POP MUSIC REVIEW : Tantrum Mars Set by KRS-One

What a childish display of temper--and from the teacher no less.

KRS-One, the leader of the socially conscious rap posse Boogie Down Productions, is often reverently referred to as a teacher in gangster’s clothing. But a half hour into his Hollywood Palladium set on Sunday, he went into a rage over sound problems, hurling his mike and mike stand offstage and then stomping away.

Not only did KRS-One perform only part of a show, but that part was below his high standard. The New York-based rapper was so preoccupied with the sound problems (which weren’t at all apparent in the audience) that he obviously wasn’t concentrating on his performance.

That didn’t help the mood of the crowd, which had already endured a three-hour wait past the show’s scheduled 7 p.m. starting time. But headliner Shabba Ranks somewhat saved the day. The audience was turned on by the charismatic reggae rapper’s teasing chatter and the percolating beats laid down by his live band. A commanding, intense performer, he might become a major mainstream star if he broadens his show and his raps, which are now geared strongly to the hard-core reggae crowd.