Photos: KRS-One's book launch @ powerHouseArena

Or, how I ended up covering the Blastmaster for MTV News

I can hear y'all now: "But, Rob, doesn't your blog focus on Black rock, Afro-punk and other types of Black alt music and culture?" Absolutely. "So what were you doing covering a KRS-One event for MTV News?"

'Cause I had a camera. Seriously, the real answer is that I was covering for a friend. I've gotten to know Daniela Capistrano through our mutual involvement in Afropunk. She was originally supposed to attend this event, but couldn't, so she asked me to cover for her.

Here's the story as it was posted on MTVNews.

Turns out Kris has his own imprint through powerHouse Books called I Am Hip Hop. According to a report:

the imprint "shall serve as a home for cutting-edge, positive material related to the true culture and philosophies of Hip Hop. Dedicated to publishing high-quality books ranging from serious philosophical treatises to urban photography projects or engaging fictional novels, this imprint will release material personally chosen and overseen by Hip Hop legend, KRS ONE."

The first publication is slated for September 2009 and is called The Gospels of Hip Hop, which is organized like the Christian Bible and serves as a life manual, an "in-depth exploration of Hip Hop as a life-path."

Actually, it was pretty cool to see Kris perform. Lots of freestyles, along with references to his catalogue of classics.

Some event pics: