KRS-One — I Got Next

Third solo album by KRS-One, rapper from the Bronx, former member of Boogie Down Productions. The MC of New York is primarily responsible for the rhythms, creating two thirds of the total set, the rest is provided by "Commissioner Gordon" Williams, Showbiz, DJ Muggs, Domingo, Jesse West, DJ Cipher and Thembisa. The guests are Angie Martinez, Redman, Puff Daddy, Mic Vandalz and Thor-El.

The music is simple minimal East Coast boom bap, with a hard midtempo drums and some well positioned samples: in fact, it's one of the few albums, and practically his last, in which there are several excellent samples that get an important role in the constitution of the beats. Lyrically, Kris Parker is anchored in the past and engages in braggadocio, conscious, a little preaching themes, without particular innovations.

On his third solo LP, KRS-One boasts some of his best flows ever, he's powerful, smoothness, confident, sometimes dope, and in several tracks he runs in an extraordinary way, sometimes delivering bars with a style closer to the ragga. The union of a very good rapping and a competent production, allows him to realize some of his top songs, including the two singles "Step Into a World (Rapture's Delight)", where the singer Keva pays homage to the song "Rapture" by Debbie Harry, and "A Friend". There are few uncertainties and no weak moments on this LP, which maintains an enviable quality and shows some half stumbling only when the final hard rock track "Just to Prove a Point" arrives. The disc features 19 tracks and 52 minutes of material, it's a robust and cohesive product, flooded with skits and interludes that compromise its smoothness, and in an illegal way, the rapper manages to put three in a row in the central section.

Published by Jive Records, it becomes the biggest commercial success in KRS-One's career: it's third on the Billboard 200, second among rap records and also sells many copies in the European market. It became his only RIAA gold certified solo album (in two months), and later went gold in Canada as well. The singles get good airplay and are some of the last to enter the charts. It's positively received by critics and stands up to reviewers' views in retrospect, from which it's considered the last good album of his long career in the rap game, albeit not great as the two previous CDs: up to now, KRS-One boasts one of the best discographies in hip-hop, eight discs (five with Boogie Down Productions) all excellent, over half masterpieces. From here, the legendary South Bronx rapper takes a long four-year hiatus, steps away from mainstream rap, ends his deal with the Jive and approaches retirement. 7.5/10.