Kool G Rap & DJ Polo "Road to Riches" 12" Cold Chillin' (US)

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Track Listing:

ARoad To The Riches (LP Version)4:48BButcher Shop (LP Version)3:44

Nathaniel Wilson (born , ), better known by his Kool G Rap, is an from the section of . He began his career in the mid-1980s as one half of the group Kool G Rap & , and also as a member of the . He is often cited as one of the most influential and skilled MCs of all time, who is a pioneer and master of mafioso/street/hardcore content and rhyming. His name is short for "Kool Genius of Rap"

Kool G Rap debuted with in 1986, on the single "It's a Demo"/"I'm Fly". They then released two more singles and Kool G Rap also rapped on the 's classic posse cut 'The Symphony' before they released their debut album, in 1989. This album and their two later albums, (1990) and (1992), are highly regarded and considered Hip-Hop classics.

Early Years

Wilson grew up in the poverty-ridden streets of with legendary producer In an interview with he stated;

“ Growing up in Corona was like a little Harlem, it wasn't that hard for a nigga to be influenced by the street life type of mentality. I was like 15 years old, Ma dukes couldn't dress a nigga no more and at that age you want a little money in your pocket. That's what gets us all, material possessions. A nigga got caught up in that mentality. Nigga started selling drugs at a certain point, and all that sh*t, it's what was goin' on in the streets ... eventually all my friends got smoked. Everybody was droppin'. All my friends started packing burners everyday, we was wild shorties. ”

—Kool G Rap, The Source Magazine, issue 72, September, 1995]].

Around this time, Wilson was looking for a DJ, and through Eric B., he met , who was looking for an MC to colloberate with.

Kool G Rap & DJ Polo

producer, and DJ; knew Polo, and allowed him and G Rap to go to his studio to do a demo, which resulted in the song "It's a Demo." The song was written and recorded in one night, and had Marley so impressed, that he instantly embraced Kool G Rap and DJ Polo as Juice Crew members (it's worth noting that this was the first time G Rap had ever met Marley.) In 1986 on Mr Magic's Rap Attack radio show on 107.5, the duo got their first exposure which created more buzz. They eventually released "It's a Demo" as a single with"I'm Fly", along with two more singles. Shortly after this, Kool G Rap appeared on the 's classic posse cut 'The Symphony' before they released their debut album, in 1989. This album and their two later albums, (1990) and (1992), are highly regarded and considered Hip-Hop classics. Eventually in 1993, Kool G rap parted ways with DJ Polo in pursuit of a solo career.

Solo career

In 1995, G Rap started his solo career with the album , which featured production from , and guest appearances from and - it has been his most commercially successful record, reaching No.24 on the US album chart. This was followed by in 1998. He was then meant to release his next album, in 2000, on , but due to several complications with the label, the album was pushed back several times, and eventually released in 2002. In 2008 he released the EP on , featuring production from Hip-Hop legends and .

Criticisms of Kool G Rap's solo albums usually focus on the production not being up to the standard of the rapping.

While Kool G Rap has always been popular and well respected in Hip-Hop circles for his lyrical skills, he never crossed over and saw the same level of commercial success as rappers such as and , both also members of the . He is known for consistently making records which are hardcore, dark, intelligent, and underground.

Legacy

Kool G Rap is regarded as a hugely influential rapper. Music journalist suggests that Kool G Rap "created the blueprint for , and everyone who followed in their path". Kool G Rap is described by as "the progenitor and prototype for , , , , , , and about twenty-five more hard-core emcees", and also claims Kool G Rap is "the most lyrical" out of all of the artists mentioned. MTV describes Kool G Rap as a "hip-hop godfather", adding that he paved the way for a lot of MCs who we would not have heard of otherwise. says, "G Rap excelled at the street narrative, a style that would come to define later Queens MCs like (who was hugely influenced by G Rap on his early records) and ". Other artists who have named Kool G Rap as a major influence include of , , , , , of , , , , , of , , , and .

He is also often very highly rated in terms of his technical ability and is often ranked alongside other highly regarded MCs, such as , , and . In 's track 'Encore', raps, "hearing me rap is like hearing G Rap in his prime", comparing his skill level to that of Kool G Rap, and calls him "one of the greatest rappers ever", "a master", and "a legend". A number of rappers put him in their Top 5 MCs lists, ranks Kool G Rap at No.14 in his book : The True 50 Greatest MCs, and MTV gives him an 'Honorable Mention' in their Greatest MCs Of All Time list.

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