Rapper KRS-One has become an apostle, publishing a 600-page Gospel of Hip-Hop dedicated to the "spirituality" and "divinity" of hip-hop culture. "In 100 years," he said, "this book will be a new religion on the earth."
When it comes to hip-hop, KRS-One has always thought big. "I am not just doing hip-hop," he said, "I am hip-hop." But with his new book, due in September, Teacha goes cosmic. Modelled on the Christian bible, the Gospel of Hip-hop sets its sights on the meaning of life.
"I respect the Christianity, the Islam, the Judaism but their time is up," KRS-One told AllHipHop. "I don't have to go through any religion [or] train of thought. I can approach God directly myself."
According to the publisher's website, the Gospel of Hip-hop begins with a linguistic exploration of the words "hip" and "hop before teaching so-called "Hiphoppas" a philosophy of self-reliance, dedicated study, peace, unity and truth. Their messianic future goes by the acronym H-LAW – Health, Love, Awareness and Wealth – and it isn't based on race.
"[This] is definitely controversial because I'm also saying I'm willing to give up my African-American-ness to become Hiphop," KRS said. "A lot of people don't like that." Black Americans can be "Hiphop", KRS explained, but so can Nigerians, Cubans and Italians. "I'm willing to go beyond my born culture to create a whole new civilisation."
This is 44-year-old KRS's third book about hip-hop. "In a hundred years, everything that I'm saying to you will be common knowledge," he said. "People will be like, 'Why did he have to explain this? Wasn't it obvious?' In my time, it's not obvious."
