Review Summary: With this album, you could tell that Kool G Rap was on the "Road" to being one of the best emcees of all time, and became one of the best emcees ever.
Critical Responses:
Allmusic: 4/5
Robert Christagu: B+
Rolling Stone: 4/5
Rapreviews: 9/10
Kool G Rap, is a legendary MC, that is mafioso, has a FANTASIC flow, PHENOMENAL lyrics, and everything that makes a legendary MC, a legendary MC. This album showed that Kool G Rap could rock subjects such as, crime, materialism, braggadocio, love, and others. Kool G Rap, was also a part of the legendary Juice Crew, along with Big Daddy Kane, Masta Ace, Craig G, Biz Markie, and others. This album paved the way for mafioso emcees such as, Scarface, Nas, Raekwon, Jay-Z, Notorious B.I.G, AZ. One way that you could tell that Kool G Rap is mafioso, is because the "G" in his name means, "Giancana", named after Sam Giancana, who was a mobster (Kool G Rap clearly knew his stuff). However, when this album wasn't mafioso, this had Kool G Rap showing off his battle rhyme skills, and showed off his vocabulary, and complexity. Kool G Rap had a distinctive flow, that had him stand out from the rest of the crowd (who at the time were excellent as well). Kool G Rap's flow, is crisp with a lisp, and was incredible. Kool G Rap also had personality that set him aside from everybody else. Now for the track by track review.
1. Road to the Riches: This song has Kool G Rap showing off his rhyme skills. Classic song. 5/5
2. It's a Demo (Remix): This song again has Kool G Rap showing off his rhyme skills. Classic song. This song has been sampled in, "Whayback" by Artifacts. 5/5
3. Men At Work: This song, has Kool G Rap showing off his battle rhyme skills. Classic song. Fun fact: The Roots heard this song in high school before they were together, and this song made them get together (along with "Wrath of Kane" by Big Daddy Kane, correct me if I'm wrong). 5/5
4. Truly Yours: Again, Kool G Rap shows off his rhyme skills. Classic song. 5/5
5. Cars: This song has a sample of "Cars" by Gary Numan, which is the beat for this song, which makes this not as good. Great song. 4/5
6. Trilogy of Terror: This song has Kool G Rap showing off his mafioso skills. Classic song. 5/5
7. She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not: This song has Kool G Rap rhyming about love. Classic song. 5/5
8. Cold Cuts: This song is just a DJ Polo mix track, therefore I can't rate it.
9. Rhymes I Express: This song has Kool G Rap showing off his rhyme skills. Classic song. 5/5
10. Poison: This song has Kool G Rap showing off his rhyme skills. Classic song. This song has been sampled in, "Like They Used to Say" by Common, "Boom!" by The Roots, and other songs. 5/5
11. Butcher Shop: This song has Kool G Rap showing off his mafioso skills. Classic song. 5/5
Overall I give this 5/5.
3 Best Songs:
1. Road to the Riches
2. Trilogy of Terror
3. Men At Work
3 Weakest Songs:
1. Cold Cuts
2. Cars
3. It's a Demo (Remix)
