Rikers Island
Location	New York City, USA
Nearest city	New York City
Coordinates	40°47′28″N 73°52′58″W / 40.79111°N 73.88278°W / 40.79111; -73.88278Coordinates: 40°47′28″N 73°52′58″W / 40.79111°N 73.88278°W / 40.79111; -73.88278
Area	413.17 acres (1.672 km2)
Established	1932
Governing body	New York City Department of Correction

Rikers Island is New York City's main jail complex,^[1] as well as the name of the 413.17-acre (1.672 km²) island on which it sits, in the East River between Queens and the mainland Bronx, adjacent to the runways of LaGuardia Airport. The island itself is part of the borough of the Bronx, though it is included as part of Queens Community Board 1 and has a Queens ZIP code.^[2] The jail complex, operated by the New York City Department of Correction, has a budget of $860 million a year, a staff of 7,000 officers and 1,500 civilians to control an inmate population of 14,000. The official permanent population of the island, as reported by the United States Census Bureau, was 11,355 as of 2009.^[3]

The island is thought to be named after Abraham Rycken,^[4] a Dutch settler who moved to Long Island in 1638 and whose descendants owned Rikers Island until 1884, when it was sold to the city for $180,000. It has been used as a jail ever since. ^[5]

The complex and its facilities[link]

Detailed aerial photo of Rikers Island

The Rikers Island complex, which consists of ten jails, holds local offenders who are awaiting trial and cannot afford, obtain, or were not given bail from a judge, those serving sentences of one year or less and those temporarily placed there pending transfer to another facility.^{[citation needed]} Rikers Island is therefore a jail and not a prison, which typically holds offenders serving longer-term sentences.

Facilities located on the island include Otis Bantum Correctional Center (OBCC), Robert N. Davoren Complex (RNDC, formerly ARDC), Anna M. Kross Center (AMKC), George Motchan Detention Center (GMDC), North Infirmary Command (NIC), Rose M. Singer Center (RMSC), Eric M. Taylor Center (EMTC, formerly CIFM), James A. Thomas Center (JATC), George R. Vierno Center (GRVC) and West Facility (WF). The Bantum, Kross, Motchan, and Vierno house detained male adults. Taylor houses sentenced male adolescents and adults. Davoren primarily houses male inmates who are of ages 16 through 18. Singer houses detained and sentenced female adolescents and adults. North Infirmary primarily houses inmates who require medical attention from an infirmary. West Facility houses inmates who have diseases that are contagious.^[6]

The average daily inmate population on the island is about 14,000.^[7] The daytime population (including staff) can be 20,000 or more.^[8] On average, the inmate population is 52% Black, 41% Hispanic, and 7% White and other. An overwhelming high number of inmates are of either African American, Puerto Rican, Dominican or Jamaican descent. Inmates tend to segregate themselves, with Puerto Ricans and other hispanics on one side of the facility, and African Americans and other non-hispanic blacks in another part of the facility, to prevent racial riots. Major gangs in the facility include Bloods, Latin Kings, Crips, Trinitarios and Folks among others.

The only access to the island is from Queens, over the unmarked 4,200-foot (1.28 km) three-lane Francis Buono Bridge, dedicated on November 22, 1966, by Mayor John Lindsay.^[9] Before the bridge was constructed, the only access to the island was by ferry. Transportation is also provided by the Q100 limited stop bus service, which runs around-the-clock. There are also privately-operated shuttles that connect the parking lot at the south end to the island. Bus service within the island for visitors visiting inmates is provided by the New York City Department of Correction.^{[citation needed]}

The North Infirmary Command, which used to be called the Rikers Island Infirmary, is used to house inmates requiring extreme protective custody, inmates with special health needs, mentally ill inmates, and inmates undergoing drug detoxification, as well as some regular inmates. The rest of the facilities, all built in the last 67 years, make up this city of jails. There is also the Vernon C. Bain Correctional Center, a floating barge (described below). New York City's jail system has become something of a small town. There are schools, medical clinics, ball fields, chapels, gyms, drug rehab programs, grocery stores, barbershops, a bakery, a laundromat, a power plant, a track, a tailor shop, a print shop, a bus depot and even a car wash. Rikers Island has been referred to as the world's largest penal colony.^[10][11] For comparison, Europe's largest correctional facility,^[12] Fleury-Mérogis Prison sits on 180 acres (0.73 km²) and houses 3,800 prisoners.

