Kool G Rap is a legend in the rap industry. He was a member of the great Juice Crew, he’s the king of multi-syllable rhyming, he is the godfather of underground rap, he is the originator or the Mafioso style rap, and he has released his eighth studio album, “The Giancana Story”. After his last album, “Roots of Evil”, G Rap signed with Rawkus Records. Unfortunately, it seemed like G Rap wasn’t very high on their to-do list. It seemed like Rawkus was more interested in Talib Kweli, Mos Def, and Pharoahe Monch than they were with Kool G Rap. “The Giancana Story” was suppose to be released in early 2001 but with numerous set backs it was continually being delayed.
This album was heavily bootlegged and this was a major cause of the delays. Another major reason was that Rawkus records folded. Once this happened Koch Records stepped up to the plate and bought what was made of the G Rap album. And finally, over a year and half later “The Giancana Story” was released to the public.
One of the first songs that G Rap recorded under Rawkus records was “First Nigga” which was produced by DJ Premier, and to everybody’s disappointment that song was nowhere to be found on the album. This bought the album down a notch, because this album does not have that stand out track, it doesn’t have that “Ill Street Blues” type of G Rap song to tie up all the lose ends of the album. “First Nigga” could have been that track, however, it wasn’t and that hurts the final product.
But even without DJ Premier, the production on this album is very nice. DITC member Buckwild does a couple of tracks and Jaz-O, Mike Heron, and Rockwilder also handles production. But, the standout production is contributed from Younglord as he drops two very nice beats for G Rap. The production has that East Coast/NY gangster style beats and that is what G Rap shines over. So out of 10 I would give the production effort a 7.
The guest appearances were also very solid. They featured the likes of Havoc (of Mobb Deep), Prodigy (of Mobb Deep), AZ, Jinx, and Capone-n-Norega, The only question mark came by a cat named Nawz. Who is featured on “Thug Chronicles” along with Az and Tito. The same track was released on mix-tapes months before with Nas instead of Nawz. So why Nasty Nas’s verse was cut is still a mystery, but I found it very humorous that Nas’s verse was replaced by Nawz’s verse.
The highlight of the album is without a doubt, Kool G Rap. G Rap is his vintage self as he rips up tracks left and right. G Rap came with his legendary style of gangster/Mafioso rap and his trademark multi-syllable bars. Songs like “Thug for Life”, “Drama”, Black Widow”, “Fight Club”, “My Life”, “Good Die Young”, and “The Streets” and all classic examples of why G Rap is one of the best ever.
In conclusion, I think G Rap did as good as job that could have possibly been done on an album that has been delayed so long and bootlegged so much. With all the problems surrounding this album it would be impossible for even Kool G Rap to produce a masterpiece, but even with the controversy he managed to release a very solid album. This is a better album that his last effort “Roots of Evil” but it not up to par with his earlier albums, but this album will no doubt satisfy all the die hard G Rap fans, and hopefully it will give the newer hiphop fans some perceptive of how great G Rap has been over his career. Last year G Rap got handed a slap in the face when BET listed their 50 all-time greatest MCs, with G Rap listed at #37, if G Rap isn’t a top 10 MC then nobody is. Rapper’s such as Big Pun, Fat Joe, MOP, Raekwon, CNN, and the Lox (just to name a few) have all been influenced by the Kool Genius of Rap. And I suggest that anyone who is a fan of the NY rap scene to go check out this album and all prior G Rap album.
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