The reputation of
Boogie Down Productions leader
KRS-One began to slip in the early '90s as he spent more time educating than performing. He hit back at his critics with the slamming
Return of the Boom Bap, his first official solo release. Leaving behind the detailed production of the last
BDP album,
Sex and Violence,
Boom Bap returns the MC to the spare, gritty territory of
Criminal Minded.
KRS-One sounds reinvigorated, as well, spitting out his rhymes with fury and intelligence. Although the record isn't as didactic as
Edutainment or
Sex and Violence,
KRS-One hasn't made his lyrics simplistic, nor has he abandoned his cutting, intelligent social commentary. The combination of hard, basic beats and exciting rhymes makes
Return of the Boom Bap a genuine comeback for
KRS-One, one of the founding figures of modern hip-hop. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine