 2007
54 min · 18 tracks · hardcore hip-hop
A vibrant homage to hip-hop's roots, merging classic boom bap beats with incisive lyrical commentary and KRS-One's signature delivery.
Top tracks — play these first
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Hip Hop Lives — This title track serves as a manifesto for KRS-One's vision of hip-hop, emphasizing its cultural importance and countering commercial dilution with a powerful message.
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Over 30 — In this track, KRS-One reflects on the evolution of hip-hop artists as they age, challenging stereotypes about age and relevance in the music industry.
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Stop the Violence, Part 2 — This sequel to his earlier work revisits the theme of violence within communities, reinforcing KRS-One's long-standing commitment to social justice through his art.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album effectively combines classic elements with contemporary commentary, though its length affects cohesion.
What we noticed
- The album opens with an intro track that sets a thematic tone, followed by a title track that establishes its lyrical focus on hip-hop culture.
- Several tracks feature skits that break up the flow, creating a conversational dynamic and adding context to the themes explored.
- KRS-One's delivery is consistent throughout, employing varied rhythms and cadences that keep the listener engaged across the lengthy tracklist.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- dynamic flow with engaging interludes
- nostalgic reflections on culture
- celebratory vibes for social listening
- lyrical depth for attentive ears
- short tracks for quick engagement
Maybe skip if you
- prefer longer, cohesive pieces
- seek instant gratification tracks
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Late Career Highlight — Revitalizes KRS-One's presence in hip-hop with strong cultural commentary.
- Career context
- Released in 2007, Hip Hop Lives marked KRS-One's return to the forefront of hip-hop after a series of mixed-reception albums in the late 1990s and early 2000s. This album came at a time when the genre was becoming increasingly commercialized, positioning him as a voice of authenticity and conscious thought amidst evolving trends.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Nas· Rakim· Public Enemy
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 It's Alive (intro) 0:40
- 2 Hip Hop Lives 2:52
- 3 Nothing New 3:16
- 4 I Was There 3:47
- 5 Musika 4:05
- 6 Rising TO the Top 3:29
- 7 Over 30 3:52
- 8 M.A.R.L.E.Y. (skit) 1:30
- 9 K*#! A Rapper 2:56
- 10 Thje Teacha's Back 3:41
- 11 The Victory 3:48
- 12 This Is What It Is 3:52
- 13 All Skool 4:05
- 14 House of Hits 4:31
- 15 Intro 0:29
- 16 Stop the Violence, Part 2 2:13
- 17 Strictly Hip Hop 3:02
- 18 The Most Dangerous Emcee 2:08
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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