Here's a shot of KRS-One, the driving force behind the hip-hop group Boogie Down Productions, at card #113 in the '91 MusiCards set. This card has a reverse counterpart in the Yo! MTV Raps set that swaps the front and back photos (card #10). That set also features a second BDP card (#11) as well as a solo-credited KRS-One card (#43), but this here is his only appearance in the Super Stars set.
Boogie Down Productions would cease production not long after this card came out, with KRS-One ditching the group dynamic to continue as a solo artist in the early 90s. He's had impressive career, long considered a highly-respected pioneer in hip hop.
The only KRS-One to be found in my CD/cassette collection growing up was R.E.M.'s Out of Time where he dropped in on the opening track "Radio Song", but I've always liked what I've heard from him, and eventually scored a greatest hits album during the mp3 era. Dug jam after jam of his I checked out while prepping this post, hand to God!
KRS-One has kept active over the years, consistently releasing new music and collaborating with other artists.CUSTOM CORNER
Ok, I suppose in addition to the R.E.M. appearance, KRS-One found his way into my speakers several times over the years thanks to being sampled in the Sublime tribute song "KRS-One". Sure, let's whip up a Sublime custom.
That self-titled Sublime album was huge. As a teenager in Southern California in the mid 90s, that was a must-have CD, right there with Dr. Dre's The Chronic a little earlier. Everyone in my grade had 'em in rotation, without exception! They were already on my radar, as I remember liking their early minor hit "Date Rape", so it was a trip when they got huge a year or two later. Sadly, the band's mastermind Bradley Nowell died of a heroin overdose just before that album came out, adding some emotional weight to tracks like "What I Got" and "Santeria".
Such a bummer, leaving a baby behind. Another cautionary tale in regards to abusing drugs and alcohol. As a fan, it would have been cool to hear what Bradley followed that album up with.
The other guys in the trio-- Eric Wilson (bass) and Bud Gaugh (drums)-- eventually revived the band with a soundalike fan named Rome filling in, reluctantly lengthening the band name to Sublime With Rome after legal threats from Bradley's widow. They had a nice run of playing music festivals, but eventually they split with Rome, and a couple years ago, Bradley's now-adult son Jakob stepped in, taking Sublime full circle to again being a Nowell-fronted band.
Here in 2025 it seems classic Sublime has either been run into the ground or not aged that well, and the post-Bradley material doesn't quite hit the same as the OG version. Or maybe that's just me? But yeah, some fun tunes there, no doubt!
How about you readers? Listen to much KRS-One and/or Sublime? Favorites? Memories? Let me know in the comments. Thanks!
