Number 42 - Edutainment by Boogie Down Productions

 Number 42: Edutainment by Boogie Down Productions

Class is in session

Release: July 17th, 1990
Genre: Hip-Hop
Favorite Tracks: Edutainment, Blackman in Effect, The Racist

 

Where I heard it: 

For as long as I've actively been listening to hip-hop, one of my most frequented artists has been the blast master KRS-One. Famous for the anti-enforcement anthem Sound of da Police, I quickly gravitated toward his funky beats and complex rap flow. Just about every playlist I listened to during that time managed to sneak in KRS-One to some degree. In 2020, that obsession piqued my curiosity in the production side of KRS-One's early albums - writing credits, samples used, all that. I was surprised to find how often the group Boogie Down Productions was sampled throughout all of his music, so I decided to inquire further on the matter. As it turns out, KRS-One spent an entire career with Boogie Down Productions before going solo in 1993, churning out all of the familiar melodies I came to know from his solo work. Intrigued and slightly embarrassed, I began to educate myself further on the origins of Boogie Down Productions and their place in hip-hop history. I first heard the song Edutainment while camping with friends in late 2020; the bouncing bass caught my attention right away, and I had to know what KRS-One song this was. After learning Edutainment was in fact a Boogie Down Productions song, this incident was the final straw: I had to listen to BDP.

 

 You can't blame the whole white race for slavery
Cause this ain't the case
A large sum of white people died with black
Tryin' hard to fight racial attacks
The media wants you to think that no whites
Really fought and died for civil rights
But once we have a true sense of history
You'll see this too as a mystery
If black and white didn't argue the most
They could clearly see the government's screwin' 'em both
~ The Racist

What to expect:

Although Boogie Down Productions never achieved much commercial success, their music was a catalyst to introducing new ideas in the rap game. Formed by the trio of KRS-One, D-Nice, and Scott La Rock, BDP's breakthrough album Criminal Minded helped the budding art of hip-hop take shape in the late 80's. This would be the only album Scott La Rock contributed his talents to, as he was tragically shot and killed in 1987 in what is considered as the first instance of a rap artist being murdered. In the wake of his passing, BDP's surviving members evolved their content from typically violent natured to narratively driven diatribes over sociopolitical issues. The group's second album By All Means Necessary is regarded for shifting hip-hop into the political paradigm, preceding notable activist groups like Public Enemy and N.W.A. that emerged in the late 80's. By the turn of the decade, KRS-One had earned his moniker of the Teacher for his verbose bars that brought awareness and education to complicated matters. Edutainment continues this tradition for BDP's fourth installment, covering a broad spectrum of topics that include infatuation with material wealth (Love's Gonna Get'cha), shady practices within the meat industry (Beef),`public perception of vagrants (The Homeless), and a particular emphasis on black history going back to ancient times. KRS-One is detailed in breaking down the concept of Afrocentricity across the majority of Edutainment, reinforced by six different 'exhibits' which feature audio from black activist Kwame Toure as well as KRS himself. BDP celebrates their cultural roots starting with their local community of the streets of Brooklyn, paying homage to the high Jamaican population within the borough by integrating reggae influences to songs like 100 Guns and 7 Dee Jays. Edutainment is unlike any other hip-hop album I've ever heard, one that makes the listener question their own moral compass as a result.

 

 We are one: every heart, every lung
So why then was the black man hung?
He was hung by the so-called Christians
That went to church and did not listen
See, Jesus couldn't stand politics
So they nailed him to a crucifix
Then it was that way, today it's a trigger
So why is the Pope such a political figure?
I don't know, but it's really beyond me
But through knowledge, they'll never con me
~ Edutainment

Why it's my favorite: 

With a title like Edutainment, this album certainly lives up to its name. Boogie Down Productions' posse of musicians combine their influences to create unique beats which mix funk, reggae, and hip-hop into a sound that's fresh for 1990, you suckas. KRS-One's commanding presence on the mic demands your attention and calls for action amongst the people. The interludes from Edutainment display the articulation KRS-One speaks with during his monologues. It's mind blowing that he manages to translate his impressive prose into hip-hop vocabulary that resonates with all audiences. I was fortunate enough to see KRS-One at a show in 2019, and he stopped the music about halfway through to go on a thirty minute rant about the future generations' role in continuing the efforts of activists before us. This guy is the real deal when it comes to imparting his wisdom unto the masses. His unwavering passion to deliver thought-provoking music was the heart and soul of Boogie Down Productions, and Edutainment to me is the best example of this mission.