Hip Hop Lives

Hip Hop Lives
Studio album by
ReleasedMay 22, 2007 (2007-05-22)
Recorded2006–07
Studio
Genre
Length46:24
LabelKoch Records
Producer
  • Simone Parker (exec.)
  • Rick Martin (co-exec.)
  • Marley Marl (also co-exec.)
  • 88-Fingers
KRS-One chronology
Life
(2006)
Hip Hop Lives
(2007)
Adventures in Emceein
(2008)
Marley Marl chronology
Re Entry
(2001)
Hip Hop Lives
(2007)
Operation Take Back Hip-Hop
(2008)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
HipHopDX4/5[2]
MSN Music(dud)[3]
Now3/5[4]
PopMatters5/10[5]
RapReviews8/10[6]
Spin[7]
Sputnikmusic3/5[8]
XXL3/5 (L)[9]

Hip Hop Lives is the collaborative studio album by American rapper KRS-One and record producer Marley Marl. It was released on May 22, 2007 via Koch Records. Recording sessions took place at House Of Hits in New York and at Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles. Production was handled by Marley Marl himself, except for one track produced with 88 Fingers. It features guest appearances from Blaq Poet, Busy Bee Starski and Magic Juan. The album's title is a response to Nas's 2006 album Hip Hop Is Dead.[10]

The album peaked at No. 140 on the Billboard 200, No. 23 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, No. 8 on the Top Rap Albums and No. 15 on the Independent Albums in the United States.

A music video was released for promotional single "Hip Hop Lives (I Come Back)".

Conception

[edit]

"It all happened with one phone call", Marley Marl told AllHipHop during a March 2006 interview,[11] "They called me and he jumped on the phone and told me it would be spectacular for hip hop… My reason for doing this is to show these kids that hip hop beefs are not that serious". The album marks the end of The Bridge Wars.

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."It's Alive" (Intro)Marley Marl0:40
2."Hip Hop Lives"
  • Parker
  • Williams
Marley Marl2:52
3."Nothing New"
  • Parker
  • Williams
Marley Marl3:16
4."I Was There"
  • Parker
  • Williams
Marley Marl3:47
5."Musika" (featuring Magic Juan)
  • Parker
  • John G. Wilson
  • Williams
Marley Marl4:05
6."Rising to the Top"
  • Parker
  • Williams
Marley Marl3:29
7."Over 30"
  • Parker
  • Williams
Marley Marl3:52
8."M.A.R.L.E.Y. (Marley and Red Living Everyday Youthfully)"
  • Parker
  • Williams
Marley Marl1:30
9."Kill a Rapper"
  • Parker
  • Williams
Marley Marl2:56
10."The Teacha's Back"
  • Parker
  • Williams
Marley Marl3:41
11."The Victory" (featuring Blaq Poet)
Marley Marl3:48
12."This Is What It Is"
  • Parker
  • Williams
  • Marley Marl
  • 88-Fingers
3:52
13."All Skool"
  • Parker
  • Williams
Marley Marl4:05
14."House of Hits" (featuring Chief Rocker Busy Bee)
  • Parker
  • Williams
Marley Marl4:31
Total length:46:24
Exclusive Circuit City Bonus Tracks
No.TitleProducer(s)Length
15."Intro"  
16."Stop the Violence (Part 2)" (featuring Peedo) 
17."Strictly Hip Hop"
  • KRS-One
  • Billy Brimstone
 
18."The Most Dangerous Emcee"
  • KRS-One
  • QF
 

Personnel

[edit]
  • Lawrence "KRS-One" Parker – lyrics & vocals
  • John "Magic Juan" Wilson – lyrics & vocals (track 5)
  • Wilbur "Blaq Poet" Bass – lyrics & vocals (track 11)
  • David "Busy Bee" Parker – vocals (track 14)
  • Frederick "Red Alert" Crute – additional vocals (track 8)
  • Chris "DJ Premier" Martin – scratches (track 11)
  • Marlon "Marley Marl" Williams – producer, recording, mixing, A&R, co-executive producer
  • 88-Fingers – producer (track 12)
  • Ivan Chevere – recording, mixing
  • Harold English – additional recording and mixing
  • Kevin "K-Def" Hansford – re-mixing (track 10)
  • Drew Lavyne – mastering
  • Simone G. Parker – executive producer, A&R, management
  • Rick Martin – co-executive producer, A&R, management
  • Leonardo Harris – art direction, design
  • Laura Grier – photography
  • Alyson Abbagnaro – A&R
  • Marleny Dominguez – A&R, management
  • Paul Grosso – creative director
  • Christian Mariano – product manager

Charts

[edit]
Chart (2007) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[12] 140
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[13] 23
US Top Rap Albums (Billboard)[14] 8
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[15] 15

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Lymangrover, Jason. "Hip Hop Lives - KRS-One & Marley Marl | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  2. ^ Ryce, Jeff (May 28, 2007). "KRS-One & Marley Marl - Hip Hop Lives". HipHopDX. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  3. ^ Christgau, Robert (September 2007). "Consumer Guide". MSN Music. Retrieved April 1, 2021 – via www.robertchristgau.com.
  4. ^ "NOW Magazine - Music in Toronto, MAY 31 - JUNE 6, 2007". NOW. Vol. 26, no. 39. May 31, 2007. Archived from the original on 2007-08-27. Retrieved April 1, 2021 – via Wayback Machine.
  5. ^ Huff, Quentin B. (June 20, 2007). "KRS-One & Marley Marl: Hip Hop Lives". PopMatters. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  6. ^ Gailes, Arthur (May 29, 2007). "RapReviews.com Feature for May 29, 2007 - KRS-One & Marley Marl's "Hip Hop Lives"". www.rapreviews.com. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  7. ^ Golianopoulos, Thomas (June 8, 2007). "Reviews". SPIN. Vol. 23, no. 6. SPIN Media LLC. p. 94. ISSN 0886-3032. Retrieved April 1, 2021.{{cite magazine}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  8. ^ "KRS-One - Hip Hop Lives [With Marley Marl] (album review) | Sputnikmusic". Sputnikmusic. February 26, 2011. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  9. ^ Johnson, Brett (June 6, 2007). "KRS-One & Marley MarlHip Hop Lives - XXL". XXL. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  10. ^ Drumming, Neil (May 25, 2007). "Hip Hop Lives". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  11. ^ Winslow, Mike; Williams, Houston (March 25, 2007). "AllHipHop.com : Daily Hip-Hop News". AllHipHop. Wayback Machine. Archived from the original on 2007-03-25. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  12. ^ "KRS-One Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  13. ^ "Marley Marl Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  14. ^ "KRS-One Chart History (Top Rap Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  15. ^ "Marley Marl Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
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