Kool G Rap facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kool G Rap
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Kool G Rap performing in 2004
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| Birth name | Nathaniel Thomas Wilson |
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| Born | July 20, 1968 New York City, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1986–present |
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Nathaniel Thomas Wilson (born July 20, 1968), known by his stage name Kool G Rap (or just G Rap), is an American rapper. He started his music journey in the mid-1980s. He was part of the group Kool G Rap & DJ Polo and also a member of the Juice Crew.
Many people think he is one of the most important and skilled rappers ever. He helped create a style of rap that tells stories about city life. He also pioneered using many rhyming words together in his songs. The "G" in his name sometimes stands for "Giancana," like a famous movie character. Other times, he has said it stands for "Genius."
Kool G Rap has inspired many famous hip-hop artists. These include the Notorious B.I.G., Nas, Eminem, and Jay-Z. He also influenced many underground rappers.
Contents
About Kool G Rap
Growing Up
Nathaniel Wilson grew up in Corona, Queens, New York City. He lived in a neighborhood where life could be tough. He met famous producer Eric B. during his younger years.
Around this time, Wilson was looking for a DJ to work with. Through Eric B., he met DJ Polo. DJ Polo was also looking for a rapper to team up with.
Teaming Up with DJ Polo
Juice Crew producer Mr. Magic and DJ Marley Marl gave Polo and Kool G Rap a chance. They went to the studio to record a demo song called "It's a Demo." They wrote and recorded the song in just one night. Marley Marl was so impressed that he welcomed them into the Juice Crew.
In 1986, the duo appeared on Mr. Magic's radio show. They released "It's a Demo" as a single, along with "I'm Fly." Kool G Rap then appeared on the Juice Crew's famous song "The Symphony."
Their first album, Road to the Riches, came out in 1989. They released two more albums: Wanted: Dead or Alive (1990) and Live and Let Die (1992). These albums are considered classic hip-hop records. In 1993, Kool G Rap decided to start his own solo career.
A Solo Journey
In 1995, Wilson released his first solo album, 4, 5, 6. It featured music from Buckwild and guest appearances from Nas and MF Grimm. This album was his most successful, reaching No. 24 on the U.S. Billboard 200 album chart.
He followed this with Roots of Evil in 1998. Kool G Rap also appeared on other artists' songs. These included "Know Da Game" by Frankie Cutlass and "Wishful Thinking" by Big Pun.
His next album, The Giancana Story, was released in 2002. The song "My Life" from this album became a hit. In 2003, Kool G Rap and his group 5 Family Click released a joint album.
In 2007, he released Half a Klip. This album featured production from famous DJs like DJ Premier and Marley Marl. A full album, Riches, Royalty, Respect, came out in 2011. In 2018, he released Son of G Rap with rapper 38 Spesh.
Later, Kool G Rap became interested in other creative projects. He wanted to write movie scripts and even work on a clothing line.
His Impact on Hip Hop
Kool G Rap is seen as a very important rapper from the golden age of hip hop. Music experts say he created a style that influenced many famous rappers. These include Nas, Biggie, and Jay-Z.
Kool Moe Dee called him a "prototype" for many hard-core rappers. MTV described Kool G Rap as a "hip-hop godfather." Rolling Stone magazine noted that he was excellent at telling stories about city life. This style later became popular with other Queens rappers like Nas.
Many artists have said Kool G Rap was a big influence on them. Some of these include Eminem, Tajai of Souls of Mischief, and members of Wu-Tang Clan.
He is also highly praised for his technical skills in rapping. He is often compared to other great rappers like Big Daddy Kane and Rakim. Jay-Z even rapped that hearing him rap was like "hearing G Rap in his prime." Allmusic called him "one of the greatest rappers ever."
His Unique Rhyme Style
Kool G Rap is known for using complex multisyllabic rhymes since he started. This means he uses many words that rhyme together in a single line. He also raps very fast and has amazing breath control.
He is also considered one of hip-hop's best storytellers. His songs use "laser-like visual descriptions" and "vivid narratives." Rolling Stone said his album Live and Let Die showed his skill as a "premier yarn-spinner."
Kool G Rap wrote the introduction for the 2009 book How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC. In the book, he shared insights into his rhyming techniques.
Storytelling in His Music
Kool G Rap is often recognized for being one of the first rappers to tell stories inspired by old movies about organized groups. He also included themes about tough city life in his lyrics.
You can see this in his 1989 song "Road to the Riches." He mentioned Al Pacino, an actor famous for playing characters in movies like The Godfather and Scarface. He did this long before other rappers made such references popular.
Since his first album, he has used many references to these types of movies. His album covers and titles also show this influence. For example, the cover of Roots of Evil (1998) uses ideas from The Godfather and Scarface movie posters. His album The Giancana Story (2002) is named after a famous movie character.
Rolling Stone noted that before Kool G Rap, New York didn't have rap music that focused on street stories as much as artists from other places. They said G Rap was excellent at telling these kinds of stories.
His songs about city life and movie-inspired themes show different feelings. Sometimes he shows sadness and thought, like in "Streets of New York." Other times, he might show excitement, like in "Fast Life" with Nas.
Kool G Rap helped set the stage for how rappers tell stories in their music. He combined influences from Italian films and real-life city narratives.
Personal Life
Nathaniel Wilson has one son.
Music Albums
- Solo albums
- 4,5,6 (1995)
- Roots of Evil (1998)
- The Giancana Story (2002)
- Half a Klip (2008)
- Riches, Royalty, Respect (2011)
- Return of the Don (2017)
- Last of a Dying Breed (2022)
- Collaboration albums
- Road to the Riches (with DJ Polo) (1989)
- Wanted: Dead or Alive (with DJ Polo) (1990)
- Live and Let Die (with DJ Polo) (1992)
- Rated ... (with DJ Polo) (1996)
- Click of Respect (with the 5 Family Click) (2003)
- Once Upon a Crime (with Necro as the Godfathers) (2013)
- Son of G Rap (with 38 Spesh) (2018)
