Thug Life Army

Hip-hop political activist rap artist KRS-One spoke on the 81st birthday of Malcolm X's birthday last Thursday, at a jam-packed Creveling Lounge

"Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. can be called an MC," someone who is a spokesman for the community, KRS-One said. "That's the mentality. When it comes to hip-hop, Malcolm is more hip-hop than Martin. Martin represents those who said ''we want what America has to offer.'' Malcolm said ''This is a great nation. We can be anything we want.''"

KRS-One, who labels himself an MC and not a rapper, spoke about education and how we''re taught at a young age not to question teachers. He also said that in college, students are paying to get access to their own education and said that college was a "business."

"College is not knowledge," he said. "This is not where knowledge is. Knowledge is all over the world. They''re selling you access to your own being, which is called knowledge. When you go to your graduation, and you step up and they give you your receipt - I mean, your degree - remember this conversation."

He also encouraged students to be themselves. "If you are not being yourself, you are holding the entire process of humanity back," he said. "It's as simple as that. Don''t let anyone distract you from being you."

His lecture, while informative, was humorous at times and entertaining to watch. Students found themselves laughing at the examples he gave.

"Hip-hop gives you a condom when having intercourse with corporate America," he said. "That's what culture does. When you wear your culture, wear your principles, wear your traditions, then you are protected in all business ventures. When you stand on your ground, stand on your principles, your enemies will eventually come back and honor you."

KRS-One also posed questions that had students thinking. "What will you live for?" he asked.

"And what will you die for?"

The lecture left the students satisfied; the entire audience stood in unison and gave him a standing ovation.