Thursday, October 02, 2003  
Feedback
 Clubs TonightHot TixBand GuideMP3sBest Music PollGuide to SummerThe Best 
 Clubs By Night | Club Directory | Bands in Town | Concerts: Classical - Pop | Hot Links | Review Archive |  
Home
Listings
Editors' Picks
New This Week
News and Features

Art
Astrology
Books
Dance
Food & Drink
Movies
Music
Television
Theater

Archives
Letters

Classifieds
Personals
Adult
Stuff at Night
The Providence Phoenix
The Portland Phoenix
FNX Radio Network

 
  E-Mail This Article to a Friend
 

KRS-One
KRISTYLES
BY CHRIS CONTI
Stars graphics

"Turn the radio off. . . . In five years your whole catalogue is irrelevant," hip-hop veteran KRS-One bellows and seethes on "Gunnen Em Down," by far the hardest-hitting track on Kristyles, his fourth release since making a comeback on 2001’s The Sneak Attack. It’s been almost two decades since the South Bronx rapper, whose given name is Kris Parker, emerged as one of the most commanding voices in underground hip-hop as the leader of the group Boogie Down Productions, and he’s still aiming lyrical barbs at mainstream rap stars.

Unfortunately, the rest of the album is plagued by weak hooks and lame beats. Parker’s booming baritone hasn’t lost any of its power, and he sounds as confident as he did 17 years ago. He’s even got original BDP producer Kenny Parker (his older brother) on board providing the beats for "Alright with Me," along with the Beatminerz, whose skillful production bolsters a handful of tracks. But you have to dig through too much preachy posturing and bragging to get to the slick metaphors that were once Parker’s stock in trade. And the likes of "Survivin’," which loops the Brand Nubian classic "All for One" into a strong backing track, are few and far between. There are moments of the old KRS-One brilliance here on Kristyles — just enough to save the disc from falling flat — but overall it’s as inconsistent as the kind of albums he levels in "Gunnen Em Down."


Issue Date: August 29 - September 4, 2003
Back to the Music table of contents
  E-Mail This Article to a Friend


I am Seeking
Zip/Postal code








about the phoenix |  find the phoenix |  advertising info |  privacy policy |  the masthead |  feedback |  work for us

 © 2000 - 2003 Phoenix Media Communications Group