Hip Hop was born in the Bronx, and last night Hip Hop legend and self proclaimed “teacha” KRS-ONE paid homage to Hip Hop’s geographic center with a show at Crotona Park. It was a relaxed and joyous show with a crowd that consisted primarily of avid (some aging) Hip Hop fans who had followed KRS throughout his career. The audience clapped loudly as KRS walked on stage accompanied by hype man Busy B. “This is my new album. Make sure everyone gets them in the front row,” he said, as he and Busy B wildly tossed copies to the jubilant crowd. KRS began a freestyle then transitioned into brief versions of BX borough anthems “Bridge is over” and “South Bronx” before launching into “Sound of Da Police,” with the crowd rhyming in unison.. “Hip Hop started right here,” boomed KRS as he performed a rapid fire set, interspersed freestyles with album material and paused to recount his first experiences with the music as well his time in the Bronx as a temporarily homeless, starving artist.

It was an outdoor venue situated in a grassy field of Crotona park and the sound system was probably one of the worst I have heard; it was both quiet, and constantly feeding back at inopportune moments, but imperfect equipment did little to slow KRS. last night. “Real Hip Hop is over here” he proclaimed, pointing to the juiced crowd. A common theme in KRS ONE’s more recent music is his lamentation over the commercialization of Hip Hop. “You are not looking at a rapper. You are looking at an emcee,” he declared at one point. KRS’ philosophizing on the definitions of Hip hop terminology can sometimes border on dogmatic, but last night he wisely accorded little time to definitions kicking a positive set that included songs like “You Must Learn.” At one point KRS rapped a karaoke style cover of Biggie’s “Gimme the Loot” as the crowd followed suit. KRS performed until the park went into quiet hours turning to the crowd he said “Knowledge Reigns Supreme. Peace,” before leaving the stage.