One of the culture’s legendary lyricists, Kool G Rap, has decided to make the 1970’s an inspiration for his new album, a gem that Hip Hop heads should not sleep on. Riches, Royalty & Respect is G. Rap’s reintroduction to a game that owes a lot to his work and it is his first release since 2008’s EP, Half a Klip. With this album, G. Rap proves that he can still rhyme circles around emcees, weave rhyme patterns together and boast with the best of them.
Unlike athleticism in the NBA, age doesn’t always mean a deterioration of skills in Hip Hop. G. Rap can still hang, using his patented multisyllabic style to perfection throughout, flashing this skill frequently. “She feels the player’s flavor/ the shoes are suede or gator,” he brags on “Ya Chic Chose Me.” “She knows I play with paper and you can’t pay the waiter.” Lyrically, G. Rap also shows his sharp lyricism on “Sad,” one of the album’s most interesting, heartfelt cuts over a Lee Moses sample. “Pages of My Life” also shows more of this introspection. “I had a baby sister that died young,” he shares. “She went to sleep when the grim reaper was cradle rockin’/ Over my right shoulder here, I got an angel watchin’.” Here, G. Rap shows why veteran emcees should still have an integral voice in our culture.
Of course, the right beats are important in backing every emcee. For his support, G. Rap went for mostly lesser-known producers (with some exceptions like Alchemist and Marley Marl) who had a similar vision. Taking off with the throwback theme in place, each producer drops a soulful sample laden track, a Memory Lane for all who take this album for a spin. “In Too Deep,” “The Meaning to Your Love,” “Sad,” “Pages of My Life,” and “Da Real Thing” all showcase this nostalgic vibe properly. By providing the soulful instrumentals, it allows G. Rap to do what he does best with no distractions.
Taking his vintage style and flipping it in 2011 is quite a feat, one G. Rap does with ease. It is that seemingly effortless greatness that has followed him for years and it is why he’s been one of the game’s most influential figures. On Riches, Royalty & Respect’s drive down Memory Lane, G. Rap proves that along with riches, this culture’s royalty deserve our respect.
A good review, agree with it mostly, but I don’t see any negative points so I don’t see why it’s not at least a 4. Ah well.
so… who of the group of editors DIDN’T like the album? because you obviously did.. from your review, it’s hard to see why this is a 3.5 instead of a 5
This review makes no sense. All praise but a 3.5/5 rating? I honestly give this album 5/5 which I only probably give one or two albums a year. Every beat is amazing. G Rap shows why he can out rap anybody on earth right now on every song. The lyrics are intricate and there is purpose in everysong. Never gets repetitive. KGR best to ever do it.
”G Rap shows why he can out rap anybody on earth right now on every song. The lyrics are intricate and there is purpose in everysong. Never gets repetitive.”
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA I THINK THAT HAS TO BE THE FUNNIEST STATEMENT I’VE EVER READ FOR A REVIEW ON DX. YOU’RE DELUSIONAL. THAT WAS THE CASE MAYBE 20 YEARS AGO. THIS NIGGAS FLOW IS THE DEFINITION OF LAZYNESS, IT SOUNDS LIKE HE’S FALLING ASLEEP ON EVERY TRACK, NOT TO MENTION THAT THIS NIGGAS IS OVER 40 AND RAPPING LIKE HE’S OUT THERE IN THE STREETS, SELLING DRUGS AND SHIT. NIGGA, GROW THE FUCK UP. NEVER GETS REPITITVE AHAHAHAHAHA TOO FUNNY, THE NIGGA TALKS ABOUT THE SAME SHIT ON THE MAJORITY OF THE WHOLE ALBUM. SMH THAT PEOPLE ARE SO EASY TO IMPRESS NOWADAYS THAT THEY OVERHYPING THE SHIT OUTTA SOMETHING BECAUSE THERE ARE FEW DOPE LINES HERE AND THERE.
Shit is definitely dope and so much worth the wait. I guess the younger crowd may not understand. Depending.
Kinda low-balled this one.
3.5 outta 5 ain’t bad. Of course the album has a hell of a lot to live up to and it seems like maybe G Rap is setting the scene for something much bigger. Maybe the editor factored that in to his assessment. Who knows. But Riches, Royalty & Respect is going down as classic material in my book regardless.
Great album, easily a 4 star rating, in my opinion. But HHDX love the commercial, autotune shit, so fuck it anyway. G Rap got my support, banging album.
How do you figure?
