Arguably the last "good" BDP album before KRS-One took a slight misstep with Sex and Violence (and then had to reinvent himself on Return of the Boom Bap), Edutainment was a classic blend of puffed-chest bravado mixed with... more » socially conscious missives. This multifaceted scope is best reflected in the album's three best-known songs: "Love's Gonna Getcha," an antimaterialist, anticrime narrative; "Ya Know the Rules," a furious rhyme pelting; and "Beef," where KRS lays into the meat industry. Keeping the beats strictly b-boy are producers KRS, Kenny Parker, and others. Even if you're not a BDP completist, this album deserves to be in your collection. --Oliver Wang« less
Arguably the last "good" BDP album before KRS-One took a slight misstep with Sex and Violence (and then had to reinvent himself on Return of the Boom Bap), Edutainment was a classic blend of puffed-chest bravado mixed with socially conscious missives. This multifaceted scope is best reflected in the album's three best-known songs: "Love's Gonna Getcha," an antimaterialist, anticrime narrative; "Ya Know the Rules," a furious rhyme pelting; and "Beef," where KRS lays into the meat industry. Keeping the beats strictly b-boy are producers KRS, Kenny Parker, and others. Even if you're not a BDP completist, this album deserves to be in your collection. --Oliver Wang
"How much is this CD? $15.00? How many college courses can you take for that? None. Edutainment, (Education Through Entertainment) is not only dope hip hop, but is educational. Breaking down the walls of ignorance that the goverment wants us to stay behind, KRS-1 comes with some truly mentally uplifting material on this one. His strong beats and fluidic firey lyrics, make this a true hip hop classic. From the Ruff and hard hitting Hous Ni**a's and You Know The Rules to the smoothness of Love's Gonna Getcha. Edutaiment is 90 minutes of beats, rhymes, and street education. When I say street, I am not referring to gangstr BS, im talking about the street being the one place where what you here is real, and its where to get the real story. Edutainment is a true hip hop classic, great reference material for the newby's who want to be "down". This will test you. HAA! Mark D gives this CD a 5 on the hype scale. (Check the "More About Me" section for details."
VERY STRONG
mistermaxxx@yahoo.com | usa | 05/13/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"BDP was History FOr ME&Many Others.Black History at it's Finest.The Great Mind Of KRS-One Spoke of Things that A School Book Couldn't or Wouldn't Mention.The Music is as Strong as The Message.Along With Rakim,Public Enemy,Gil Scott-Heron etc.. School is in Session.Before Rap Got Watered Down this was The Real Deal.The way The Words were Meant to Be said.Track 9&13 don't Front."
A breath of fresh air-good anti-racist CD
Andre M. | Mt. Pleasant, SC United States | 03/04/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This came out in the midst of a lot of negativity in hip hop which has since overtaken the genre. KRS-One did a good job here in denouncing racism both inside and outside of the black community, dealing with issues of identity (the homeless and ya strugglin-note the subtle swipe at Michael Jackson in the latter) and an all-star jam with the BDP crew (D-nice, Miss Melody, Sister Harmony, etc). Some excerpts from Stokely Carmichael (yes, THAT Stoke-shortly before his death) are quite enlightening.
Sadly, Kris Parker's hold on the youth did not last much longer as gangster (c)rap went on to destroy the music, but that's another story. Get this and see how rap COULD have been."
Rap Music as it was meant to sound
Jeff Nowers | 02/27/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This album is appropriately titled, as it successfully fuses education and entertainment. Where else can you find samples of Stokely Carmichael's wisdom interspersed throughout slammin' hip hop beats? The lyrics on every track are extremely profound. Those with simplistic conceptions of racism will be awakened by track 13. And those who like to groove will not be disappointed by tracks 2 and 7 - which also manage to pack powerful messages."Edutainment" represents KRS-One's best output. It appeared in 1990, when rap music still belonged to the streets. Soon thereafter, the Boogie Down Productions empire began to disintegrate, prompted in no small measure by the break-up of KRS-One's marriage to Ms. Melodie. KRS is now officially solo. Though his latest music may retain the hard edge of the streets, it falls lyrically short of the standard set by his earlier work with BDP. Today, rap music generally is facing an identity crisis, with an increasing number of artists succumbing to popular R&B influences. Vintage hip hop is hard to come by, but "Edutainment" is one good place to start."