“G Rap is a Hip Hop godfather: There are plenty of MCs who might never have been heard if G Rap hadn’t paved the way.” – MTV.com
“What motivates me to get in the studio is really being in that creative zone that you cannot just enter on demand. It is more like an extremely powerful vibe that overcomes you. It can be triggered by hearing a particular track, or being inspired by another artist; or, a life experience that makes your mind and heart open up, where lyrics just come from your soul in the capacity of an avalanche…” – Kool G Rap
Nathaniel Thomas Wilson (born July 20, 1968), better known by his stage name Kool G Rap (or simply G Rap, and originally Kool Genius of Rap) hails from the Corona neighborhood of Queens, New York City. He began his career in the mid-1980s as one half of the group Kool G Rap & DJ Polo and as a member of the Juice Crew. He is often cited as one of the most influential and skilled MCs of all time, and a pioneer of mafioso rap/street/hardcore content and multisyllabic rhyming. On his album The Giancana Story, he stated that the “G” in his name stands for “Giancana” (after the mobster Sam Giancana), but on other occasions he has stated that it stands for “Genius”.
He has also been cited as a major influence to some of Hip Hop’s most critically acclaimed figures such as The Notorious B.I.G., Nas, Eminem and Jay-Z, as well as many underground rappers.
Wilson grew up in the poverty-ridden streets of Corona, Queens, New York with legendary producer Eric B. In an interview with The Source he stated;
“Growing up in Corona was like a little Harlem, it wasn’t that hard for a n**** to be influenced by the street life type of mentality. I was like 15 years old, Ma dukes couldn’t dress a n**** no more and at that age you want a little money in your pocket. That’s what gets us all, material possessions. A n**** got caught up in that mentality. N**** started selling drugs at a certain point, and all that s***, it’s what was goin’ on in the streets … eventually all my friends got smoked. Everybody was droppin’. All my friends started packing burners everyday, we was wild shorties.”
— Kool G Rap, The Source Magazine, issue 72, September, 1995.
Around this time, Wilson was looking for a DJ, and through Eric B., he met DJ Polo, who was looking for an MC to collaborate with.
Juice Crew producer and Mr. Magic DJ Marley Marl knew Polo, and allowed him and G Rap to go to his studio to do a demo, which resulted in the song “It’s a Demo.” The song was written and recorded in one night, and had Marley so impressed, that he instantly embraced Kool G Rap and DJ Polo as Juice Crew members (it’s worth noting that this was the first time G Rap had ever met Marley.) In 1986 on Mr Magic’s Rap Attack radio show on 107.5, the duo got their first exposure which created more buzz. They eventually released “It’s a Demo” as a single with “I’m Fly”, along with two more singles. Shortly after this, Kool G Rap appeared on the Juice Crew’s classic posse cut “The Symphony” before they released their debut album, Road to the Riches in 1989. This album and their two later albums, Wanted: Dead or Alive (1990) and Live and Let Die (1992), are highly regarded and considered Hip Hop classics. Eventually in 1993, Kool G Rap parted ways with DJ Polo in pursuit of a solo career.
In 1995, G Rap started his solo career with the album 4, 5, 6, which featured production from Buckwild, and guest appearances from Nas, MF Grimm and B-1. It has been his most commercially successful record, reaching No.24 on the US Billboard 200 album chart. This was followed by Roots of Evil in 1998. In 1997 G Rap was featured on Frankie Cutlass’ “Politic & Bullsht” album track titled “Know Da Game” which also featured Mobb Deep.
He was then meant to release his next album, The Giancana Story in 2000, on Rawkus Records, but due to several complications with the label, the album was pushed back several times, and eventually released in 2002. “My Life” the hit single from the album featuring Talk Box legend G-Wise reached No.5 on the US Billboard Hot 100 charts. He then released a joint album with his group, 5 Family Click, on his own Igloo Ent. label to mild success. In the following years, mixtapes were made and further collaborations continued. There were even rumors of G Rap’s signing to both Rocafella and G-Unit Records, and even at one point Maybach Music. In 2007 he released Half a Klip on Chinga Chang Records, featuring production from, among others, DJ Premier and Marley Marl A full LP was released in 2011, Riches, Royalty, Respect showcasing his true to form style and lyricism. The promise and prospects of collaboration albums were announced later the next year on his own, newly formed label FullMettle.
