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) is a famous American rapper. He is much better known by his stage name, Kool G Rap. He started his music journey in the mid-1980s. He was part of a group called Kool G Rap & DJ Polo. He was also a member of the well-known Juice Crew. Many people think he is one of the most important and skilled rappers ever. He helped create new styles like mafioso rap and using many syllables in his rhymes. The "G" in his name can mean "Giancana" (after a mobster) or "Genius."
Kool G Rap has inspired many top 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
His Early Life
Nathaniel Wilson grew up in Corona, Queens, New York City. This area was known for being quite poor. He grew up with a legendary music producer named Eric B..
Around that time, Wilson was looking for a DJ to work with. Eric B. helped him meet DJ Polo. DJ Polo was also looking for a rapper to team up with.
Teaming Up with DJ Polo
Juice Crew producers Mr. Magic and DJ Marley Marl invited Kool G Rap and DJ Polo to their studio. They recorded a song called "It's a Demo." They wrote and recorded the song in just one night. Marley Marl was so impressed that he quickly 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. Kool G Rap then appeared on the Juice Crew's classic song "The Symphony." After that, they released their first album, Road to the Riches, in 1989. Their albums, including Wanted: Dead or Alive (1990) and Live and Let Die (1992), are seen as hip-hop classics. In 1993, Kool G Rap started his solo career.
His Solo Career
In 1995, Kool G Rap released his first solo album, 4, 5, 6. It featured music from Buckwild. Other famous rappers like Nas also appeared on it. This album was his most successful, reaching No. 24 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart. He then released Roots of Evil in 1998.
His next album, The Giancana Story, came out in 2002. The song "My Life" from this album was very popular. It reached No. 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Rap singles charts. In 2003, Kool G Rap and his group 5 Family Click released a joint album. He continued to release music, including Half a Klip in 2007 and Riches, Royalty, Respect in 2011. In 2018, he released Son of G Rap with rapper 38 Spesh.
Later, Kool G Rap became interested in other things besides hip-hop. He talked about writing movie scripts. He also thought about starting his own 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 journalist Peter Shapiro said he "created the blueprint" for many famous rappers. These include Nas and Biggie. Rapper Kool Moe Dee called him a "prototype" for many hard-core rappers. MTV described Kool G Rap as a "hip-hop godfather." They said he helped many other MCs get started.
Rolling Stone magazine noted that G Rap was great at telling street stories. This style later became popular with other Queens rappers like Nas and Mobb Deep.
Many artists have said Kool G Rap influenced them. These include The Notorious B.I.G., Eminem, and Jay-Z. Members of Wu-Tang Clan like RZA and Raekwon also named him as an influence. Other artists include Big Pun, Action Bronson, and Twista.
He is also highly praised for his rapping skills. He is often compared to other great golden age MCs. These include Big Daddy Kane, Rakim, and KRS-One. Jay-Z even rapped that hearing him is like "hearing G Rap in his prime." Allmusic called him "one of the greatest rappers ever."
His Rhyme Style
Kool G Rap is known for using complex multisyllabic rhymes. This means he uses many syllables that rhyme together. This has been a key part of his style since he started. He also raps very fast and has amazing breath control. He often uses many multisyllabic rhymes in a single verse.
He is also known as one of hip-hop's best storytellers. He creates "laser-like visual descriptions" and "vivid narratives." Rolling Stone said his album Live and Let Die showed he was rap music's top storyteller.
Kool G Rap wrote the introduction for the 2009 book How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC. In it, he shared insights about his rhyming techniques.
Mafioso Rap Style
Kool G Rap is often given credit for being the first rapper to use mafioso and street themes in his lyrics. He made references to Al Pacino (who played Michael Corleone in The Godfather) as early as 1989. This was long before other albums made such references popular.
Since his first album, he has used many references to mob movies. These appear in his lyrics, album covers, and titles. For example, his album Live and Let Die (1992) uses sounds from the movie The Untouchables. 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 Mafia boss Sam Giancana.
Rolling Stone said that before Kool G Rap, New York didn't have street rap like what was coming from artists like Ice-T and N.W.A. They also said G Rap was excellent at telling street stories.
His songs talk about crime and violence. Sometimes he shows sadness about it, like in 'Streets of New York'. Other times, he seems to celebrate it, like in 'Fast Life' with Nas.
Kool G Rap's style was inspired by Italian mob movies and street stories. He helped set the stage for the popular mafioso rap style. He also influenced underground storytelling in rap.
Personal Life
Nathaniel Wilson dated Karrine Steffans from 1995 to 1999. They have one son together.
Discography
- 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)
