Label: Jive / RCA
Reissued 2024, Originally released 1988
By All Means Necessary is the second album from legendary American hip hop group Boogie Down Productions, and was originally released in 1988. The murder of DJ Scott La Rock in 1987 had a profound effect on KRS-One, resulting in a drastic rethinking of his on-record persona. He re-emerged the following year with By All Means Necessary, calling himself The Teacher and rapping mostly about issues facing the black community. He refuses to allow the community to be stereotyped. His observations are sharp, lucid, and confident. Yet he doesn't fall prey to the peachiness that would mark some of his later work. There are some lighter moments in the battle-rhyme tracks, and a witty safe-sex rap in 'Jimmy'. This album is widely considered a landmark in political hip hop and is among the Source's 100 Best Rap Albums. The lyrics from this album have been sampled by everyone from Prince Paul to N.W.A.
Track listing:
- My Philosophy
- Ya Slippin'
- Stop the Violence
- Illegal Business
- Nervous
- I'm Still #1
- Part Time Suckers
- Jimmy
- T'cha - T'cha
- Necessary