Kool G Rap is one of the most underrated rappers of all time, especially with regard to lyricism. As a former member of the legendary Juice Crew of Queensbridge with Big Daddy Kane and others, Kool G Rap became a local and international star.
As one of the biggest names in New York during the 1980s, Kool G Rap brushed shoulders with the city’s best MCs, including the likes of LL Cool J and KRS-One. Not a one-trick pony, aside from being an MC, he was a songwriter, DJ and music producer, giving the artist the keys to the city as the most versatile rapper around. However, Kool G Rap was more respected on the underground and was somewhat shunned by the mainstream. While his fellow crew member, Big Daddy Kane, would become one of the highest-selling rappers of the 80s, Kool G Rap, in a duo with DJ Polo, would release music to vast amounts of acclaim from underground hip hop figureheads but would fail to break into the mainstream.
As one of the first crews from the Queensbridge area of New York to get their music heard and their heads above the parapet, the Juice Crew influenced many from their area, including Illmatic rapper Nas. In a 1998 interview, the rapper let it be known that “Growing up in Queensbridge, it was Marley Marl and The Juice Crew that gave rap n*ggas like myself hope that there was another life beyond our hood…they made us believe that although we came from those wild streets, we still had a chance to change our lives”.
Kool G Rap (real name Nathaniel Wilson) has been cited by copious amounts of incredible rappers as their source of inspiration, with artists such as Jay-Z, Eminem, Action Bronson and others all highlighting him as influential in their careers.
With so many rappers evidently rating Wilson for his rap style and technical ability, it would be very intriguing to find out who Kool G holds in high regard. With Ice Cube, Nas, and Rakim having already put him in their list of best rappers, now it is time to find out which artists are on his list. In a recent interview with Juan Epstein and Peter Rosenberg on New York’s Hot97 radios station, Kool G Rap decided to finally name his top 10 MCs of all time.
Kool G Rap’s Top Ten rappers of all time
- Scarface
- Ice Cube
- Eminem
- Big Pun
- Jay-Z
- KRS-One
- Big Daddy Kane
- Rakim
- Nas
- Kool G Rap
You can watch the full interview with Kool G Rap on Hot97 in the video below.
