On this day in Hip Hop history, Boogie Down Productions delivered one of their most powerful and profound LPs; Edutainment. Released at the height of KRS-One’s creative prowess, the 21-track album was a landmark in Hip Hop’s evolution, blending hard-hitting street wisdom with deep cultural and political awareness.
Produced mainly by the Blastmaster himself and fellow BDP member D-Nice (known as the Human 808), Edutainment stood as a clear declaration of its mission; education through the entertainment of rap music. Long before the term “conscious rap” became common, KRS had already created a blueprint for it.
This was also the most crew-inclusive BDP album to date. While earlier projects only featured KRS, D-Nice, and the late DJ Scott La Rock, Edutainment brought in a full roster: Ms. Melodie, her sister Harmony, Jamal Ski, Willie D, Mc Boo, and KRS’ own brother Kenny Parker all made contributions that added to the album’s rich, layered sound and message.
Beyond its boom-bap foundation, Edutainment included “Exhibits”, short skits where KRS traded dialogue with Black Power icon Kwame Ture (formerly Stokely Carmichael), giving the album a live rally feel and anchoring its messages in real-world activism.
Standout tracks like “Love’s Gonna Get’cha (Material Love),” “Breath Control II,” and “Blackman in Effect” showcased KRS’ uncanny ability to weave intellect into rhyme with razor-sharp precision. The gritty “100 Guns,” which would later be sampled by Ja Rule and Fat Joe during their feud with 50 Cent, added street weight to the project. From the dietary knowledge dropped in “Beef” to the anti-police brutality anthem “30 Cops or More,” the album stayed true to its title—it educated while it entertained.
Edutainment remains a timeless piece of Hip Hop history; raw, fearless, and relevant as ever. Much respect to KRS-One, the full BDP squad, and the BX for giving us another chapter in the legacy of real Hip Hop.
Peace to the Teacha!