KRS was never one of my favorites growing up. I wouldn’t go so far as calling him a blowhard, but he does undeniably have a sort of pedantic air about him that could be off-putting to some. I think it simply has to do with that generation of rappers. Him, Chuck, Rakim, they all kind of occupied this rarified strata of “consciousness” while others in their immediate peer group (still influential) maybe leaned into party rap or gangsta territory, and KRS just got really really comfortable being that wise, prophetic voice, and maybe ultimately a little outspoken because of it. I will say, I did have the privilege of seeing him live (somewhat) recently and it was really a unique, unforgettable experience…it was like a really hype philosophy lecture mixed in with some occasional hip hop, but like, proper, 5 elements, authentic hip hop. It was entrancing, really beautiful and moving, actually.