MC's Act Like They Don't Know
{{Infobox song
| name = MC's Act Like They Don't Know
| cover = MC's Act Like They Don't Know.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = KRS-One
| album = KRS One
| B-side = Represent the Real Hip Hop
| released = {{start date|1995|08|28}}
| recorded = 1995
| studio = D&D Recording
| genre = Hip-hop
| length = {{Duration|m=4|s=44}}
| label = Jive
| writer = {{hlist|Lawrence Parker|Chris Martin}}
| producer = DJ Premier
| prev_title = Return of the Boom Bap
| prev_year = 1994
| next_title = Rappaz R. N. Dainja
| next_year = 1995
| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|xnI8JEW7Ty4|"MC's Act Like They Don't Know"}}}}
}}
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}{{Cite web |title=MC's Act Like They Don't Know [EP] - KRS-One {{!}} Album {{!}} |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/mcs-act-like-they-dont-know-ep--mw0000179630 |access-date=April 24, 2024 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}
}}
"MC's Act Like They Don't Know" is a hip-hop song written and performed by American rapper KRS-One. It was released on August 28, 1995, via Jive Records as the lead single from his second solo studio album KRS One. Recording sessions took place at D&D Studios in New York. Production was helmed by DJ Premier.
Its lyrics criticize rappers who have studio hits but cannot perform well live.
In the United States, the song peaked at number 57 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 35 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, number 59 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay, number 9 on the Hot Rap Songs, and topped the Dance Singles Sales charts. It also made it to number 84 on the UK singles chart and number 12 on the UK Official Dance Singles Chart.
Track listing
{{Track listing
| all_writing =
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = MC's Act Like They Don't Know
| note1 = LP Version
| writer1 = {{hlist|Lawrence Parker|Chris Martin}}
| extra1 = DJ Premier
| length1 = 4:44
| title2 = MC's Act Like They Don't Know
| note2 = Instrumental
| writer2 =
| extra2 = DJ Premier
| length2 = 4:44
| title3 = Represent the Real Hip Hop (Street Version)
| note3 = featuring Das EFX
| writer3 = {{hlist|Parker|Andre Weston|William Hines}}
| extra3 = Showbiz
| length3 = 3:20
| title4 = Represent the Real Hip Hop (Clean Version)
| note4 = featuring Das EFX
| writer4 = {{hlist|Parker|Weston|Hines}}
| extra4 = Showbiz
| length4 = 3:20
| title5 = Represent the Real Hip Hop
| note5 = Instrumental
| writer5 =
| extra5 = Showbiz
| length5 = 2:50
| total_length =
}}
Personnel
- Lawrence "KRS-One" Parker – vocals
- Christopher "DJ Premier" Martin – producer & mixing (tracks: 1, 2)
- Norty Cotto – engineering (tracks: 1, 2)
- Andre "Krazy Drayz" Weston – vocals (tracks: 3, 4)
- Willie "Skoob" Hines – vocals (tracks: 3, 4)
- Rodney "Showbiz" LeMay – producer (tracks: 3-5)
- Gordon "Commissioner Gordon" Williams – engineering (tracks: 3-5)
- Tom Brick – mastering
- Maria Valencia – design
- Ron Croudy – design
- Scott "DJ Scott La Rock" Sterling – overseen by
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (1995)
! scope="col"| Peak |
|---|
| {{single chart|UK|84|date=19950910|rowheader=true|access-date=April 24, 2024}} |
| {{single chart|UKdance|12|date=19950910|rowheader=true|access-date=April 24, 2024}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|57|artist=KRS-One|rowheader=true|access-date=April 24, 2024}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphop|35|artist=KRS-One|rowheader=true|access-date=April 24, 2024}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrandbhiphopairplay|59|artist=KRS-One|rowheader=true|access-date=April 24, 2024}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardrapsongs|9|artist=KRS-One|rowheader=true|access-date=April 24, 2024}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Discogs master|62693|MC's Act Like They Don't Know|type=single}}
{{KRS-One}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Songs written by KRS-One