Yo, first things first: MUCH RESPECT - I've been a follower of your music since the "Ill Street Blues" days, and you've never let me down. It's obvious that you've got a great ear for hip-hop talent, and you seem to be on every rappers list of influential MC's. So, my question is: outside of your own camp, who would YOU consider some of the most skilled MC's at this moment? - Shaun Gibson

Well just off the top based on lyrics I'd have to say Saigon who I did "Letter P" and "Dirtz Biz" with and Papoose. I respect Juelz Santana a lot as well for being different and having his own style.

Like you I spend a lot of my childhood growing up in Corona Queens (108 Street). Now back when you were doing ya thing on 104 and Northern Blvd, what inspired you to write the venomous lines that you spit back then and to this day? I mean dudes like Universal (RIP) did their thing on the Blvd but what were your major influences? - P Italiano

That's ill that you mentioned my hood like that. Well my major influences at the time was not only MC's like Kool Moe Dee, Melle Mel, Silver Fox, & Grand Master Caz but also the lifestyle I was involved with at the time along with the street enviornment that was surrounding me. I'd say that all these things had a lot to do with the artist that Kool G Rap became. Everything you seen on those streets and people you can think of led to me scripting what I did.

First I just want to say that I'm honored to even be asking a question. I know that shit sounds crazy but I love this shit man, this hip-Hop shit is more than a passion for me. Just want to say thank you for paving the way. You are a founding father, is there any niggas from the South you're feeling? - Red Dog

No doubt homey. There are definitely a few cats who I feel from the south personally. I think Ludacris for one is a talented lyricist as well as a great entertainer. T.I. I fucks with. Bun B is a real thorough dude and I fuck with his shit as well. I'm not on some "strictly NYC" bias rap shit. I respect a lot of niggaz from the south and I fuck with they music. Let me not forget Killer Mike who's my nigga and he's a beast on the mic. I've also been listening to some material from an upcoming artist from ATL named Al Gator and I think he's a problem so look out for that kid.

First off, I need to commend this man for making me write a question for the first time in my 28 year life. I have over 1000 cds/tapes/records in the crates of Hip Hop music and I have to say my #1 album is G Rap's Live and Let Die so this questions pertains to that album.
When that album dropped it was a turn around for the east coast and rap in general. You had an east coast cat working primarily with a west coast producer. You had mafia themes, sexual charged lyrics, real life situations and crazy rhyme patterns. Can you take me through the recording process of the best east coast album ever? I read stuff on Pac recording the 7 theory album all the time but too me this album is revolutionary. Can you take me through the process of choosing producers, guests, recording, and tracks like "Edge of Sanity" & "Train Robbery" which remain some of the grittiest tracks of all time. Also you plan on working with Trackmasters/Sir Jinx again to make some old magic happen? - John Gerontzos

Well the recording process for that album was a lot of fun because I did most of the work for that LP in the west coast and back then there wasn't really no east/west drama so I gained a few friendships out there with a few people. Working with Sir Jinx definitely taught me a lot about recording as far as production is concerned and vocally but Jinx being the cousin of the great Dr Dre had a lot of Dre's techniques implemented into his own style of production as far as like putting together skits, sound fx, and stuff like that. With me being the kind of rapper that writes very cinematic, Jinx just added to what I did and almost literally turned the music into big screen motion pictures. "Edge Of Sanity" & "Great Train Robbery" were tracks I started before I even got to Cali but Jinx added his crazy edge to them to make them sound fuller. I'm not really sure about working with Jinx or Track Masters on any project that I'm doing right at this moment cause it isn't in the plans but my doors are always open to work with them.

First of all of course you were and still are a huge influence to me and crew. What I wanna know is back in the day and even now do you mostly write to the track or write the lyrics and then find the track. Also do you yourself make beats at all? - Sean Dorsey

Early in my career I would mainly write the lyrics first and then find tracks to fit them but as time went on I eventually started custom writing to the production. It's both good & bad sometimes when you custom write to a real hot track because the track being so good can make you not work that hard lyrically cause almost anything sounds good over it but when you write without a track you have nothing else to focus on but the lyrics. As far as making beats, I used to do that but as years went by I stopped. I always had a lot to do with my earlier production in my early days.

Seeing as all music evolves and adapts to changes in the times, how do you think the rap game is going to have to adapt after all this bubble-gum rap is gone to regain legitimacy to the true hip-hop fan without just going back to the way it used to be. - Steven A Thomas / Staten Island

Good question Steven. Well me myself I'm not the kind of person that wants the times of yesterday to stay forever but the Hip Hop game will adapt simply because it will have to. There are certain forms of Hip Hop that are not really my preference but they serve a purpose. Look it's like this, I'm from an era where there wasn't a Hip Hop fan base the way it is right now and it was the variety of different music approaches that broadened it like artists such as Public Enemy for being militant and socially conscience. By the way love those dudes for what they did but even groups like Arrested Development probably paved the way and made a fan base for artist like a Talib Kweli and Mos Def as well as others. So the same would go for artist that do more commercial music. Some shit might not have been your cup of tea but its helped hip hop grow to what it is today. If you look now, these days it don't really require much to please a typical audience just music they can dance to, a chorus they can sing along with, and that's basically it. The fans of Hip Hop music that require more lyrical skills from rappers are suffering right now with what's played on radio and video shows because it's simply not there but the numbers in sales aren't there for this shit. People that want to hear that real shit need to support it on the real or true lyricist might stay on some underground shit because there's no other place for them to go. That's why its important for us to support cats. I know there's a lot of bootlegging going on and it helps cats but if you actually cop a real lyricist's LP you are doing more than spending 10 - 15 bucks. You are actually supporting the market and adding value to it. We need to support each other to keep this shit alive. Go to shows, by product, and stop trying to be the star. Like my man Scram Jone's says "there's not enough Indians cause everybody want to be a chief". That's cool but even in NYC we need to stop trying to top the next man and support each other. That's how these south niggaz are doing it.

Just wondering.... how do you feel about the state of NY rap right now? and what new up and coming artists are getting your attention? - Bloodpoolkid

I think there are a lot of talented dudes in NYC right now but they just not really getting the opportunity to be heard because the labels don't really care about who's nice and who ain't. They simply want to sign what they think is going to bring the numbers in and that's that. As far as up & coming artist I think Papoose and Saigon are gonna do they thing also look out for the cat's in 5 family click... Ma Barker, 40 cal hammerz, Nino Bless, Catalyst, Manslawta, & Big East. This is some real soon to be problem type of shit coming so keep ya ears to the street baby!!!

With all the great material in the last few years, the "G Rap is the GOAT" movement has built up. Can we expect more G Rap material being released more frequently in the future? Michael Gutierrez

The answer is simple yes Michael, you can definitely expect more product on Kool G Rap and the 5 Family Click in the near future.... mixtapes, albumns etc. So keep your ears to the street there's gonna be a lot of noise being made from this camp ya heard!!!!

[5] REACT

For the next part, G Rap will be answering YOUR questions, click here to email us (Please restrain from asking all personal questions or making any inquiries)

Read Long Live G Rap Pt. 1