Ladies and Gentlemen.... The Greatest FLOOOOOOOOOOW On Earth!!!

The man known as the "Kool Genius of Rap" is indeed one which hardcore fans can love and cherish. Any rapper who has ever used anything remotely close to mafioso lyricism and cutting-edge flows seemingly owes it all to Kool G. Rap. Nathaniel Wilson grew up in the rough section of Queens, New York, where he first met his future partner DJ Polo. Kool G. Rap and DJ Polo would come together to make an awesome hip-hop duo, signed to Marley Marl's Cold Chillin' label in 1986. They proceeded in dropping several noteworthy singles and establishing a cult following, but never managed to attain the same cross-over success that other Juice Crew members like Big Daddy Kane and Biz Markie attained. After his lack of success with Polo, Kool G. Rap embarked on a solo career that began here, with 1995's 4, 5, 6. Kool G. Rap's liquid flow, backed by some incredible beats, made this album a cult hit, but it never garnered any sort of mainstream success, and is constantly overlooked. Kool G. Rap's gifted and brilliant way of making any song a cinematic pleasure adds depth and realism to an already awesome album. In my opinion, it is grossly unfair to overlook such an excellent album, and with this review, I hope to open some people's minds on the legendary Kool G. Rap.


Track List & Rating

1. Intro (NOT RATED)
2. 4, 5, 6 (******)
3. It's A Shame (*****)
4. Take 'Em To War f/ B1 and MF Grimm (*****)
5. Executioner Style (*****)
6. For Da Brothaz (*****)
7. Blowin' Up In The World (****)
8. Fast Life f/ Nas (******)
9. Ghetto Knows (****)
10. It's A Shame Remix (*****)
11. Money On My Brain f/ B1 and MF Grimm (*)



Even the words classic can't describe "4, 5, 6", the title track and album opener. Beatwise, there is nothing to complain about here as we get a gorgeous, minimalistic beat to enjoy. A jazzy, yet mellow, mixture of high-key piano/keyboard, drum taps with pounding bass and a little bit of saxophone and background effects make this as sublime as it can possibly get. The Nas sample should be noted as being well-used and effective for the subject matter, which is mafioso, gritty street rhymes as only Kool G. Rap can spit. The production echoes gorgeously with the lyrics, which are of top-notch variety. Kool G. Rap's flow is absolutely disgusting (in a good way), as he manages to become my own personal "king of timing". Kool G. Rap's omni-potent microphone presence is incredible, but definitely not big enough to overshadow the amazing lyrics displayed: "I grab the dice, place your price, all you men are mice, Riffin as I'm sippin on a Heineken and gettin nice, I shake em up they papes are gettin dead, nigga sittin on a Beretta, said he wanna bet that I don't throw a better".

Fans of the minimalistic jazzy production found on albums like Nas' classic Illmatic, O.C.'s Word... Life, and AZ's Doe or Die will find every single beat here gorgeous. The jazzy, well-produced beats sink into your head like water into a sponge and provide that "zone out" factor that so few songs nowadays have. "It's a Shame" is as perfect as a song can get when it comes to being mafioso. The scaling guitar synth-mix with it's pounding bass and energetic drums provide a beat which anybody could virtually rap over, but probably nobody with the skills of Kool G. Rap. Subject matter-wise, the song finds Kool G. Rap bragging about his ambitions in life, which is to be rich. The interesting thing about this which separates it from the awfully commercialized tracks that we hear all the time nowadays is that here, Kool G. Rap is telling a grim street story about hustling, hidden within all of the bragging. The chorus pretty much gives this away, and its interesting because of the image that it portrays to compliment the lyrics. The remix later on is equally ill.

The song however, won't be remembered for it's subject matter, but more for it's powerful rhyming, clever vocabulary, and simply UNTOUCHABLE flow: "The boss of all bosses, I own racehorses and a fortress, corridors with olympic torches and Mona Lisa portraits, Jacuzzis and saunas and eatin steak at Benny Hanna's, Bentley's, limousine the front yard stream is full of pirahnas, I'm set, a private jet, I drink a lot of Beck's, Get a lot of sex, condo and duplex, diamond infested Rolex, Deliver a crown at the world units with silver china, Sippin on finer wine-r you see more shines than diamond miners, The Highness, kingpin of heroin, I'm thorough when I have to bring the terror in, Handle business in each and every borough in... town or city, I'm rollin like Frank Nitty, I'm rich and pretty, Back up kiddies, I got crimies that's grimy and gritty, A nigga that's spunky and likes to keep his pockets chunky, Makin most of my money, from all the dopefiends and junkies. The most unbelievable part about that is that he spits all of that and BARELY EVEN TAKES A BREATH!!!!

