The iconic rapper Kool G Rap described as a “genius”
Back when Kool G Rap was promoting Half a Klip, his 2008 album that, originally, had been intended to be released as an EP, the Juice Crew legend sat down for a chat with WHO?MAG.
The conversation meandered here and there, as interviews tend to, but, at one stage, Kool was specifically asked about one of his contemporaries in the hip-hop scene—and he, in turn, was absolutely effusive about them.
In 1999, the Jim Jarmusch-directed film Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai was released, as was an accompanying soundtrack album created by the RZA. The record featured a bunch of different rappers, including several of RZA’s Wu-Tang Clan bandmates and affiliates, but for one particular track called ‘Cakes,’ RZA brought Kool G Rap on board.
“My manager told me at time that RZA wanted me on a song,” Kool remarked to WHO?MAG, recounting how he became involved with the project. “He was working on the Ghost Dog soundtrack and he wanted me to get on one of the songs for the soundtrack. It was simple as that. I went to the RZA’s studio [and] laid it there.”
This was a great pleasure for Kool, given how much affection he holds for RZA and the Wu-Tang Clan more generally. “I have a lot of respect for Wu Tang,” he said. “I love their music. They got a mutual love and respect for the music as well. It’s always good to connect with those dudes. RZA is a genius in my book. That dude came out with a brand of sound and made it escalate to the point where it’s considered legend to this day and classic.”
Kool G Rap was himself a pioneering voice during hip-hop’s golden age, a legend in his own right, but even he appreciates the unique space in pop culture history that the RZA has made for himself. And, of course, it’s not only about the music. “To see what he’s doing now with movie scoring, acting in front of the camera, that dude is brilliant to me,” Kool said. “It’s always an honour to even be in the presence of him and more or less working with him on a project.”
Kool shed some light on how the collaboration played out, and perhaps the most surprising thing about it is the freedom that the RZA afforded him. Given how distinct RZA’s sound is, you might have expected him to be a hands-on sort of producer, meticulous and maybe even a bit obsessive. But he seems to have trusted Kool G Rap to do his thing, not feeling a particular need to become overly involved or overbearing. That, arguably, is the mark of a truly great collaborator.
“I didn’t actually see him put the track together because the track was already done when I got there and he pretty much let me be to myself so I can be creative with the verse I laid on the song,” Kool explained. “He’s a real laid back type of dude and he’s quiet. Those be the creative ones from my understanding and my experience with Dr. Dre. He’s kind of quiet. A lot of dudes are laid back that got their craft together because they’re more thinkers than talkers.”