Music / Criminal Minded

The classic debut. L-R: DJ Scott LaRock and KRS-ONE

"So you think Hip-Hop had its start out in Queensbridge?
If you pop that junk up in the Bronx you might not live"

-"South Bronx"

Criminal Minded is the debut album by Boogie Down Productions.

Tracklist:

1. "Poetry"
2. "South Bronx"
3. "9MM Goes Bang"
4. "Word From Our Sponsor"
5. "Elementary"
6. "Dope Beat"
7. "Remix For P Is Free"
8. "The Bridge Is Over"
9. "Super Hoe"
10. "Criminal Minded"

"The girlies are free, 'cause the tropes cost money, oh yeah, oh yeah":

• Big Applesauce/Take That!: Oh yeah. "South Bronx" and "The Bridge Is Over" were part of The Bridge Wars, which were BDP responding to The Juice Crew's claims that rap started in Queens instead of the Bronx.
• Boastful Rap: The majority of the album. KRS wasn't in "The Teacha" mode yet, so many of the songs are about how he is better than other rappers. Doubles as Early-Installment Weirdness.
• The Casanova: "Super Hoe" is about DJ Scott LaRock's promiscuity.
• Drugs Are Bad: "P Is Free" is about girls trading drugs for sex.
• Poetry: "Poetry"
• Rearrange the Song:
  • The ending of "The Bridge Is Over" is modeled on Billy Joel's "It's Still Rock And Roll To Me."
  • The opening of "Criminal Minded" is based on The Beatles' "Hey Jude."
• Reggae: "9MM Goes Bang" is more this than it is rap.
• Sampling:
  • "Poetry" used James Brown's "There It Is, Pts. 1 & 2" and "Soul Power Part 1"
  • "South Bronx" uses James Brown's "Get Up Offa That Thing/Release The Pressure" and "Funky Drummer"
  • "Word From Our Sponsor" uses First Choice's "Love Thang"
  • "Elementary" uses James Brown's "Get Up Offa That Thing (Release The Pressure) [Edit]"
  • "Dope Beat" uses Deep Purple's "Smoke on The Water" and AC/DC's "Back In Black"
  • "P Is Free" used Yellowman's "Zungguzungguguzungguzeng"
  • "Super Hoe" uses Esther Williams' "Last Night Changed It All (I Really Had A Ball)" and Captain Sky's "Super Sporm"
  • "Criminal Minded" uses Syl Johnson's "Different Strokes"