KRS-One and the Temple of Hiphop - Spiritual Minded

As hip-hop eats itself and continues to digest everything else around it, so does KRS-One. After performing every other recognizable rap subgenre, from "gangsta" to "battle" and "conscious," the Blastmaster goes gospel this time around. On "God Is Spirit," he teams up with talented gospel MC and Notorious B.I.G. soundalike B.B. Jay with decent results, while "Power" sounds way more gospel than hip-hop. The themes of redemption and rebirth run throughout the album, especially on "Tears," which is dedicated to the lives lost on September 11, 2001, and "Good-Bye", which pays homage to fallen hip-hop soldiers like Scott La Rock and Eazy E, among others. You do get a small taste of the rapper you grew to love on "The Conscious Rapper," a brilliant essay that takes you through the trials and tribulations of a "conscious" MC, so the album's not entirely bad. But the problem is the beats. KRS-One self-produced more than a quarter of the album, while the rest of the underwhelming rhythm tracks cooked up by mediocre knob twiddlers Domingo and DJ Tine Tim ultimately sink this project. Spiritually Minded is no Criminal Minded. --Dalton Higgins Amazon.com

Spirtual minded Is FOR ... The Spirtual Minded!

In my book, a 5 star album is a 5 star album. Just because it may not be accepted by the masses, and have sale success, doesn't mean it's not 5 stars. It angers me that people hate on this just because he tried something new, and because he covers topics that they don't agree with.

Though not my favorite KRS album, this is definately up there. I love lyrics that are passionate and spirtualy uplifting ... which is what I get out of these lyrics. Alot of people waste their own lifes away, investing their time in pleasure, and selfishness, and it's albums like this that'll shake those people up, and hopefully cause them to question themselves, on why their really here. Obviously, KRS was aware that not everyone was going to accept this, and I give him so much props for looking past that, and doing what he felt he must. He blends Gospel with Hip Hop in such a wonderful way, that I feel so glad I took my chances and bought this even though I heard nothing off it beforehand.

Usually I reccomend everything I do a review on, but this is the first that I don't completely reccomend. It's not for everyone. If you're a spiritual individual, and/or a big KRS ONE fan, and want to increase your jones - look no further. If your a casual KRS fan, I reccomend some of his earlier albums before this, once you've done so, then check this out. You may like it. If you're a closed minded individual, and get uncomfortable when someone covers topics that you don't understand, or agree with - I would look past this. KRS obviously didn't make this album for people like you. WORD! August 24, 2008

"Your spirit ain't ready"

Okay, first of all, I love this album. I will get into the reasons why in a moment, but first let me address some of the criticism from my fellow reviewers, starting with the following:

"A wise man once said..., November 6, 2003
By "essence_uk"

You're still a slave, look at how you behave
Debatin' on where and when and how and what Massa gave
You wanna know how we screwed up from the beginning?
We accepted our opressor's religion
So in the case of slavery it ain't hard
Because it's right in the eyes of THEIR God"

This is a reference to KRS's song Higher Level, off of Return of the Boom Bap. My comment to that review:

"You forgot the rest of the verse:

'Where is our God, the God that represents us?
The God that looks like me, the God that I can trust?
A God of peace and love, not mass hysteria
I don't want a God that blesses America
I could never really vote for the devil
Let me take you to a higher level...'

The song is a condemnation of the subversive effects politics and economics have on religion, not a condemnation of religion."

KRS has always been about spirituality, not religion. Note the name of the album is not Religiously Minded. There is nothing on this album that is contradictory with what he has stated in the past.

The next reviewer up for review:

"KRS ONE is NOT a Chrisitan, December 27, 2005
By Roger P. Reed

This is just a warning to anyone who may actually be thinking about buying this album. KRS ONE is not a Christian, He did this CD to dupe actual Christians into listening to what his beliefs are. If you didn't catch it, on the cover of the CD it says Temple of Hip Hop.. and not Temple of God, Hip Hop is a registered religion in which he is a Father/Co-Founder of along with Afrika Bambatta. They are leaders of the Black Muslims also known as the 5% Nation. This "Nation" actually believes that the Black man is God and the White man is the Devil. So before anyone starts givin props to this man for Gods work, you should find out exactly which or what God he is working for. You're either for Jesus or against him.. I haven't listened to this album completely, but I garauntee that he doesn't Mention the name of Jesus once, in fact in the first track after the intro all he does is brag and boast about how tight KRS One is.. and if he was a Christian then he would be humble.. but Like I said, he's not.. he's a 5% trying to fool the Christian community. And Christians are Christ Followers because Christ is Lord and Savior...
I hope this Review was helpful to somebody"

