Sneak Attack

Reviewed by:
David Peisner

From his days as the voice of the groundbreaking Boogie Down Productions, KRS-One has always taken himself very seriously. It’s been his greatest asset and a thorn in his side; he was a pioneer of both gangsta-rap and more heady, socially conscious rap, but he’s often been accused of being humorless and pretentious. His latest, Sneak Attack can be labeled as both, but neither charge diminishes its power, which, at times, is simply undeniable. KRS may be a philosopher, but on furious tracks like “Why” and the reggae-tinged “What Kinda World,” the inner city blues clearly make him wanna holler. “Hot” is a scathing indictment of commercial hip-hop that holds up to his strongest blasts with Boogie Down Productions. Fans of Busta Rhymes’ wild style and thinking-man’s beats would be well-advised to dig in and discover the guy he copped them from.

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