Well, ya gave Lil’Wayne’s not a human being a 3 which was absolutely awful. What ya say about that??
It ain’t like this album is much better. It only got a better rating because it’s G Rap, like this man couldn’t release an average album. 3 would be the perfect rating for this. It’s not garbage, but absolutely generic shit from a legend who’s trying to bring back what has him made once so good. Beats aren’t outstanding and mediocre at best, he completely forgot how to use his voice, his delivery was whack and despite some good verses, his lyrics lost their freshness.
kool g is the only old school rapper thats been around since like the 80s that i really believe should be in every ones top 10 list i never really liked big daddy kane or rakim 2 much kool g was always far more lyrical 5 stars when u got styles p calling you the hardest out you gots to be the shit
5 outta 5 easy
This album is classic – and I know what KGR is planning next. He is gonna light it up!!!
spill the beans. what’s next for gianacana?
no reason this shouldnt be a 5. theres no skips and this review gave it all praise, but then they voted on a 3 1/2.
classic album. niggas forgot what hip hop sounds like. rich samples, hard drums, incredible rap. y’all new jacks can complain it sounds dated, but it sounds like 94. no bullshit electro beats, vintage. kool g is timeless. shame it will get slept on. but years from now, it’ll be someones treasure.
PREACH! my favorite album of the year so far, prob will end up being one of the top 5 albums of the year for its sub genre.
Reks album was much better, that album kept the boom bap sound in the essence but updated it’s formula to make sure it doesn’t sound dated. G Rap was a force not to fuck with in the early to the mid nineties but he’s nothing when you compare it his older style. Reks instead knows how to rip tracks and got that rapid-fire delivery G Rap had back in the day. Plus, he talks about shit that is much more original.
There were a lot of truly shitty songs on Goblin and that scored higher than this…I’m getting kinda sick of these ratings.
You have to remember that there are different reviewers with wildly different opinions.
Hmmmmmmmmmm………. Pooptastic
I can say as GREAT as this album is, these new dudes who listen to poppy rap/khalifa garbage or whatever, they will never see the true value of a timeless gem like this and people who use to love hip-hop won’t even notice this album is out, it is pretty unfortunate how no1 really gives a fuck about good hip-hop or hip-hop anymore…if it continues this way, a few years from now shit will just die out because even commercial artists besides eminem (who I think is no good anymore or never was that crazy) are not coming out a lot anymore…hip-hop is GONE with the wind, but once in a while a rapper like g rap, edo g, vast aire, planet asia, etc. drop some serious goods for people to hear
I don’t get this rating. The reviewer is full of praise, but it only gets 3,5 stars ?????
Hiphopdx betta not fuck up the rating for the Monumental album.
these fuckas curb sales. somebody that hasnt heard g rap in a minuite might see this review and think twice. when people need to be applauding g rap for dropping such heat this late into his career. kool g never did it for the money, nigga dropped polo for wanting to go pop. kool g knows this will get slept on, but when all the dust settles and trends die out, this album will shine.
i think they should have a rating system from 1-10 or 1-100 instead of 1-5 on here. a 3.5 isnt bad and i think people think its lower than it is because of the rating system. on a scale of 1-10 this rating would be a 7 which isnt bad its a decent album. i think the rating is fair but i never liked this guys voice, cant understand him as easily as say a rakim.
Listened to it again this morning. Blows my mind that DX would give Eminem’s Recovery or Kanye MBDTF a better rating. I guess you can’t be raw and grimy anymore. I guess you have to do some faggot pop rap like Em or Kanye to get critical acclaim. Fuck that pop rap bullshit. KGR the best to have ever done it.
Co-sign…
Reviews like this only make me think… did hip hop as we know it die or did all the good reviewers and radio shows who shed light on the art of poetry ?
Indeed its sad that people mix being pop and being hip hop these days
Usually when someone gives a 3 1/2 rating, yet seems to be doing nothing but praising an album, it’s a sign that they’re afraid to criticize the rapper because of his time in the game. An album like this is only for a certain demographic anyway.
Fuck what you just read!!! this is a 4 starts atleast
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8r8377zGew
We Killin It – Barton Block
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this shyt is a perfect five fuck deez niggaz talkin bout???
The reason this got 3.5 stars but the review was excellent, is probably pretty simple. Maybe the reviewer doesn’t pick the star rating but the editor does. How do wack rappers get good reviews? By PAYING FOR ADVERTISING SPACE in these magazines/sites.