My comment for him:

"He's not a 5%er. 5%ers aren't Black Muslims, either. Not to mention that Black Muslims aren't even real Muslims. Shows how much you know. I can tell you didn't listen to the whole CD. I ain't a Christian, but then again, neither was Jesus. He was Jewish. According to your own scripture, Jesus came to fulfill the "Old" Testament (or covenant), not change it. Doesn't sound like he wanted to start a new religion to me. You need to quit putting Jesus in front of God the father (commandment #1). And you need to open your mind to other thoughts and ideas. If your faith is so weak it is threatened by the open discussion of ideas other than your own, you need to call ask this old house, cause your foundation needs repairs. Peace out."

KRS never claims to be a christian anywhere on this album. In fact, he clearly explains his conception of the difference between a christian and a christ-ian (emphasis on the long i in christ) in the song "Ain't Ready". Right in the album liner notes KRS states that only a few will understand the message he is bringing on this CD. Obviously, Roger P. Reed is not one of them.

The rest of the complaints mostly center around the "weak beats" argument. Look, not every song can be produced by DJ Premier. KRS has constantly been bringing new styles to hip hop. Naturally, some of the songs are going to be an experiment for KRS. This whole album is experimental for KRS, with the use of gospel themes. All this is just fine with me. If every album by him sounded the same as his golden age stuff, everybody would be complaining that his style is stale. I prefer artists to explore themselves and their art and not rehash the same formula that got them started.

That's why I like this album. I like the beats and the rhymes and the production and the message.

Like my main man Yeshua Ben Yosef once said, "Those that can see, see. Those that can hear, hear".

I might add, those that can feel this album, feel it. Those that can't, I pity tha foo'.

Peace, Love, Unity, and I'm out. June 14, 2008

Confusing markerting, but great product.

The first mistake in listening to this album is to look at it as a Christian album. People who are familiar with Kris will get the messages he gives in this album, as they aren't new..this is just the first time that he focused a whole album on a more spiritual bend. Look at it as another KRS album, and nothing more...and on that level it is great. Lyrically it's some of the best writing and flowing he's done since his BDP days. This is KRS-ONE. Not some watered down version, like some of you are thinking.

Unfortunately the appearance of what the album seems to represent is turning off some of his old fans and new ones who may have been expecting a more Christian project, which is too bad. June 13, 2007

Such An Uplifting Album From A Legendary MC

Really KRS-ONE has always had songs on each of his albums before and after this album was released that could be used to make you think about how the realities of life are and how we could get through our problems. But really whenever I have a tough time, I always put this album on in its entirety and it helps clean out my soul, I really gotta give love to what he's done here, don't get scared 'cause it's called gospel rap, it's still real hip-hop for the soul, listen to songs like "So Many Tears", "God Is Spirit", "Welcome To The Temple", "Goodbye", and "Take Your Time", god bless Kris Parker AKA KRS-ONE, I love it how you don't just fill your albums with corny beats and booty shaking songs, you deliver real messages that people need to hear 'cause that's what an mc is a supposed to do, keep on writing the inspirational raps brotha! December 4, 2006

KRS's weakest entry into his library

I have always been a huge fan of Kris Parker. I like what KRS has done. I like what he is doing. I like the fact that he has never looked to what the masses are putting out and has instead tried from day one to promote positivity. Therefore, I find that this effort is laudable in its attempt to bring KRS's spirituality to an audience that has been listening to him for decades.

Unfortunately, it falls flat on its face.

The songs on this album do not manage to live up to the message in the lyrics. KRS is best known for bringing a message to all people by writing about things that could be understood by all people. That aspect of his work is forgotten on this album, and his work comes across as his preaching instead of his teaching. It's almost like he's forgotten the experiences that brought about his spirituality, and instead focuses on the goal without paying attention to the trials and tribulations that got him there.

Musically, the beats are mostly just plain terrible, and feel devoid of warmth or personality. The lyrics feel forced and while his delivery is excellent, the writing is not up to his usual high standard.

Most rappers these days are known for the beats they put together, or the hooks of their songs. Few are known for true lyrical ability. KRS has never before fallen victim to this trap. The reason Criminal Minded, Boom Bap and Necessary did so well was the mix of good writing, excellent delivery and beats that worked with the material presented. Everyone who listens to hip hop can quote lyrics from those albums (and many, if not most, of KRS's other offerings) - the same can't be said with this album, as he didn't find the right mix to present the material.

Pick up this album if you want a complete KRS ONE collection - otherwise, leave it on the shelf. July 24, 2006

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