KRS-One Threatens Journalist at Stanford Hip Hop Panel

Thursday, March 9, 2006
By: Michael Ivey
Lawrence “KRS-One” Parker this past weekend, during the Know-The-Ledge Hip Hop conference at Stanford University, used a discussion about the difference between hip hop and rap to berate hip hop journalist Adisa Banjoko. “What I wanna do is jump across the table and beat your fuckin ass,” said Parker after Banjoko challenged him to a debate. Tension mounted when, during his opening remarks, Parker said that, as opposed to a rapper, a hip hop artist points out truth on the spot. He proceeded to accuse Banjoko of slandering his name, calling him “a fraud,” “a enemy to our culture,” and even accusing him of being “a FBI agent in disguise.” Banjoko responded by yelling “stop the violence,” a statement made often by Parker in the past. Parker continued, saying “you ain’t thug,” to which Banjoko asked does he have to be? Parker responded, “with me you do. Today you do.” Banjoko then accused Parker of sending him a death threat, a claim Parker denied. He continued calling Banjoko a fraud and undercover agent, and warned, “…and don’t let us be somewhere.” KRS-One maintained that Banjoko had previously slandered his name in public.

Banjoko, who disputes Parker’s claim that his self and others “are hip hop,” because it is simply too large, said, “I’m not hip hop. I’m a black man and I got enough sense to know it. I got enough sense to know I’m a black man in America.” Banjoko claims he has challenged Parker to debate about whether an individual can in fact be hip hop, and said Parker responded with insulting e-mails and personal attacks. In an interview with this site Banjoko said, “I got lots of emails from MCs, DJs, B-boys, from all over the world – many of whom are famous. You know what they said to me? They said, “You are 1000% correct. KRS is on some bullshit, and I’ve been tired of it, but nobody would say anything.” But these cats won’t say it publicly.” Adisa Banjoko’s writing has appeared in XXL, The Source, Vibe, DaveyD.com and other media outlets. He has been invited to lecture on Hip Hop’s connection to eastern philosophy, martial arts, Islamic culture, and African American social issues, at universities such as Harvard, Stanford, U.C. Berkeley, U.C. Santa Cruz and San Francisco State.

With their debut, Criminal Minded (1987), Lawrence “KRS-One” Parker and the late DJ Scott La Rock cemented Boogie Down Productions as one of the most influential hip hop labels in history. Parker was one of the first emcees to combine hard core street lyrics with socially conscious messages. After La Rock was killed in 1987, Parker changed from “The Blastmaster” to “The Teacha.” He helped lead the “Stop the Violence” movement in hip hop with a song called “Self Destruction.” Lawrence “KRS-One” Parker also works as a hip hop lecturer. He is the author of eleven solo albums and a book entitled Ruminations.