What does Survival Skills sound like?

A gritty exploration of survival and resilience, blending sharp lyricism with classic boom bap beats. Rooted in hardcore hip-hop and East Coast hip-hop. Start with "Survival Skills".

Is Survival Skills a good place to start with KRS-One?

Yes, Survival Skills is recommended as a starting point for new KRS-One listeners. A gritty exploration of survival and resilience, blending sharp lyricism with classic boom bap beats. By 2009, KRS-One was a seasoned veteran in hip-hop, having released several influential albums since his debut in the late 1980s. 'Survival Skills' marked his collaboration with Buckshot, signaling a creative partnership that aimed to reassert their relevance in the evolving hip-hop landscape.

Who is Survival Skills for?

Survival Skills works well if you're into steady, consistent energy levels, reflective, thought-provoking themes and mid-tempo groove for focus.

How many songs are on Survival Skills?

Survival Skills has 14 tracks, running approximately 56 minutes.

Survival Skills

KRS-One · 2009

56 min · 14 tracks · hardcore hip-hop

A gritty exploration of survival and resilience, blending sharp lyricism with classic boom bap beats.

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Top tracks — play these first

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Survival Skills Start here — The title track serves as a manifesto for navigating struggles in life, featuring KRS-One's signature assertive delivery and thought-provoking insights.
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Clean Up Crew — This track exemplifies the album's theme of reclaiming hip-hop's roots, with sharp verses addressing authenticity and community responsibility.
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Runnin Away — With its reflective tone, this track delves into personal challenges and societal issues, showcasing KRS-One's ability to weave storytelling with social critique.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

58 /100

Treeline

Higher than 49% of albums we've rated

The album showcases strong lyricism and production but has some uneven pacing across its length.

What we noticed

The first three tracks establish a consistent mid-tempo pace, while the following tracks introduce varied rhythms and lyrical themes.
KRS-One's verses often feature internal rhymes and complex wordplay, with Buckshot providing contrasting vocal styles on several tracks.
The album includes multiple tracks that incorporate samples from classic hip-hop records, grounding its sound in the genre's roots.

Composition 25% of the score: 7/10
Craft 20% of the score: 8/10
Durability 25% of the score: 6/10
Distinctiveness 18% of the score: 7/10
Sequencing 12% of the score: 5/10

Influence 4/10

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

steady, consistent energy levels
reflective, thought-provoking themes
mid-tempo groove for focus
immersive listening sessions

Where this album fits

In the catalog: Fan Favorite — Beloved for its introspective themes and strong production, appealing to dedicated fans.
Themes: community responsibility· hip-hop authenticity
Career context: By 2009, KRS-One was a seasoned veteran in hip-hop, having released several influential albums since his debut in the late 1980s. 'Survival Skills' marked his collaboration with Buckshot, signaling a creative partnership that aimed to reassert their relevance in the evolving hip-hop landscape.
Stylistic neighbors: Nas· Rakim· Public Enemy