History[link]

Aerial photo of Rikers Island, seen from the North. LaGuardia Airport and its 4 / 22 runway stretch can also be seen, just 250 feet (75 m) from the island.

The island was used as a military training ground during the Civil War. The first regiment to use the Island was the Ninth New York Infantry, also known as Hawkins' Zouaves, which arrived there on May 15, 1861. Hawkins' Zouaves was followed by the 36th New York State Volunteers on June 23, which was followed by the Anderson Zouaves on July 15, 1861. The Anderson Zouaves were commanded by John Lafayette Riker who was related to the owners of the island. The camp of the Anderson Zouaves was named Camp Astor in compliment to millionaire John Jacob Astor Jr. who provided funding for the army, and who appears to have made a significant contribution to the raising of the Anderson Zouaves in particular, with the Astor ladies being credited with the manufacture of the zouave uniforms worn by the recruits of this regiment. Rikers Island was subsequently used by numerous other Civil War regiments, but the name "Camp Astor" was specific to the Anderson Zouaves and did not become a general name for the military encampment on the island.

In 1883 New York City's Commission of Charities and Corrections expressed interested in purchasing the island for use as a work-house. Any such purchase would have to be approved by the state. In January 1884 state senator Frederick S. Gibbs introduced a bill in the state senate authorizing the commission to purchase the island.^[13] In May 1884 Governor Cleveland signed a bill authorizing the Commissioner of Charities and Corrections to purchase the island for a sum no greater than $180,000.^[14] At the time, the island was within the boundaries of Long Island City, which was located in Queens County and this potential transfer set off squabbling between politicians of Long Island City, Queens County, and New York City.^[15] On July 31, 1884 a compromise was agreed to by all three entities, New York City agreed to pay a total of $3,000, $2,500 to Long Island City and $500 to Queens County.^[16] On August 4, 1884 the Commissioner of Charities and Corrections, Jacob Hess, signed a contract purchasing the island from John T. Wilson, a descendant of the Ryker family, for $180,000, $179,000 to Wilson and $1,000 for a title search.^[17] The facility was commonly referred to by New Yorkers as simply "The Island"; for example, that is what it is called in O. Henry's 1905 short story The Cop and the Anthem.

In 1932, the city opened a jail for men on the island to replace its dilapidated jail on Blackwell's Island (now Roosevelt Island). Landfill was added to the island in 1954. It enlarged the original 90-acre (360,000 m²) island to 415 acres (1.68 km²), enabling the jail facilities to expand. The original penitentiary building, completed in 1935, was called HDM or the House of Detention for Men; it became a maximum security facility called the James A. Thomas Center and closed due to structural issues in 2000.

During Mayor David Dinkins' term as mayor of New York, the jail filled to overflowing, and an 800-bed barge was installed on the East River to accommodate the extra inmates. The barge is called the Vernon C. Bain Correctional Center (VCBC), and is also known simply as "The Boat". VCBC is located at 1 Halleck St, Bronx, NY 10474, at the end of Hunts Point, near the recently relocated Fulton Fish Market. The keel for the Vernon C. Bain was laid in 1989 at the Avondale Shipyard in New Orleans. Upon completion, VCBC was towed up from Louisiana to its current mooring, and attached to two Crandall Arms.^{[clarification needed]} It opened for use as a facility in 1992. Originally it had been leased to the NYC Department of Juvenile Justice, while Spofford Juvenile Detention Center was under reconstruction. VCBC was formerly known as Maritime Facility #3 (MTF3); facilities 1 and 2 were reconstructed British military transport barges, or BIBBYs (British Industries Boat Building Yard), used during the Falklands War, both of which could house 800 soldiers, but only 200 inmates after their conversion. MTFs 1 and 2 were anchored on either side of Manhattan at East River pier 17, near 20th street, in the Hudson River. In addition, there were two smaller 1930s-era Staten Island Ferry boats, both converted to house 162 inmates each. The ferry boats were sold for salvage about 2003, and the owner of the shipyard that built VCBC, Avondale Shipyard, bought the two BIBBYs. VCBC is the only vessel of its type in the world. Prior to modification for use by New York City, it cost $161 million to construct.^[18] The initial plan for acquiring the vessel, because of the way New York City makes capital purchases, had to begin at least five years before the keel was laid, during the tenure of Ed Koch.

