KRS-One lectures in hip hop

NICOLA RUSSELL

Legendary hip hop artist KRS-One used his first New Zealand lecture to encourage local talent, explain hip hop's roots and praise single mothers.  

Krist Parker, also known as KRS-One (Knowledge Reigns Supreme Over Nearly Everyone), filled the events centre at Auckland War Memorial Museum on Sunday with just a day's notice.

The star, who travelled to New Zealand by cruise ship as he does not like the confines of air travel, has spoken at hundreds of universities around the world but said speaking at a museum was a first.

He is behind over a dozen classic hip hop albums and was in Auckland to play at Karangahape Road's Studio. He put the word out on Saturday that he'd like to speak and the museum responded.

''I would never be invited to a museum of this stature in the United States,'' KRS-One said. 

''Let this be a message to all other museums who can't find time for hip hop in its institution.''

KRS-One has a long history of speaking and rapping about political and social issues. He held an enraptured crowd for over two hours as he talked about hip hop culture, its origins, and development.

He was invited by Auckland Museum's youth programme developer Bethany Edmunds to speak after she was contacted by Auckland musician DLT (Darryl Thompson) who performed with other Kiwi artists in support of KRS-One last night.

''The museum is very consciously making moves to be able to open up its doors to different audiences that don't usually come here so much.''

Thompson (DLT) is one of the mentors for Urban Life, a youth engagement programme just launched by Bethany.

''Part of that is hooking youth up with established artists to create visual responses to social issues that affect them in their area,'' said Edmunds, who was delighted by the response to the talk.

''These kind of people often feel like the museum is not our kind of place but there is so much here we can learn from, so many treasures in the galleries.

''After two hours of him talking constantly I looked across the audience and everybody was still there and mesmerised. It says a lot."

KRS-One paid his respects to Kiwi hip hop artists and reminded them to keep their own voice.

''One of the reasons I am here is because hip hop is flourishing here but I want to hear more of your voice. The idea of New Zealanders sounding like Americans is not it. You got to rhyme in your language, your accent.''

He ended by honouring the single mothers who he said had raised most of his community.

"High respect goes out to our mothers, our single mothers. This is why today the real community uplifts femininity and holds womanhood above, not equal to masculinity."

- © Fairfax NZ News