Today, July 20, marks the birthday of one of Hip-Hop’s most innovative emcees of all time, Kool G Rap. The Golden Era icon turns 55.
Along with DJ Polo, the Corona, Queens wordsmith was recruited into the Juice Crew by Marley Marl and launched his debut album, Road to the Riches- solidifying the blueprint of mafioso rapping. With the use of stacked syllables and intense delivery, G Rap detailed the journey of the ideal Black male youth in New York City. Not just any young Black male. The Black male born into an impoverished foundation wishes to embellish the lifestyle of a millionaire in a mob-like way. Owning the job of telling the New York street narrative, G Rap laid out the blueprint for hardcore storytelling. His ability to paint the picture of an average day is deemed to be complex, and the post-generation influence is evident in classics such as Only Built 4 Cuban Linx and Reasonable Doubt.
Two years ago, the Hip-Hop legend dropped his fifth solo album, Return of the Don, an overall comforting trip through his legacy as a mafioso rap pioneer. The album hoards several collaborations with renowned mafioso rappers among the likes of Raekwon, N.O.R.E., and Sheek Louch, which overall confirm G Rap’s grand influence. Without a shadow of a doubt, Kool G Rap is one of Hip-Hop’s most straightforward yet complex personalities to ever contribute to the rap element, and street tale spits are vital to his legend.
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Happy Birthday to the Kool Genius of Rap, Kool G Rap!