A drawing by artist Salvador Dalí, done as an apology because he was unable to attend a talk about art for the prisoners at Rikers Island, hung in the inmate dining room in J.A.T.C. (HDM) from 1965 to 1981, when it was moved to the prison lobby in A.M.K.C. (C95) for safekeeping. The drawing was stolen in March 2003 and replaced with a fake; three Correction Officers and an Assistant Deputy Warden were arrested and charged, and though three later pled guilty and one was acquitted, the drawing has not been recovered.^[19]

"Gay housing"[link]

The segregated unit at Rikers for LGBT prisoners, known as "gay housing," was closed in December 2005 citing a need to improve security.^[20] The unit had opened in the 1970s due to concerns about abuse of LGBT prisoners in pretrial detention. The New York City Department of Corrections' widely criticized plan was to restructure the classification of prisoners and create a new protective custody system which would include 23-hour-per-day lockdown (identical to that mandated for disciplinary reasons) for moving vulnerable inmates to other facilities.^[21] Whereas formerly all that was required was a declaration of homosexuality or the appearance of being transgender, inmates wanting protective custody would now be required to request it in a special hearing.^[22]

Alleged abuses[link]

This article may be unbalanced towards certain viewpoints. Please improve the article by adding information on neglected viewpoints, or discuss the issue on the talk page. (December 2008)

In February 2008, Correction Officer Lloyd Nicholson was indicted after he allegedly used a select group of teenage inmates as enforcers under a regime called "the program," as well as allegedly beating inmates himself. However, "The Program" has been known to exist for well over a decade and is unique to the adolescents. The inmates use it as a test for other inmates and system of control amongst themselves.^[23]

On June 1, 2007, Captain Sherman Graham and Assistant Deputy Warden Gail Lewis were arrested by the New York City Department of Investigation (DOI) for covering up an assault on an inmate.^[24] The arrest came after both were indicted by a Bronx Grand Jury. It is alleged that on October 4, 2006, Graham assaulted an inmate after he refused to comply with strip searching procedures at the Robert N. Davoren Center (RNDC, C-74). The assault occurred in front of 15 Correction Academy Recruits in training.^[25] After the assault, Graham ordered the Recruits to write on their Use of Force Witness Reports that Graham assaulted the inmate in self defense after the inmate punched Graham. Lewis who was Graham’s supervisor did not intervene to stop anything. Lewis also submitted a false Use of Force Witness Report. Charges against Graham include 16 counts of Falsifying Business Records, 16 counts of offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree 16 counts of Official Misconduct, a class A misdemeanor and one count of Attempted Assault in the Third Degree. Lewis was charged with Falsifying Business Records, Offering a False Instrument for Filing and Official Misconduct. The investigation started when the DOI received a tip following an anti-corruption presentation at the Academy in October 2006 the day before graduation.

Graham and Lewis were found guilty on all charges by a Bronx jury on May 14, 2012. ^{[26] [27]}It took the jury approximately three hours to deliberate a guilty verdict. Lewis was able to retire in December 2009 with her pension. ^[28][29] Graham was terminated from the Corrections Department following the guilty verdict. Both face up to four years in prison when they are sentenced on July 9, 2012. ^[30]

On October 4, 2007, the New York City Department of Corrections conceded that "tens of thousands of nonviolent inmates taken to Rikers Island on misdemeanor charges had been wrongly strip-searched in violation of a 2002 court settlement, and were entitled to payment for damages. As many as 150,000 such inmates have been searched at Rikers Island since 2002, lawyers for the inmates said... The policy was kept in place despite a United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit ruling in 2001 that strip-searches of misdemeanor suspects were illegal, unless officials suspected that they were carrying contraband..."

[Lead lawyer Richard D.] Emery charged in his papers that department officials "repeatedly resorted to lying to cover up deliberate indifference to the continued practice of humiliating detainees by forcing them to strip naked in groups."^[31]

In an alleged July 2008 rape case reported by The Village Voice on August 5, 2008, the alleged victim claimed "that someone entered her cell in the 1,000-bed Rose M. Singer Center while she was asleep, sometime before 6 a.m. on July 3. She says the intruder (or intruders) bound and gagged her with bedsheets and then used a dildo-like object to sexually assault her. Other inmates may have acted as lookouts during the alleged assault. The woman, who was being held on grand-larceny charges for the past three months, was discovered at about 6 a.m. by an Officer and a Captain who were touring the building. The Officer saw her lying on her back on the floor of her cell with bedsheets wrapped around her neck, mouth, and legs. She had also been blindfolded. The incident was reported to central command at 7:30 a.m., and the woman was transported to the Elmhurst Hospital Center. Because she didn't share a cell with anyone, a major question is how the alleged assault happened in the first place. Officials won't talk about the investigation, and there's no word on whether any arrests have been made."^[32]

The same Village Voice article also lists a roll call of 2008 scandals at Rikers, including the case of Officers who allegedly passed accused cop killer Lee Woods marijuana, cigarettes, and alcohol; the February indictment of corrections officer Lloyd Nicholson who used inmates as "enforcers", and the April 27 suicide of 18-year-old Steven Morales (who had killed his infant daughter for crying too much) in the high-security closed-custody unit.

