Kool G Rap and DJ Polo’s “Road To The Riches” is forever lauded for its poetry that brought mob-style tales into rap’s usual subjects of bragging and having fun. Kool G Rap’s hellacious delivery would become the archetype for almost every hardcore rapper of note. Flawless breath control and multiple syllable verses rapped at breakneck speed with the stories of organized criminals were his own design. “Road To Riches” is about the path to success from the perspective of a humble kid who ends up selling drugs but unlike a group like NWA, Kool G Rap used no curse words. Marley Marl produced the album which was released on the now defunct Cold Chillin’ label that released most of the music from legendary Queensbridge rap posse Juice Crew. Marl, who was a co-founder of the Juice Crew with the late Mr. Magic, invited Kool G Rap and DJ Polo into the group after their recording of “It’s A Demo” in 1986. The album was also titled Road To Riches and it was a moment that set off a style explosion in rap that so many artists still mimick in contemporary hip-hop. Kool G Rap’s contribution usually gets obscured by those who came after him like Jay-Z, Biggie and Nas. He is forever underrated and uncredited for his work that never really hit the mainstream like many of the artists he has influenced. Kool G Rap went solo in 1993 and has released nine solo albums. A new album Last Of A Dying Breed is on the way and the first single will be “Born Hustler” featuring AZ.
