Kool G Rap

A founding father of NYC's crime-rhyme sound, Queens emcee Kool G Rap began his career in 1986, teaming up with DJ Polo and super-producer Marley Marl. He and Polo released two singles, "It's A Demo" and "Riker's Island," before appearing on the Juice Crew's classic posse cut "The Symphony" in 1988. With the entire big apple fiending for more, Kool G Rap and DJ Polo soon unleashed their hardcore debut Road To The Riches. The album, produced by Marl, showcased Rap's microphone mastery as he delivered lyrically innovative street sagas depicting gritty realism the likes of which few had heard before. Their 1990 follow-up Wanted: Dead Or Alive continued their legacy nicely, with contributions from Eric B, Large Professor, and Biz Markie. The duo released two more records before parting ways, with Kool G Rap recording two solo albums in the second half of the '90s. An undeniable influence on an entire generation of mic touchers, he continues to work tirelessly, having recently contributed blazing verses to tracks from Big Pun, Mobb Deep, and Noreaga.