On February 3, 2009, The New York Times reported that "the pattern of cases suggests that city correction officials have been aware of a problem in which Rikers Officers have acquiesced or encouraged violence among inmates." The Times added that "There have been at least seven lawsuits filed in Federal District Court in Manhattan accusing Officers of complicity or acquiescence in inmate violence at Rikers, a complex of 10 detention facilities which, along with several other jails around the city, hold about 13,000 prisoners, most of whom are pretrial detainees. None of the seven suits have gone to trial. In the three that were settled, the city admitted no liability or wrongdoing."^[33]

References[link]

External links[link]

New York City portal

• Description of the 10 jails on Rikers.
• The Jail Inferno, by Heather Mac Donald, City Journal, Summer 2009
• Rikers Island: Blocks 9000 and 9001, Block Group 9, Census Tract 1, Bronx County, New York United States Census Bureau
• http://www.nyc24.org/2003/islands/zone2/rikershistory.html
• http://www.nyc24.org/2003/islands/zone2/rikers-index.html
• Department of Correction Facilities on Rikers Island
• Map of Rikers Island.
• "Guards charged in Dali theft" – (BBC)
• Firsthand Accounts of Ex-Inmates of Rikers Island
• "History of New York City Department of Corrections"
• "Rikers Island guards beat inmates for years" – (CNN, 1998)
• "From Ramallah to Rikers Island" – A New Journal Series by Nigel Parry from the World's Largest Penal Colony, 2008

v t e Islands of New York City Barren Island The Blauzes Broad Channel Island Chimney Sweeps City Island Coney Island Ellis Island Governors Island Hart Island High Island Hoffman Island Hunter Island Isle of Meadows Liberty Island Long Island Manhattan Mill Rock North Brother Island Prall's Island Randall's Island Rat Island Rikers Island Roosevelt Island Ruffle Bar Shooters Island South Brother Island Staten Island Swinburne Island Travers Island Twin Island U Thant Island Wards Island

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Cocoa Tea(born Calvin George Scott, September 3, 1959, Kingston, Jamaica) is a Jamaican reggae/dancehall singer, songwriter, and DJ.^[1]

Biography[link]

Cocoa Tea was popular in Jamaica in from 1985, but has become successful worldwide only since the 1990s. One of his most famous songs is "Rikers Island", which was later put into a dub version by Nardo Ranks entitled "Me No Like Rikers Island" (featured on Dancehall Reggaespanol) which was released the same year as the original "Rikers Island". He also gained fame with the song "Young Lover". He gained notoriety in March 2008 after releasing a song titled "Barack Obama" in support of the US Presidential candidate by the same name. Cocoa Tea's song "Jah Made Them That Way" from his 1984 album Rocking Dolly interpolates "Human Nature" by Michael Jackson and "Answer Mi Question" by Dillinger.

Partial discography[link]

• 2008. "Yes We Can". Roaring Lion Records
• 2007. "Biological Warfare". Minor 7 Flat Five
• 2006. Save Us Oh Jah. V.P. Records.
• 1997. Holy Mount Zion. Motown.
• 1997. RAS Portraits. Ras.
• 1996. Israel's King. V.P. Records.
• 1992. Can't Stop Cocoa Tea. V.P. Records.
• 1992. Kingston Hot. Ras.
• 1991. Riker's Island V.P. Records.
• 1986. Showdown Vol 8 (Frankie Paul & Cocoa Tea).Hitbound
• 1985. Israel Vibration Meets Cocoa Tea
• 1985. I Lost My Sonia. Volcano
• 1985. Mr. Coco Tea. Corner Stone
• 1985. Settle Down. Corner Stone
• 1985. Sweet Sweet Coco Tea. Blue Mountain
• 1985. The Marshall. Jammys
• 1985. Clash (Tenor Saw & Cocoa Tea). Hawkeye
• 1984. Rocking Dolly. RAS
• 1984. Weh Dem A Go Do. Volcano
• 1983-2006 Reggae Anthology. 17 North Parade
• 198X. Corner Stone Presents Clash Of The 80's (Cocoa Tea & Barrington Levy). Corner Stone

