Boogie Down Productions

Released: July 4, 1989

Songwriter: William S. Patterson KRS-One

Producer: KRS-One

"If you like the sound of what you've heard so far.."

[KRS-One]
Ghetto music
Ghetto music
Ghetto music
Ghetto music..

.. You're tuned into that easy listening sound
With a cap and gown, not a CROWN
No glitter, no makeup
Just smashin lyrics, that make up
The B, D, and the P
You pay for the hits, the advice is free
In this industry, we gotta grow
Commercial some go, but, y'know
Just as important as they are
So is the underground superstar (like me)
You gotta ask yourself one question
Do I speak facts, or do I start guessin?
Learn the lesson, before you plan your career
Commercial or underground, where
Do you fit, cause BOTH sides write hits
And all is rap, I'll admit
But what I've come to EXPLAIN
Is that these people LOVE to play a game
They wanna make it seem like YOU'RE WRONG
For writin the reality song

(Don't touch those issues, don't talk about dat
We don't take knowledge rap)

What? They want you on their bases
Cause if you bring out the brown, you're racist
But if you bring out the pink, well wait, it's OK
Yeah, they won't stop it
I guess it's alright to act demonic
I guess it's alright to act demonic
But that's another chapter, in another book
I've come to show a different look
And that look is the WHOLE of rap
Not just the commercial pap
But the UNDERGROUND, that RAW ghetto sound
From which rap music was found
So you can't deny it, you cannot refuse it
I'll be rockin that GHETTO MUSIC

..

People keep tellin me, "Kris! You need more radio
Yeah man, that's the way to go!
You gotta be like so-and-so to go platinum,"
Then I attack em!
I rhyme for the ghetto, I teach the ghetto
I cannot let go, change up? Heck no
In the ghetto, I stay mellow
We're in effect yo, ready, set, go
FRESH, for nineteen eighty-nine you suckers
Peace to P.E., and the Jungle Brothers
Others, have come, to master the art
They start, with heart, then fall apart
Like a dart I shoot for one target (BO BO)
Ghetto music, yeah they'll never chart it
Cause now in eighty-nine, the purpose of a rhyme
Is to strengthen and uplift the mind
Although I'll achieve and achieve and achieve
It's simple, I'll never leave
Cause every time you front for respect you LOSE it
I'll rock GHETTO MUSIC

Ghetto music
Ghetto music
Ghetto music
Ghetto music..

Coming from and named after the “Boogie Down” Bronx, BDP originally consisted of rapper KRS-One (the “Blastmaster”), DJ Scott La Rock, and the “human TR-808”, beat-boxer D-Nice (all pictured above). The personnel and subject matter would change over the years of the group’s existence. They would move from being gangster rap pioneers with their classic debut album, 1987’s Criminal Minded to a more positive and Afrocentric focus on later albums like the 1990 release Edutainment.

While BDP is no longer extant, group leader KRS-One continues to release albums, perform, and even write books.

more tracks from the album

Ghetto Music: The Blueprint of Hip Hop

From the album

Ghetto Music: The Blueprint of Hip Hop (1989)

Boogie Down Productions popular songs

Ghetto MusicBoogie Down Productions

Boogie Down Productions

Ghetto Music: The Blueprint of Hip Hop