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For a man who was been responsible for discovering Nas and Papoose, as well as influencing the lyrics of rappers from Rakim to Jay-Z, Kool G. Rap's role in hip hop continually gets overlooked. Most of the younger hip hop heads are more likely to remember him for his role in the Superhead affair than for anything he's done musically. After flying under the radar for the past couple of years, though, it looks like the veteran rapper may finally be getting some positive publicity in the media.
Two weeks ago, Back Route Records announced that it had signed G. Rap to a record deal. It was later revealed that this was only an agreement to release a "street album" (street album seems to be the newest code word for "mixtape" -- apparently that adds some legitimacy to it), and he has yet to sign a major label deal. 50 Cent has spent most of the summer trying to sign G. Rap to G-Unit records, and while he denies anything has been finalized, it looks more and more likely that is where Kool G. Rap will end up. With hip hop currently lacking any great lyricists releasing albums (at least until November), G. Rap may get a chance to shine this fall with a new mixtape coming out in September, followed up by a studio lp that will be released under his own label.
As a brief refresher course on G. Rap, here are a couple of his classic tracks remixed (from DJ Clear's Lyrical Gangstas of NY "street album"):
On Da Run (They Shootin' remix)
Ill Street Blues (50 Cent remix)
For more info on Kool G. Rap, go read this interview on hiphopgame.com. And be sure to check out his website.
8/28/2006 10:51:50 AM posted by Fresh