References[link]

External links[link]

• Cocoa Tea's Original Dancehall Jam Jam, Official Website of Cocoa Tea & Original Dancehall Jam Jam
• Cocoa Tea, Artists Only! Records
• Barack Obama by Coco Tea

Kool G Rap
Kool G Rap performing in New York City, 2004
Background information
Birth name	Nathaniel Thomas Wilson
Also known as	Kool G. Rap, G Rap, Giancana
Born	(1968-07-20) July 20, 1968 (age 43) Queens, New York City, US
Origin	Corona, Queens, New York City, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop, mafioso rap, hardcore hip hop
Occupations	Rapper, record producer, screenwriter, author
Years active	1986–present
Labels	Cold Chillin'/Warner Bros. Records Cold Chillin' Cold Chillin'/Epic Street/SME Records KOCH'
Associated acts	DJ Polo, Juice Crew, Marley Marl, Big Daddy Kane, Rakim, Fat Joe, Canibus, Five Family Click, Wu-Tang Clan, Nas, MF Grimm, Mobb Deep, R.A. The Rugged Man, Ras Kass, DJ Premier, Rick Ross, Game (rapper)

Nathaniel Thomas Wilson (born July 20, 1968^[1]), better known by his stage names Kool G Rap (or simply G Rap, and originally Kool Genius of Rap) is an American rapper, from the Corona neighborhood of Queens, New York City.^[2] He began his career in the mid-1980s as one half of the group Kool G Rap & DJ Polo and as a member of the Juice Crew. He is often cited as one of the most influential and skilled MCs of all time^{[3][4][5][6][1][7][8][9][10]} as he is a pioneer of mafioso rap/street/hardcore content^{[5][10][11][12][13][14]} and multisyllabic rhyming.^[15] On his album The Giancana Story, he stated that the "G" in his name stands for "Giancana" (after the mobster Sam Giancana), but on other occasions he's stated that it stands for "Genius".^[1][16]

He has also been cited as a major influence to some of hip-hop's most critically acclaimed figures such as Eminem, Nas, Jay-Z, Big Pun, RZA and more.^[9][17][18]

Biography[link]

Early years[link]

Wilson grew up in the poverty-ridden streets of Corona Queens, New York with legendary producer Eric B.^[19] In an interview with The Source he stated;

Growing up in Corona was like a little Harlem, it wasn't that hard for a nigga to be influenced by the street life type of mentality. I was like 15 years old, Ma dukes couldn't dress a nigga no more and at that age you want a little money in your pocket. That's what gets us all, material possessions. A nigga got caught up in that mentality. Nigga started selling drugs at a certain point, and all that shit, it's what was goin' on in the streets ... eventually all my friends got smoked. Everybody was droppin'. All my friends started packing burners everyday, we was wild shorties.

—Kool G Rap, The Source Magazine, issue 72, September, 1995.^[20]

Around this time, Wilson was looking for a DJ, and through Eric B., he met DJ Polo, who was looking for an MC to collaborate with.^[19]

Kool G Rap and DJ Polo[link]

Juice Crew producer, and Mr. Magic DJ; Marley Marl knew Polo, and allowed him and G Rap to go to his studio to do a demo, which resulted in the song "It's a Demo." The song was written and recorded in one night, and had Marley so impressed, that he instantly embraced Kool G Rap and DJ Polo as Juice Crew members (it's worth noting that this was the first time G Rap had ever met Marley.)^[21] In 1986 on Mr Magic's Rap Attack radio show on 107.5, the duo got their first exposure which created more buzz. They eventually released "It's a Demo" as a single with "I'm Fly", along with two more singles. Shortly after this, Kool G Rap appeared on the Juice Crew's classic posse cut 'The Symphony' before they released their debut album, Road to the Riches in 1989.^[22][23] This album and their two later albums, Wanted: Dead or Alive (1990) and Live and Let Die (1992), are highly regarded and considered Hip-Hop classics.^{[12][15][22][24][25][26]} Eventually in 1993, Kool G rap parted ways with DJ Polo in pursuit of a solo career.