"Executioner Style" is just about as psychotic as it can possibly get. Honestly, after listening to this song, I think this man is nuts. Borrowing a page from Mobb Deep, Kool G. Rap decides to throw us a joint revolving around the grim realities of ghetto life with a truly violent side. Kool is at his most violent here than anywhere else in this album, and dare I say his entire career. The gritty darkness of the lyrics is only complimented sublimely by the mental-inducing, painful beat featuring psychotic scratching and pounding, almost terrifying bass. This is the type of song that could honestly scare children, not only due to the unbelievably creepy beat, but also because of Kool G. Rap's vivid visuals which can easily terrify an untrained ear. "Crazy brains hangin, and niggas veins are swingin, Bangin and gunslingin, even my own fuckin ears are ringin, cause what I carry's much bigger than Dirty Harry's, Do a Hail Mary, I make Bloody Mary's out of your capillaries, Pieces of flesh, hangin off a niggas chest, cause the vest, that he dress, couldn't fuck with the Smith and Wess'". You're probably thinking that this is too insane to be true, and yes, I agree. This is obviously untrue, but wow... just wow.

Let me be completely honest here. Kool G. Rap's flow more hypnotizing than staring at a pink vagina with your fly zipped down. "For Da Brothaz" finds Kool using that untouchable flow, with slightly different subject matter. Straying away from the mafioso, cinematic rhyming that brought him to the table and focuses more on street poetry and storytelling, as well as retrospection. Kool G. Rap introversly weaves all of these subjects together with his honesty. So all of the gun-toting, psychoticness found before is basically on the backburner for a more intelligent track, and this review doesn't mind at all.

Nas Escobar, the infamous mafioso character created by Nas is featured here with Kool G. Rap on "Fast Life". I'm not a huge fan of the Nas Escobar character, as it is honestly a step-down from the poetic Nasty Nas and sounds more fake than anything. However, on a song where the king of mafioso happens to be on, then it's easily forgivable and perhaps even encouraged. Beatwise, the song has that "Pete Rock" appeal to it, with it's light-hearted, relaxed production. The drums and claps are simply perfect, and the percussion is the backbone of this instrumental. Lyrically, Kool and Nas trade off verses about living the "fast life" thanks to their swindling ways, and truly emphasize what it's like to be "Ghetto Fabulous". The best way to describe Kool G. Rap would have to very similar to Notorious B.I.G., only MUCH more lyrical. My only complaint here is the singing, which is simply put: terrible.

"Money on my Brain" is the finale here chosen here. This song is probably the worst song on this entire album, completely void of any intelligence. In a beat easily reminiscent of Nas' "Dr. Knockboot", Kool G. Rap along with Grimm and B1 spit materialistic lyrics about all of their flashy cars, furniture, and homes. This honestly put me to sleep. B1 is actually halfway listenable, but still has bad lyrics. You Grimm fanboys will be pissed to find out that your boy is as whack as possible here: "Cuties every color, who I wanna fuck next?, Buy a new car, maybe Lamborghini trunk next". As for Kool, his flow is as potent as ever, but what he's saying is just... awful. I suggest not listening to this track at all.

After giving 4, 5, 6 a few spins, I have come to the simple conclusion that Kool G. Rap is not a happy guy.

A lot of times though that anger can create magic, and it certainly does here. If Rakim would be titled with being the "God of Modern Lyricism", then surely Kool G. Rap is the "God of Modern Flow", being the first to have expert timing in his lyrics and punching out syllable after syllable with machine gun accurary. Indeed, Kool G. Rap's flow is only the first of many great things to be found on this album. The poetic, almost cinematic feel to the album should be noted, as many times it does indeed feel as if this were a movie. The visualization used by Kool's lyricism is something few artists get, but what else can you expect from a guy from the street poetry capital of the world: Queens (and this does not include 50 Cent, ladies and gentlemen). With skills the size of the Hindenburg, Kool G. Rap donates another classic to the hip-hop culture. Do yourself a favor and do NOT sleep on this album no matter what. You must own a copy and to quote Seargant Slaughter..."and that's... an order".

5 Stars







SIMILAR ALBUMS

Nas - Illmatic

O.C. - Word... Life

AZ - Doe or Die

Mobb Deep - Hell on Earth

Notorious B.I.G. - Life After Death




Recommended: Yes