Boogie Down Productions, By All Means Necessary, 1988 on Jive

Second album from KRS-One under the Boogie Down Productions moniker, after the 1987 killing of Scott La Rock. Arguably the birth of socially conscious hip-hop, undeniably a key album in it.

So, you’re a philosopher?

Yes, I think very deeply

In about four seconds, a teacher will begin to speak

Let us begin, what, where, why or when

Will all be explained like instructions to a game

Did not know in listening to this back in ’88 that all these years later I’d be vegan and KRS-One would be 60 years old.

My copy is the 2024 Vinyl Me, Please reissue on 180g orange vinyl, with listening notes by Elijah Watson. Sounds great and has solid packaging – I hope VMP’s return under new ownership can keep the quality high.

#1980s #2024 #BoogieDownProductions #ElijahWatson #HipHop #JiveRecords #KRSOne #Reissue #ScottLaRock #vinyl #vinylMePlease #vinylcollection

DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince, He’s the DJ, I’m The Rapper, 1988 on Jive

Second album from the duo of Jeffrey Townes (aka DJ Jazzy Jeff) and Will Smith (aka The Fresh Prince), including “Parents Just Don’t Understand” which won the first Best Rap Performance Grammy in 1989.

Not sure I even realized this at the time, but their first two albums came out before The Fresh Prince of Bel Aire, which didn’t air until 1990.

My copy—via Antone’s Records in Austin TX—is an 80s pressing complete with inner sleeves and hype sticker. It’s a double LP but not a gatefold.

#1980s #1988 #AntoneSRecords #AustinTX #DJJazzyJeffTheFreshPrince #FreshPrince #HipHop #JazzyJeff #JiveRecords #Rap #vinyl #vinylcollection #vinylfinds