Artist: Boogie Down Productions Album: By All Means Necessary

Year: 1988
Duration: 0:0-1

A Critical Review of Boogie Down Productions' By All Means Necessary

Boogie Down Productions (BDP) is one of the most significant hip-hop groups in the history of the music genre. The group's second album, By All Means Necessary, which debuted in 1988, is still celebrated today for its socially-conscious lyrics and innovative beats. In this blog post, we will take a deep dive into BDP's By All Means Necessary. We will explore the brief history of the artist, the music genre of the album, the best songs of the album, the most innovative parts of the album and finally offer a critique of the entire project.

BDP, led by its founder KRS-One, began its career in the early 80s, at a time when hip-hop was still in its infancy. The group's music was socially conscious, speaking truth to power and championing the cause of those who were marginalized in society. By All Means Necessary is their second studio album, and it solidified their status as one of the most important voices in hip-hop. The album was released after the murder of BDP's original DJ, Scott La Rock, who was widely regarded as the glue that held the group together. As such, the album was a tribute to him.

The album had a mix of genres, but hip-hop stood at the forefront. The beats were primarily sampled from James Brown's music catalog. The album was less about the music and more about the message contained within the lyrics. By All Means Necessary touched on a range of social issues like police brutality, drug abuse, and the struggle for black people's equality. One of the standout tracks on the album was My Philosophy, which remains one of KRS-One's most famous songs.

My Philosophy opens with one of the most famous quotes in hip hop - You can't take what I got, cause I got it from you. The track uses clever metaphors and similes to describe how KRS-One views his place in the music industry. He makes it clear that he doesn't believe in violence as a means to solve problems. The track was widely celebrated for its catchy beat and thought-inspiring lyrics.

Another standout track on the album is Stop The Violence. The song is an ode to Scott La Rock, who was killed in the Bronx for standing up against violence. The song uses skills like bold drums, hard basslines and catchy loops to draw in the listener, and it's message is unmissable.

Innovatively, The album utilized many unique samples, such as Martin Luther King, Jr.'s I Have a Dream speech, which is used in the introduction of the track By All Means Necessary. This sample set the album's tone, making it clear that BDP was committed to justice and equality. They also used jazz music on, for example, Illegal Business, making it one of the most musically diverse albums of its time.

Critically, By All Means Necessary receives praise from all corners of the hip hop community. The album remains significant for its commentary on societal issues and how these translate to hip-hop. The album's primary criticism, in retrospect, is that it focused on male experiences a lot of the time, ignoring the perspective and realities of women; however, the album is still a classic.

By All Means Necessary remains an essential album in the history of hip-hop. At the time of its release, it was a groundbreaking project that championed the oppressed and amplified the voices of marginalized communities. Today, years after its release, it's still celebrated for doing precisely that. The album's influences can be seen in many of the works of modern-day hip-hop artists. By All Means Necessary is a timeless classic to which lovers of hip-hop should always return.