Solo career[link]

In 1995, G Rap started his solo career with the album 4,5,6, which featured production from Buckwild, and guest appearances from Nas, MF Grimm and B-1 – it has been his most commercially successful record, reaching No.24 on the US Billboard 200 album chart.^[27] This was followed by Roots of Evil in 1998.^[1] He was then meant to release his next album, The Giancana Story in 2000, on Rawkus Records, but due to several complications with the label, the album was pushed back several times, and eventually released in 2002. "My Life" the hit single from the album featuring Talk Box legend G-Wise reached No.5 on the US Billboard Hot 100 charts. In 2008 he released the EP Half a Klip on Chinga Chang Records, featuring production from, among others, DJ Premier and Marley Marl.^[28]

Criticisms of Kool G Rap's solo albums usually focus on the production not being up to the standard of the rapping.^[29][30]

While Kool G Rap has always been popular and well respected in Hip-Hop circles for his lyrical skills,^[11][15] he never crossed over and saw the same level of commercial success as rappers such as Biz Markie and Big Daddy Kane, both also members of the Juice Crew.^[28][31] He is known for consistently making records which are hardcore, dark, intelligent, and underground.^{[6][11][12][26]}

Legacy[link]

Kool G Rap is regarded as a hugely influential golden age rapper.^[1] Music journalist Peter Shapiro suggests that he "created the blueprint for Nas, Biggie and everyone who followed in their path".^[32] Kool G is described by Kool Moe Dee as "the progenitor and prototype for Biggie, Jay-Z, Treach, Nore, Fat Joe, Big Pun, and about twenty-five more hard-core emcees",^[3] and Kool Moe Dee also claims Kool G Rap is "the most lyrical" out of all of the artists mentioned.^[33] MTV describes Kool G Rap as a "hip-hop godfather", adding that he paved the way for a lot of MCs who we would not have heard of otherwise.^[5] Rolling Stone says, "G Rap excelled at the street narrative, a style that would come to define later Queens MCs like Nas (who was hugely influenced by G Rap on his early records) and Mobb Deep".^[10]

Other artists who have named Kool G Rap as a major influence include Notorious B.I.G.,^[34] Eminem,^[17] Jay-Z,^[35] Tajai of Souls of Mischief,^[36] Vinnie Paz of Jedi Mind Tricks,^[37] Steele of Smif-n-Wessun,^[38] Havoc of Mobb Deep,^[38] Rock of Heltah Skeltah,^[38] MC Serch,^[39] Termanology,^[40] Black Thought of The Roots,^[41] M.O.P.,^[42] R.A. The Rugged Man,^[43] Bun B of UGK,^[7] Rah Digga,^[8][44] RZA^[9] and Raekwon^[45] of Wu-Tang Clan, Lady Of Rage,^[46] Big Pun,^[2] O.C. of DITC,^[47] Memphis Bleek,^[48] Kurupt,^[49] Pharoahe Monch,^[50] and Twista,^[51][52] among others.

He is also often very highly rated in terms of his technical ability^{[5][6][7][8][9][26][33]} and is often ranked alongside other highly regarded golden age MCs, such as Big Daddy Kane, Rakim, and KRS-One.^[11][15] In Jay-Z's track 'Encore', Jay-Z raps, "hearing me rap is like hearing G Rap in his prime",^[28][53] comparing his skill level to that of Kool G Rap. Allmusic calls him "one of the greatest rappers ever", "a master", and "a legend".^[6][26] A number of rappers, such as Ice Cube, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Lloyd Banks, and Nas have put him in their lists of favorite rappers.^[54] Kool Moe Dee ranked Kool G Rap at No.14 in his book There's A God On The Mic: The True 50 Greatest MCs,^[33] and MTV gives him an 'Honorable Mention' in their Greatest MCs Of All Time list.^[5]

Rhyme technique[link]

Kool G Rap is known for using complex multisyllabic rhymes since his debut (in a similar way to other golden age MCs such as Big Daddy Kane and Rakim),^[15] and this remains a hallmark of his style, along with his rapid-fire delivery and "superhuman breath control".^[15] Although many of today's MCs use multisyllabic rhymes extensively (such as Eminem, Pharoahe Monch, Nas, Papoose, and many others), Kool G Rap is known for taking the technique to its limits and packing in as many multisyllabic rhymes as possible,^[55][56] sometimes all in the same rhyme scheme for a whole verse, such as on Sway & King Tech's 'The Anthem'.^[56]

He has also been cited as one of Hip-Hop's greatest storytellers, alongside Slick Rick and Notorious B.I.G.,^[24][57] with "laser-like visual descriptions",^[12] and "vivid narratives".^[15] Rolling Stone states that, "Live and Let Die continued G Rap's reign as rap music's premier yarn-spinner".^[10]

Kool G Rap provided the foreword for the 2009 book How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC,^[58][59] also providing insight into his rhyming technique.

