Kool G Rap
Performing in New York City, November 2006
Background information
Birth name	Nathaniel Wilson
Also known as	G Rap, Your Favorite Rapper's Favorite Rapper
Born	July 20, 1968 (1968-07-20) (age 40)
Origin	Queens, New York City, United States
Genre(s)	Hardcore Hip Hop
Years active	1986-present
Label(s)	Cold Chillin', Rawkus, Chinga Chang, Koch
Associated acts	Juice Crew, Big L, DJ Polo, Nas, Canibus, Ras Kass, Jedi Mind Tricks

Nathaniel Wilson (born July 20, 1968), better known by his stage name Kool G Rap, is an American hardcore rapper from the Corona section of Queens, New York. He began his career in the mid-1980s as one half of the group Kool G Rap & Polo, and also as a member of the Juice Crew, who were involved in The Bridge Wars.

Biography

Cold Chillin'

Wilson began working with DJ Polo in 1986, releasing several underground hit singles including "It's a Demo"/"I'm Fly".^[1] Two other singles, "Streets of New York" and "Road to the Riches" (which borrows a sample from Billy Joel's "Stiletto"), received heavy rotation on Yo! MTV Raps and cemented his reputation as one of New York's top lyrical auteurs. His talent for telling a compelling, hard-luck story in a single song was considered second to only that of Rakim. While Wilson grew in popularity, he never crossed over like Biz Markie or Big Daddy Kane, both also members of the Juice Crew.

Solo career

In 1995, he released 4,5,6, the first of his 3 solo albums. He also released Click of Respect with the 5 Family Click in 2003. His latest album, titled Half A Klip, was released on the Koch Entertainment-distributed labels Chinga Chang Records and Latchkey Recordings on February 5, 2008 worldwide. Half A Klip features production by grammy winner DJ Premier. The first single "On The Rise(Again)" is produced by DJ Premier and was co-written by Haylie Duff^[2]. The Queens-bred rapper inked a deal with Chinga Chang Records owner CEO DMAK in 2005. Kool was married to Karrine Steffans and has a son with her, however, Steffans stated on Hot 97 she was never legally married to Kool G Rap. Although they were never married, Steffans did admit that Kool G Rap did consider her his wife.^[3]

Legacy

This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. (July 2008)

Kool G Rap is considered a legendary golden age and mafioso rapper. He is also considered one of the most influential rappers ever. Early in his career, Kool G Rap's (short for "Kool Genius of Rap") hallmark was his rapid-fire, multisyllabic delivery. He trademarked the ability to rhyme the same syllables in the same combinations, though with different words, for a whole verse. This style is mostly apparent on the 1990 album Wanted: Dead or Alive, on such songs as "Play It Again, Polo", "Jive Talk", and "Kool is Back". The style was later adopted by Souls of Mischief, Big Daddy Kane, Cassidy, Fabolous, Busta Rhymes, Pharoahe Monch, and Cam'ron to varying degrees, as well as Nas, Necro, Papoose, Black Thought, R.A. The Rugged Man, and Big Pun (of whom the latter two cited G Rap as their biggest influences). Today many rappers use this style, though few follow it as strictly as G Rap does.

Mafioso rap

G Rap's first single on his first album was "Road to the Riches" where he claims to be a small town's Al Pacino (aka Tony Montana) and Riker's Island, about NYC's infamous short term prison. He had hinted at this inclination on his second album with the song "Streets of New York." His later albums straddle the line between glorification and remorse in relation to the gangster lifestyle. He laments the violent, and insanely crude lifestyle he rapped about on songs like "On the Run," yet boasts it on songs such as "Fast Life" (featuring Nas).

In his songs, album covers and titles, he has used various references to mob movies. For example, the first line of "Bad to the Bone" states: I'm bad to the bone / with a style like Al Capone. Also, the album "Live and Let Die" uses many samples from the film The Untouchables. The album cover of his 5th album, Roots of Evil, contains a reference to the poster for The Godfather, and is visually similar to the poster for the film Scarface. His 6th album is named The Giancana Story, referencing well-known Mafia boss Sam Giancana. He plays the voice of Brik the mouse in the Three Thug Mice cartoon. [1]

Discography

With DJ Polo

Solo

Compilations

Featured appearances

• 1988: "The Symphony" (on the Marley Marl album In Control Volume 1)
• 1991: "Don't Curse" (from the Heavy D album Peaceful Journey")
• 1991: "The Symphony Vol. II" (on the Marley Marl album In Control Volume 2: For Your Steering Pleasure)
• 1992: "Death Threat" (from the Brand New Heavies album Heavy Rhyme Experience Vol. 1)
• 1993: "This Is How We..." (from the Pudgee Tha Phat Bastard album Give Em The Finger)
• 1996: "Representin'" (Ruffa featuring Kool G Rap)
• 1996: "Stick To Ya Gunz" (from the M.O.P. album Firing Squad)
• 1998: "Truly Yours 98" (from the Pete Rock album Soul Survivor)
• 1998: "Guns Blazing (Drums of Death, Pt. 1)" (from the UNKLE album Psyence Fiction)
• 1998: "40 Island" (from the N.O.R.E. album N.O.R.E.)
• 1999: "Friend of Ours" (from the E-Moneybags album In E-Moneybags We Trust)
• 1999: "The Realest" (from the Mobb Deep album Murda Muzik)
• 2000: "Fall Back" (from the Big L album The Big Picture)
• 2000: "Ghetto afterlife" (from the Reflection Eternal album Train of thought)
• 2001: "Gorillas" (from the Screwball album Loyalty)
• 2001: "No Surrender" (Shabaam Sahdeeq featuring Kool G Rap)
• 2002: "Allied Meta-Forces" (from the Canibus album Mic Club: The Curriculum)
• 2003: "Animal Rap" (from the Jedi Mind Tricks album Visions of Gandhi)
• 2005: "Ghost & Giancana" (from the Ghostface Killah album Put It on the Line)
• 2006: "We Gone Go Hard" (from the Ras Kass album Revenge of the Spit)
• 2006: "Full Metal Jacket" (from the Molemen album Killing Fields)
• 2007: "Hood Tales" (from the Marco Polo album Port Authority)
• 2007: "100 Roundz" (from the Domingo album The Most Underrated)
• 2007: "Come one, come all" (from the Styles P album The Ghost Sessions)
• 2007: "Next Up" (from the UGK album Underground Kingz)
• 2007: "6 in the Morning" (from the Statik Selektah album Spell My Name Right: The Album)
• 2007: "Buck Buck" (on the Red Cafe and DJ Envy album The Co-Op)
• 2008: "The Next Step" (from the Big John album The Next Step featuring R.A The Rugged Man)

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Kool G Rap