Forget Me Not Friday – Bornday Blessings to Kool G Rap

With Nas’s latest masterpiece blasting through everyones speakers, I wanted to slow down and take a minute to recognize one of the pioneers. If it weren’t for cats like Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane and Rakim, we wouldnt have the Big L’s, Jay-Z’s, and Nas’s. Simply put, in the structure of hip-hop, Kool G Rap would definitely be one of the foundation blocks.

Queens native, G Rap is the epitome of the “your favorite rappers favorite rapper”. On his birthday, I thought I would take a stroll down memory lane and re-visit some of my favorites. With a lyrical technical assault, G Rap delivered street stories from grimey to glorified.

Speaking of Nas…classic collab from 1996

Nas and Kool G Rap – “Fast Life”

Kool G Rap (DJ Premier on the beat) – “First *N WORD*” <—–that just happened. Its Premier on the beat. Sick!

Kool G Rap, ft. B1 Mf Grimm – “Money on My Brain”

G Rap’s verse on this one is nutty dope:

I’m sportin flavors and Timbs, a ninety-five Bezn with the chrome rims
Presedential Rolex, two carat diamonds with the stone gems
Pockets filled with lucci leather wallets designed by Gucci
Parlay in resteraunts, eatin shrimp, scampi and sushi
Fly minks, with icicles that blink inside cuban links
Lookin ?, brothers stink, got loot like I’m doin banks
Hundred dollar bottles of chammy, condos in Miami
Front row seats up at the Grammy’s, the broke niggaz can’t stand me
Hold the flame low, hotel suites inside the Flamingo
Just home by the dingos, I step up in em rockin Kangols
Straight up fakin no jacks, cause all my crackshacks are jam packed
My mad stacks, show that I’m on the right track, like Amtrak
So stand back, cause I’ma make whatever it takes
to shake Jakes, and shoot snakes, and bake more snowflake cakes than Drake’s
Cut up your grill like I’m the Barber of Seville
Still like Gotti bodies are found inside the harbor cause I’m ill
It’s war, but no more kids are bein kidnapped, matter of fact
ain’t with the shit black, I was young when I did that
There’s dope in the Copa Cabanas, cock back the hammers
So niggaz in pajamas get they wigs split like bananas
Stable of hotties, niggaz with shotties catchin bodies
Neighborhood John Gotti with more notes than Pavarotti
Yeah, paid as a motherfuckin bank teller
The Goodfella, I stay a motherfuckin drug seller

Kool G Rap & DJ Polo - “Men at Work” – I had to put this one in for one of the greatest lines ever in hip hop!
“When I die, scientists will preserve my brain / Donate it to science to answer the unexplained”

Big Daddy Kane ft. Kool G Rap – “Raw” (five minutes of death) – 2 of the greatest emcees going nutty on the mic.

I could go on and on…the man is a legend. I’ll just leave it with this, if Jay-Z is using you on a track as a lyrical benchmark, you are a certified legend. Happy Birthday from the Bad Perm team to Kool G Rap! Hip hop would not have been the same without you!

Jay Z – “hearing me rap is like hearing G Rap in his prime”