Debuting with the group Boogie Down Productions in 1986, KRS-One emerged as one of hip-hop's key voices of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, standing up for the culture's South Bronx origins, asserting rap music's ability to educate on “My Philosophy,” and combating other MCs on classic diss tracks like “The Bridge Is Over.” Though BDP functioned as KRS-One's sole vision after the murder of founding producer DJ Scott La Rock, he didn't officially go solo until 1993's Return of the Boom Bap, which critiqued law enforcement with outspoken songs like “Sound of da Police” and “Black Cop.”