LEGENDARY MC “KOOL G RAP” SPECIAL GUEST TONIGHT ON http://www.bks1radio.com 8:30 PM ET LIVE IN THE CIPHER
Incredible wordplay!!!
Loved this album.. My fav rapper so I may be biased though..
best hip hop album out now dope
it,s cool 2 know there a hip hop web site such of this
Here, G. Rap shows why veteran emcees should still have an integral voice in our culture.
*****************
best line ever.
Man to be honest i havent liked much of g raps music in a while…but this album was nutsss he actualyy sounds hungry…should be 4 stars but i give it a 5 cuz of this bullshit rating
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8r8377zGew&feature=related
We Killin It – Barton Block
this album is great. god damn g rap got bars. Classic east coast hiphop. thank you. Reminds me of Roc Marcianos album last year. This is way above 3 1/2. Its like they took points away because it was the same ‘ol Kool G rap. ITS AN ENTIRE ALBUM OF STREET RECORDS MOTHER FUCKERS THESE DAYS THATS RARE AS SHIT.
I wonder how people would rate it if it didn’t say Kool G Rap?! Props to the reviewer for having the courage to tell shit like it is. This album is mediocre at best, don’t try to make it better than it is, because it’s G Rap who released it. People should try to be objective. And the fact that hip hop is whack nowadays, doesn’t change the fact that this album is nothing more than average.
u dont kno shit about rap dude……thast all i can say…..dude like u are killin it
Name 1 muthafucka from the 80s besides KRS-ONE that’s still puttin out heat like this. Way better that wayne and the rest of these little faggots out here today. Kool G. Rap is and most likely will remain the greatest lyricist ever!!!
Way better THAN wayne & the rest of these little faggots out here. My bad on the typo.
FFFIIIIIIYYYYAAAHHHHH!!!!!!
wat a purchace,
Average at best? You gotta be out of your mind. It’s a solid album.
EDO G’S NEW ALBUM A FACE IN THE CROWD IS BETTER T HAN KOOL G RAPS NEW SHIT .
EDO G – A FACE IN THE CROWD = FIRE
nope the hole album doesnt compare to songs like the streets lyrically
i agree totally.
sorry typo the whole album
real good album
nice
wasn’t really feelin’ it after the first listen – but after listening to it a couple times i’m really feelin’ it. now i will say this – his lyrics on this album are the weakest lyrics i ever heard from Kool G Rap – they aren’t wack, but they are no where close to 4,5,6 or any of the kool g rap & dj polo albums or his other solo albums. also some of the beats are very mediocre. The album is still lightyears better than 95% of the shit that is considered hot right now.
Legendary kool muthafuckin shit! Still bangin!!
3.5/5?.. now dx, shut the fuck up.
Crazy how he flips his flow, style is still al multi’s and pretty dense, but the flow and the use of his voice softened a bit making it more melodic and more ‘now’.. Nice
Fuck that idiot who is callin himself mceiht!
Fire
Take this from someone who can spit.. G. Rap sounds hungry.
Im not in G. Raps Circle but ImO This is flawless execution of what this Album was intended to be.
Intelligent Street rap with Impressive lyrics word play and flow. It has a Nostalgic Feeling but sounds like it was made right now.
Everything is Stream lined. Once He sets the Bar he never drops the ball.
No Glossy Production.. Or a Bunch Of Features. The man Just reminds why he is Respect by Raps Best Lyricist with wit, street knowledge, word play, Advanced Rhyme structure and Vintage G Rap Attitude.
Point Blank . Dude is still Nice. I even like the Mastering on this.. Play this in the Whip and you will be in a thugs NY state of Mind.
soundclick.com/showtimeny
This site is fuckin retarded, yall give big sean a 4 and a legend in the rap game a 3.5, smh, i fuckin hate this pop no lyric bullshit thats comin out nowadays, much respect to all the real hip hop out there, like this album 5/5
5/5
Dope, but I gotta admit, the production could be better.
now nas needs a come up album for 2011
This is so good I brought the album on itunes today instead of looking for a torrent file to download. 5/5 XXXXX
star 1. For still having the skills @ 43
star 2. Not changing his style to HIP POP
star 3. Lyrical delivery sick (multisyllabic rhyming)
star 4. Beats have much soul
star 5. Keeping it HIP HOP in 2011!
THANKS KGR
dope album
This is real hip hop music. Not that faggot metrosexual Young Money shit out there. G Rap is your favorite rapper’s rapper.
4/5 at least.