Mafioso/Street content[link]

Kool G Rap is often credited as the first rapper to infuse his lyrics with mafioso and hardcore street content.^{[5][10][11][12][13][14][15]} This can be seen as early as 1989 in the song "Road to the Riches" where he makes a reference to Al Pacino (who plays mobster Tony Montana in the 1983 crime drama movie Scarface)^[60] – this was long before albums such as Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… (1995), and Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt (1996) made such references popular.^[14]

Since his debut, he has used various references to mob movies in his lyrics, album covers, and titles.^[1] For example, the first line of 'Bad to the Bone' from Wanted: Dead or Alive (1990) is, I'm bad to the bone / with a style like Al Capone,^[61] the album Live and Let Die (1992) uses samples from the film The Untouchables,^[62] the album cover of Roots of Evil (1998) uses elements from The Godfather and Scarface theatrical posters,^[29] and The Giancana Story (2002) album title references Mafia boss Sam Giancana.^[1]

Rolling Stone says, "before Kool G Rap, New York didn't really have the street rap that could hold its own against what artists such as L.A.'s Ice-T and N.W.A were churning out"^[10] and that "G Rap excelled at the street narrative".^[10]

His take on crime, violence, and the mafioso lifestyle ranges from remorse and contemplation (e.g. 'Streets of New York',^[63] described by Rolling Stone as "a vivid look inside the misery of the hood"^[10]), to glorification (e.g. 'Fast Life' featuring Nas^[64]).

Personal life[link]

Wilson dated Karrine Steffans. They have one son. Kool G Rap also has children with other women.^[65]

Discography[link]

Featured appearances[link]

