What does P.S.K. stand for in "P.S.K. What Does It Mean?" by Schoolly D?
P.S.K. stands for Park Side Killas, a street gang with which Philadelphia rapper Schoolly D was affiliated. The name was an abbreviation used in the song's title and lyrics.
Questions about P.S.K. What Does It Mean?
Short answers, pulled from the story.
When was "P.S.K. What Does It Mean?" by Schoolly D released?
"P.S.K. What Does It Mean?" was released in 1985 on Schoolly D's independent label, Schoolly D Records.
Why is "P.S.K. What Does It Mean?" considered the first gangsta rap song?
"P.S.K. What Does It Mean?" is considered the first gangsta rap and hardcore rap song because of its graphic depictions of street violence, drug use, and sexual content, delivered without euphemism and released independently in 1985. It also featured one of the earliest recorded uses of the word "nigga" in rap.
What drum machine was used on "P.S.K. What Does It Mean?" by Schoolly D?
The beat was performed on a Roland TR-909 drum machine. Schoolly D has said the track's distinctive heavy reverb on the drums came from his crew repeatedly calling for more reverb during a recording session marked by heavy marijuana use.
How did "P.S.K. What Does It Mean?" influence Ice-T and West Coast rap?
Ice-T has said in interviews that he wrote "6 in the Mornin'" directly after hearing "P.S.K. What Does It Mean?", making Schoolly D's Philadelphia record a direct catalyst for early West Coast gangsta rap. Eazy-E's debut song "Boyz-N-The-Hood" was also heavily influenced by "P.S.K."
Which artists have sampled or covered "P.S.K. What Does It Mean?" by Schoolly D?
The Prodigy sampled it three times, on "Rock 'N' Roll" (later "You'll Be Under My Wheels"), "Diesel Power," and "Medicine." Siouxsie and the Banshees used the beat for "Kiss Them for Me," Eminem sampled it on "So Far..." from The Marshall Mathers LP 2, and DJ Khaled used it on "It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over" from the 2011 album We the Best Forever. Moby and Danny Diablo covered it with the Lordz of Brooklyn.