via NR

Produced entirely by Necro

Rza – Operator ft. Kosha Dillz, Kool G Rap

It’s also exciting to me because it’s been a time where a lot of the greats would say they didn’t have plans to do an album… like it was just put on hold indefinitely. It was actually getting a little depressing. With the labels closing I guess the greats weren’t messing with the new scene, maybe? But now, not just you, but we’re seeing Kane is doing a new album, there’s talk of Slick Rick coming out on Ice Water Records. Is it shifting back somehow? Are we coming out of that period?

You know what I think it is? It’s been years. Big Daddy Kane’s done Big Daddy Kane for years. Slick Rick’s done Slick Rick for years now. But once you’ve been who you are for over two decades, you know, you go through changes in life. I mean, I had points where I was like, I don’t think I’ma do this no more. Or I’m ready to retire this thing, hang it up, move on. And it’s just my competitive spirit that brings me back all the time. And I’m sure all of them have that competitive spirit… Obviously, they wouldn’t have become what they did if they didn’t have that spirit. It’s just a matter of time before they dust off that old mic, plug it back in the old amp and start rappin’ again. Especially when there’s so many people out there that love them. Kane has so many fans. And Slick Rick has so many fans. And everybody’s sitting there waiting and rooting them on. And that makes you more confident to come out in a totally different era and time frame. It makes you just say, you know what, I’ma just do it for the people that love G Rap, or the people that love Kane, or the people that love Slick Rick. I’ma do it for them. But everybody has their own certain point where they’re ready to be persuaded to do that.

No hype man filling in catch-your-breath breaks. Pure flow. Which reminds me of this recent excellent evaluation of Big Pun’s legacy. As noted by Thun, Pun was often compared to KGR. I think it is also worth noting that he was often critiqued for overdoing punch-ins. I never had the opportunity to see the man perform so I can’t comment on his breath control but it doesn’t seem far fetched. This is not necessarily to take away from his legacy but I think it’s important not to gloss over this distinction. This also is not to suggest that KGR did or did not utilize the same studio technique, but it is definitely worth discussing. This issue has always kind of lingered. A few years back there was an article in the NYTimes covering a Hip-Hop Karoake championship and one of the contestants discussed how difficult it was to emulate “Still Not A Player” and I was compelled to wonder if he ever considered he might be trying imitate something that never really took place.

footage via sb

Kool G. Rap – Offer You Can’t Refuse EP

Great interview with Tito from the Fearless Four from last summer, sharing all kinds of crazy memories. Too many to mention, I added a few tags to indicate how important he is to all of this. Peace to Jayquan Link

1. Jamaica Colosseum Mall – 89-02 165th St, Jamaica

“It’s a big strip, you can go up and down to see store after store,” explains Kool G Rap.

When it was founded in 1984, the Colosseum marked a new boom for shopping in the Jamaica, Queens area. Both LL Cool J and the Wu-Tang Clan filmed videos there (“Hush” and “Ice Cream” respectively), and many celebs have shopped at the 120+ stores over the years including Jay-Z, 50 Cent and Run DMC.

2. Queens Center Mall – Queens & Woodhaven Blvds, Flushing and Green Acres Mall – Sunrise Hwy & Green Acres Rd, Valley Stream

“Those are all the ill shopping spots,” Kool G Rap asserts, and he’s not kidding! The three-level Queens Center underwent an over $275 million expansion less than 10 years ago to become the largest shopping mall in Queens, and is complete with a huge food court and indoor play area for the kids.

Green Acres incorporates two levels of shops into 1.8 million square feet of retail space, and it has a food court as well! They host a Kids Club for children 5-10 years old – definitely something worth looking into if you’re staying in the area for long.

3. Jean’s Caribbean-American Restaurant – 188-36 Linden Blvd, St. Albans

“Jean’s is a reputable spot,” G Rap explains. “They’ve got pictures of different artists up on their wall… like, LL Cool J used to go there back in the day as well as myself. So many different people go there.”

4. Citi Field – formerly Shea Stadium – 126th St & Roosevelt Ave, Flushing

“If you’re a sports fan, you’ll definitely want to go there, it’s legendary.”

Although Shea Stadium was demolished in 2009 to make way for the shiny new Citi Field, there is still plenty for tourists to enjoy in the area. Before you enter the doors for a Mets game, you’ll want to stop by the commemorative home plate that remains in the parking lot where Shea once stood.

Here is a quick history lesson video from Journal News, done before Shea was demolished.

5. Flushing Meadows Park

“It’s extremely big – they had the World Fair there back in the day,” says G Rap. Thus, the eye-catching “Unisphere” which was erected for the 1964 World’s Fair. You can spend days at Flushing Meadows visiting the Wildlife Center, Queens Museum of Art and New York Science Center, not to mention unique statues and art spread over 1,255 acres of land.

The park is also home to the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, which contains the Arthur Ashe Stadium. If you’re a tennis fan, then you’ve probably tuned into plenty of games being played at this world-famous venue!

6. Malcolm X’s home – 23-11 97th Street, East Elmhurst [Note: This home is now privately owned]

“That’s touching on history, the house they firebombed is right there!” exclaims Kool G Rap. It was a fateful day in 1965 when someone threw a Molotov cocktail through the window of Malcolm X’s family home.

7. Louis Armstrong House Museum – 34-56 107th Street, Corona

“I used to pass his crib when I was a little kid,” says Kool G Rap. “He had his own image carved out on his front gate. It was something else, knowing Louis Armstrong lived in that house.”

Although it was deemed a national historic landmark in 1976, the jazz legend’s home was actually opened to the public as a museum in 1994. It is currently open for business six days per week, closed on Mondays.

via UrbLife

The Left – Frozen ft. Kool G Rap

It’s here (or its supposed to be but the link is fail, try here) but why even do it to yourself. Listen to the original , The Realest, with Kool G. Rap. Ok, it’s not the “same” song but c’mon now, that sample was ridiculous when it dropped. I think it was credited to Alchemist., Back At You. Peace to Dj Ian Head for pointing out The Realest samples a different song by Ecstasy, Passion & Pain whereas the Wax Museum/Back At You use Isaac Hayes’ Bumpy’s Lament.

It’s ok to be a completist when it comes to G Rap.

Mark Deez – Boot Rap ft. Kool G Rap, Canibus

via Conspiracy Radio

Produced by Dj Supa Dave (Bash Bros.). Link

download: Kool G. Rap & MF Grimm Freestyle (Stretch & Bobbito Show 5 Year Anniversary)

reminded by ryan proctor, via gotty, from stretch armstrong. the freestyle can be found in pt 2 within the compressed file.

Rick Ross feat. Kool G Rap – Knife Fight