Released: March 3, 1987

Songwriter: DJ Scott La Rock KRS-One

Producer: Boogie Down Productions DJ Scott La Rock

[Intro]
This is a test
Of the Boogie Down Production
Prevention Against Sucka MC's
In the event of a real emergency
You would have been instructed
On which jams to play
And how loud to blast your radio
And now, a word from our sponsor

[Verse 1: KRS-One]
I'm from the Bronx, Blastmaster KRS-One
Proving that my job ain't done until I get some
More, no need to roar or yell
'Cause I can still tell what will sell
And would have sold without yellin over a drum roll
That style is old, so unfold
Blossom, bloom, you got the room
So go ahead and consume
A new era, KRS-One comes better
Bite another lyric? Never
'Cause I'm too clever, however, I own my own label
Partners with Scott LaRock, he's on the turntable
And partner Lee Smith
I'm exercising a true gift just to uplift
Hip-Hop, Hip-Hop
My voice is like a monster and now a word from our sponsor

[Break: DJ Scott La Rock]

[Verse 2: KRS-One]
Two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten
I got to start this rhyme again
How many words can I find that rhyme
And still keep in mind every lyric must come out on time?
Not many but I have plenty
Scott La Rock sent me just to devastate any-
One, any daughter, any son that comes my way
Hey, you got to go the other way
I represent my DJ Scott LaRock, D-Nice the beat box
I only wear Nike's, not Adidas or Reeboks
Many people know me, yet I'm known by few
My name is KRS-One, son
Not two or three or four or five or six
The mix is on Scott LaRock and Scott LaRock is on the mix

[Break: DJ Scott La Rock]

[Verse 3: KRS-One]
Cool like the air we breathe
Inhale, exhale, perpetrators will fail
As sure as my name is Blastmaster KRS
Sit and listen to the very essence of this tale
From the days of prison I have uprisen
To my family members I'm marked down as missing
Listen, circumstances put me right in the street
With the will to survive, get paid, eat and sleep
Some weep or should I rather say some cry
Can't get by so later on they die
Because the strong will survive, the weak will perish
Ignorance is a poison and knowledge will nourish
I love what I got and like what I had
I'm glad, not sad and I don't even get mad
I get even, myself and some others I believe in
'Cause these others are my brothas and perfection we're achieving
Yes, my name is KRS, my brother is a Rasta
Let me pause and now a word from our sponsor

[Outro: DJ Scott La Rock]

Boogie Down Productions

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.