The Greatest 50 Hip-hop Albums Ever - #32...

[Twentytwofifty]

Kool G Rap & DJ Polo - Road To The Riches (1989)


    Nas, Big Pun, Cormega, Mobb Deep, Capone-N-Noreaga, the list of artists influenced by Kool G Rap is endless.  Easily one of the greatest and most influencial MC ever, Kool G Rap unleashed his debut album Road To The Riches in 1989.  His first single “It’s A Demo” was released in 1986 so this album was a long time coming and it didn't disappoint. After some successful singles such as “Road To The Riches” and the aftermentioned “It’s A Demo” and Kool G Rap’s contributions to Marley Marl's Juice Crew, the duo arrived almost fully formed on its debut. Whether boasting (his greatest strength at this point) or spinning tales, Kool G Rap’s knife-edged rhymes — delivered with the hardest-sounding lisp in hip-hop — tear through Marley Marl's productions and DJ Polo's scratching with all the ferocity of a pit bull devouring a piece of meat. Though tracks like "Poison," "It's A Demo," and the title track won this record a lot of respect, there are several other moments that help make this a remarkable debut. On "Men at Work," lines like, "I drop rhymes on paper and then build a skyscraper/When I die scientists will preserve my brain/Donate it to science to answer the unexplained" whip by so fast that it's easy to overlook Marley Marl’s and DJ Polo's perfectly snarling, densely percussive backdrop. Marley Marl’s imaginative sampling gleans from all sorts of unexpected sources, like the harmonica from Area Code 615's "Stone Fox Chase," the odd phasings of Kraftwerk's "Trans-Europe Express" (no one used it like this), and the burbling synths from Gary Numan's "Cars" (remember, this was the late '80s).  With this album Kool G Rap made his mark and earned his spot near the top of the hip-hop game.


50. Dr. Dre – 2001 (1999)
49. Outkast – Southernplayalisticaddicmuzik (1994)
48. Jay-Z – Reasonable Doubt (1996)
47. Kool G Rap & DJ Polo – Wanted: Dead Or Alive (1990)
46. Redman – Whut? Thee Album (1992)
45. De La Soul - De La Soul Is Dead (1991)
44. Fugees – The Score (1996)
43. The D.O.C. – No One Can Do It Better (1989)
42. Common Sense - Resurrection (1994)
41. Makaveli - The Don Kiluminati: The 7 Day Theory (1996)
40. Public Enemy – Fear Of A Black Planet (1990)
39. Ice Cube – Death Certificate (1992)
38. Gza/Genius - Liquid Swords (1995)
37. N.W.A – Efil4zaggin (1991)
36. Main Source – Breaking Atoms (1991)
35. Geto Boys – Grip It! On That Other Level (1989)
34. Brand Nubian – One For All (1990)
33. Scarface – The Diary (1994)
32. Kool G Rap & DJ Polo – Road To The Riches (1989)

[We Fly High]

this album is fucking classic. i love kool g. the title cut is fucking classic as hell.

[Young Dan Iza]

kool g rap twice in the top 50,,,,,someone is a little biased, the dude aint that good IMO

[Twentytwofifty]

kool g rap twice in the top 50,,,,,someone is a little biased, the dude aint that good IMO

 

[Noname]

Props never heard this one before.

[We Fly High]

kool g rap twice in the top 50,,,,,someone is a little biased, the dude aint that good IMO

Kool G Rap is legendary man. how could you deny this guy's influence in hip hop? easily one of the best MCs of all time. like top five easily.

[eS El Duque]

kool g rap twice in the top 50,,,,,someone is a little biased, the dude aint that good IMO

Kool G Rap is legendary man. how could you deny this guy's influence in hip hop? easily one of the best MCs of all time. like top five easily.

Yup...looks like Youn Dan Iza is too Young to know..get to know your history kid!

Btw, this is a dope album 

props!

[Elevz]

kool g rap twice in the top 50,,,,,someone is a little biased, the dude aint that good IMO

So no artist should be appearing twice in the top 50? I'll guarantee you, we'll find some more De La Soul, Dr. Dre, Public Enemy and N.W.A higher in the list. Does that make C2K biased? Get a grip man. This shit is legendary. Another well deserved spot in the top 50 for Kool G Rap & DJ Polo.

[davida.b.]

This album was pretty good. Live And Let Die was better though.

[Elevz]

This album was pretty good. Live And Let Die was better though.

Well, there's 30 more albums yet to be revealed 

[davida.b.]

This album was pretty good. Live And Let Die was better though.

Well, there's 30 more albums yet to be revealed 

And Live And Let Die better be on it. 

[Kill]

kool g rap twice in the top 50,,,,,someone is a little biased, the dude aint that good IMO

Kool G Rap = one of the best ever. i´m actually almost surprised this album is not top 25, especially in Knuckles´ case

[Young Dan Iza]

u guys are stupid!
YOUNG!

[Kill]

u guys are stupid!
YOUNG!

fuck you too
KILL