In the world of Rock-n-Roll music, we celebrate The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, among others, as music royalty. However, why do most not do the same with pioneering Hip Hop artists?
A valid question to ask, Hip Hop cultural origins are more in the realm of Punk Rock, with poignant lyrics about society, an anti-establishment sentiment, and a free-thinking ideology. Perhaps not the case with more mainstream Hip Hop that emerged in the late ‘90s, the architects of Hip Hop’s temple were shaped by artists like Run-DMC, Eric B. & Rakim, Public Enemy, and Bronx’s own, Boogie Down Productions.
Classic Hip Hop stars, one of the leaders of the aforementioned Boogie Down Productions was none other than lyrical mastermind KRS-One. An icon in the world of Hip Hop who interjected thoughtful, provocative, and intelligent lyrical content, if we are looking at the artist, we also need to acknowledge his expansive career outside of Boogie Down Productions.
Lifting off a solo career in 1993 with the killer Return of the Boom Bap album, until the end of the ‘90s decade, he continued to dish out one top-notch album after another, including 1995’s KRS-One and 1997’s I Got Next. Moving into the new millennium, KRS-One showed no signs of slowing down, pumping out six studio albums from 2001 to 2008. An unstoppable force, he unleashed five more albums in the 2010s, culminating in 2019’s Street Light. At that point you would have to think the veteran MC would slow down, but think again, because five years into the 2020s he has put out three more albums from 2020’s Between Da Protests, 2022’s I M A M C R U 1 2, leading into present day with 2025’s Temple of Hip Hop Global Awareness.
A stamina not sustained by many, Temple of Hip Hop Global Awareness arrived on March 22, 2025, marking KRS-One’s 24th overall solo album. Available on all major streaming services, the album immediately strikes a strong sense of pride in the preservation and education of Hip Hop’s roots and messaging. Consisting of fourteen tracks, it zips by at thirty-five minutes, but not without getting your thoughts in motion. In fact, you might find yourself rewinding the tracks to catch a verse for a second or third listen.
The mark of an excellent Hip Hop record, Temple of Hip Hop Global Awareness showcases KRS-One’s commitment to the art form, letting you know he would rather drop out than sell out. Refreshing to hear in a time when it seems like artists of all genres are selling their souls for the sake of more exposure (clicks or streams in modern parlance), KRS-One explains that it is about the creativity, not the commercial viability. A feeling that will resonate with those who believe in authenticity, the rawness in KRS-One’s flow shows he is as on point as ever before.
Set to turn sixty years old on August 20, 2025, KRS-One’s mental acuity is razor sharp, and chances are he could run circles around rappers half his age. Not lip service, but the real deal: the rhymes and topics explored in Temple of Hip Hop Global Awareness are powerful, and the beats are also rough and tough, like the Hip Hop of old. With all of this in mind, it would be limiting to mention one or two songs from the album, because it should be listened to as a cohesive piece, complete with the spoken tributes sprinkled throughout, which boldify KRS-One’s impact.
A must-have for Hip Hop fans the world over, it should also be noted that on July 25, 2025, he is hosting an introduction to Hip Hop at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Foster Theater in Cleveland, Ohio, and was also featured on the lead 2025 single from Redman called “Looka Here.” Furthermore, he will be a part of the extraordinary DJ Cassidy’s Pass The Mic Live! show on August 17, 2025, at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Atlantic City, NJ, along with the likes of Big Daddy Kane, Rakim, Black Sheep, Slick Rick, and many more. So, if you are late to the discovery that KRS-One has released a new album, now is the time to catch up with Temple of Hip Hop Global Awareness, as Cryptic Rock gives it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
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