KRS-One Says the U.S. Is Overflowing With Racism

KRS-One has never been one to hold his tongue when it comes to social issues. The South Bronx legend has long been a voice of dissent--and, in the latter part of his career, of guidance--in hip-hop and in America at large. So it comes as no surprise that a recent appearance on CNN would yield some evocative moments, which speak to the core of racism and state-sponsored violence, two of our most pressing issues. "They're going to say anything to us to get us to vote for them," KRS says of politicians who pay lip service to progressive causes like Black Lives Matter. He remains skeptical that most Presidential nomination front runners have "discussed the issue," even if they make passing mentions of it when convenient.

The Criminal Minded star also spoke at length about a few of the candidates, from either side of the aisle. "When we say, look, Donald Trump was a friend to hip hop back in the day, so was Bill Clinton," he points out. "It doesn't mean that because he was a friend to hip hop back in the day, that the same Bill Clinton wasn't at the lead of this mass incarceration of African Americans today." KRS went on to say that Marco Rubio's personal financial struggles might make him more relatable to Americans. Perhaps most importantly, he said that "it seems like racism in the United States is overflowing," and went on to decry police brutality.