Search - Boogie Down Productions :: By Any Means Necessary

Another classic among classics

Aaron Creagh | Albany, NY USA | 07/30/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"KRS is pissed and more focused than ever. During the making of this album, Scott La Rock, DJ and Producer of BDP was shot and killed. During the making of "My Philosophy" in fact...which in my opinion is when Kris started showing his true colors. It was positive and negative, educational and entertaining..which had become the mantra of KRS ever since. On this album he tells you that Illegal Business controls America. He tells you to enjoy love, but make sure to wear a jimmy hat. He tells you how sometimes love is gonna get you. On this album you learn what the "word" "Unrational" means. Damn..I miss this kind of hip hop."

By all means liston to this cd!!

eric1 | Springfield, MA, USA | 11/04/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"this record along with several others at the time advanced hip-hop to another level. if anyone who is a lyricist wishes to learn how to construct rhymes and make it listenable to the audience, grab the teacher!"

Classic 2nd album from Hip-Hop's Teacher!

Hype Currie | Detroit, Michigan United States | 06/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"By All Means Necessary

"Fresh! For 1988, you suckers!" was the signature line from "My Philosophy", the first single off Boogie Down Productions' masterpiece second LP, By All Means Necessary. In the interim between their debut on 1987's Criminal Minded and the summer release of By All Means, founding member DJ Scott La Rock was tragically murdered. Frontman KRS-One soldiered on, bringing junior member D-Nice and KRS's brother Kenny Parker into the mix as turntable operators.



Produced by the artist and engineered by Ivan "Doc" Rodriguez, KRS-One maintains the momentum of Criminal Minded with streetwise battle raps, but he incorporates more narratives about ghetto lifestyles and the dangers of street violence. The lyrics to "I'm Still #1" are loosely based on a rhyme contest between KRS and rap legend Melle Mel at NYC's Latin Quarters. "Illegal Business" dismisses the easy targets of the "War on Drugs" policy, making the point that the illegal drug trade is not divorced from the American economy. "Jimmy" makes a case for safe sex, and could be considered a sequel to "Super-hoe". The reggae shuffle of "Stop the Violence" of course features the unforgettable hook, "1, 2, 3, the crew is called BDP, and if you want to go to the tip-top, stop the violence in hip-hop, why-oh!"



The most surprisingly enjoyable song is "Ya Slippin'": "So assume you're doomed when you step in the room; I'll be the witch and you'll be the broom.." taunts KRS, as he rhymes over Deep Purple's "Smoke on the Water" guitar riff combined with his own, slowed-down "Poetry" rhythm track. "Necessary" is a sonically-sparse nod to spoken word poetry at the end of the LP, a first for rap albums. This album could be re-released with remixes (such as an alternate take of "I'm Still #1"), and perhaps even a drum-&-bass remix of "Necessary" that surfaced in the late 90's.

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