• 1988: "The Symphony" (on the Marley Marl album In Control Volume 1)
• 1991: "Don't Curse" (from the Heavy D album Peaceful Journey")
• 1991: "The Symphony Vol. II" (on the Marley Marl album In Control Volume 2: For Your Steering Pleasure)
• 1992: "Death Threat" (from the Brand New Heavies album Heavy Rhyme Experience Vol. 1)
• 1993: "You Must Be Out of Your Fuckin' Mind" (from the Fat Joe album Represent)
• 1993: "Pee-Nile Reunion" (from the MC Shan Don't Call It Comeback 12")
• 1993: "This Is How We..." (from the Pudgee Tha Phat Bastard album Give Em The Finger)
• 1996: "Representin'" (Ruffa featuring Kool G Rap)
• 1996: "Stick To Ya Gunz" (from the M.O.P. album Firing Squad)
• 1996: "Know Da Game" (from the Frankie Cutlass album Politics And Bullshit)
• 1998: "Truly Yours 98" (from the Pete Rock album Soul Survivor)
• 1998: "Guns Blazing (Drums of Death, Pt. 1)" (from the UNKLE album Psyence Fiction)
• 1998: "40 Island" (from the N.O.R.E. album N.O.R.E.)
• 1999: "Friend of Ours" (from the E-Moneybags album In E-Moneybags We Trust)
• 1999: "The Anthem" Also feat. RZA, Tech N9ne, Eminem, Xzibit, Pharoahe Monch, Jayo Felony, Chino XL & KRS-One and "3 to the Dome" also feat. Big Daddy Kane & Chino XL (from the Sway & King Tech album This or That)
• 1999: "The Realest" (from the Mobb Deep album Murda Muzik)
• 2000: "Fall Back" (from the Big L album The Big Picture)
• 2000: "Ghetto afterlife" (from the Reflection Eternal album Train of thought)
• 2000: "Legendary Street Team" (from Lyricist Lounge 2)
• 2001: "Let 'Em Live" (from the Chino XL album I Told You So)
• 2001: "I Am" (from the G. Dep album Child of the Ghetto)
• 2001: "Gorillas" (from the Screwball album Loyalty)
• 2001: "No Surrender" (Shabaam Sahdeeq featuring Kool G Rap)
• 2002: "Allied Meta-Forces" (from the Canibus album Mic Club: The Curriculum)
• 2002: "Nuthin Has Changed" (from King Tee album The Kingdom Come)
• 2003: "Animal Rap" (from the Jedi Mind Tricks album Visions of Gandhi)
• 2005: "AIDS" (from the MF Grimm album Scars and Memories)
• 2005: "Ghost & Giancana" (from the Ghostface Killah album Put It on the Line)
• 2006: "We Gone Go Hard" (from the Ras Kass album Revenge of the Spit)
• 2006: "Reckless Eye-Ballin" (from the VERBAL THREAT album The Golden Era)
• 2006: "Full Metal Jacket" (from the Molemen album Killing Fields)
• 2007: "Hood Tales" (from the Marco Polo album Port Authority)
• 2007: "100 Roundz" (from the Domingo album The Most Underrated)
• 2007: "Come one, come all" (from the Styles P album The Ghost Sessions)
• 2007: "Next Up" (from the UGK album Underground Kingz)
• 2007: "6 in the Morning" (from the Statik Selektah album Spell My Name Right: The Album)
• 2007: "Buck Buck" (on the Red Cafe and DJ Envy album The Co-Op)
• 2007: "And Wot (Remix)" (Album "Unified: He Whanau Kotahi Tatou" featuring Sweet Tooth & Carbon Kid)
• 2007: "Terrorise the City(on the Klashnekoff album Lionheart: Tussle with the Beast featuring Kyza)
• 2008: "Queens" (from the LL Cool J Exit 13 Promo EP)
• 2008: "One Shot" (album Hood 2 Hood: The Blockumentary Soundtrack, Pt. 1)
• 2008: "The Next Step" (from the Big John album The Next Step featuring R.A The Rugged Man)
• 2008: "Same Old Hood" (Saul Abraham featuring Kool G Rap & St Laz)
• 2009: "Das Leid / The Light" Azad featuring Kool G Rap (from Brisk Fingaz album Einzelkämpfer)
• 2009: "Gunz From Italy" (from the Club Dogo album Dogocrazia)
• 2009: "Ill Figures" (from the Wu-Tang Clan compilation album Wu-Tang Chamber Music)
• 2009: "Legendary" (from the 67 Mob album Raising The Bar)
• 2009: "ALC Theme" (from The Alchemist album Chemical Warfare)
• 2009: "KGR & Honda" (from the DJ Honda album IV)
• 2010: "Cursed" (from the Diabolic debut album "Liar & A Thief")
• 2010: "Boot Rap" featuring Canibus (from the Mark Deez album "Bootstrap Theory")
• 2010: "White Sand Part 2" Rick Ross Ft. Triple C's from The Albert Anastasia EP
• 2010: "Knife Fight" Rick Ross Ft. Kool G Rap from The Albert Anastasia EP
• 2010: "Ready For War" CHI-ILL Ft. Kool G Rap from The Last Chance Lounge EP.
• 2010: "Controlling Tha Game" Tyger Vinum FT. Kool G. Rap from "Grindin Muzik" album
• 2010: "Frozen" (From The Left album "Gas Mask")
• 2010: "3 Extremes" (from Dusty Philharmonics album "The Audiotopsy", Unexpected Records)
• 2011: "Kies in tha game" (from Duo Kie album "De Cerebri Mortis")
• 2012: "Summertime" (from Adil Omar album The Mushroom Cloud Effect)
• 2012: "Keep it Live" (from NNFoF album No Name Full of Fame)

References[link]

Further reading[link]

• Paul Edwards, foreword by Kool G Rap, 2009, How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC. Chicago Review Press.
• Kool Moe Dee, 2003, There's A God On The Mic: The True 50 Greatest MCs, Thunder's Mouth Press.
• Brian Coleman, 2007, Check The Technique: Liner Notes For Hip-Hop Junkies, Villard, Random House.
• Peter Shapiro, 2005, The Rough Guide To Hip-Hop, 2nd Edition, Penguin.
• William Jelani Cobb, 2007, To The Break Of Dawn: A Freestyle On The Hip Hop Aesthetic, NYU Press.
• Mickey Hess, 2007, Icons Of Hip Hop, Greenwood Publishing Group.

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Kool G Rap

• Kool G Rap on Myspace
• Kool G Rap interview March 5, 2008 – Kool G Rap interview with HipHopDX
• Kool G Rap interview 2003 – Kool G Rap interview with MVRemix
• Conspiracy Worldwide Radio September 2010 Uncensored Interview
• Kool G Rap interview with Platform8470 2011-09-19