Riches, Royalty, Respect

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Riches, Royalty, Respect
DJ Infamous, The Insurgency, Leaf Dog, LEVEL 13, Marley Marl, Simply Smashin, DJ Supa Dave
Kool G Rap chronology
Offer You Can't Refuse
(2011) 		Riches, Royalty, Respect
(2011) 		Once Upon a Crime
(2013)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
HipHopDX[2]
iHipHop[3]
Rap Reviews[4]
XXL[5]

Riches, Royalty, Respect is the fourth solo album by American hip-hop recording artist Kool G Rap, released on May 31, 2011 by Fat Beats.

Background

Riches, Royalty, Respect has a more vintage,

DJ Infamous and Marley Marl. Offer You Can't Refuse, an eight track EP, was released in January 2011 as a prelude to the album.[6]

A music video for the song "In Too Deep" was uploaded to YouTube by FatBeatsRecords on June 20, 2011.

Reception

Riches, Royalty, Respect received generally mixed to positive reviews from

the Alchemist, and career-long associate Marley Marl. Although G Rap's flow is not as energizing as it once was -- it now packs a heft that is both considerable and measured -- he can still spin a tale, draw up a fleshed-out concept, and epitomize hardcore rap as well as any MC half his age. The rugged and more dramatic beats -- 'In Too Deep,' 'Sad,' and the Havoc-assisted 'American Nightmare' -- bring out the best in G Rap. His mere presence is enough to carry the weaker tracks".[1] Andres Vasquez from HipHopDX also gave the album 3.5 out of five and stated "G Rap can still hang, using his patented multisyllabic style to perfection throughout, flashing this skill frequently. Lyrically, G Rap also shows his sharp lyricism on 'Sad,' one of the album's most interesting, heartfelt cuts over a Lee Moses sample. 'Pages of My Life' also shows more of this introspection. Here, G Rap shows why veteran emcees should still have an integral voice in our culture. Of course, the right beats are important in backing every emcee. For his support, G Rap went for mostly lesser-known producers (with some exceptions like Alchemist and Marley Marl) who had a similar vision. Taking off with the throwback theme in place, each producer drops a soulful sample laden track, a Memory Lane for all who take this album for a spin. 'In Too Deep,' 'The Meaning to Your Love,' 'Sad,' 'Pages of My Life,' and 'Da Real Thing' all showcase this nostalgic vibe properly. By providing the soulful instrumentals, it allows G Rap to do what he does best with no distractions".[2]

Robert Baker at iHipHop gave Riches, Royalty, Respect a score of three out of five and commented "Though he has remained low key for a number of years, G Rap doesn't show any fatigue on Riches, Royalty, Respect. In fact, Giancana shows fans that he can still whip up delectable hood stories from the bubbling Pyrex pot that we all love. However, the album is far from flawless, and as most fans can agree, the true Achilles heel of all G Rap albums is not its lyricism, but its production. Nonetheless, Riches, Royalty, Respect is better than half the garbage that overflows the commode now a days. Yet, just as any legend in the game, G Rap is cursed with having his work constantly mounted against prior releases that have all received critical acclaim. With that said, G Rap's latest installment is mediocre at best."[3]

Rap Reviews' Matt Jost scored the album as a 7.5 out of ten and noted "On the face of it, Riches, Royalty, Respect delivers the goods. 'In Too Deep' conjures up the familiar portrait of the artist as a cold-blooded, cocaine-slinging hustler entrapped by the trap. Producer DJ Supa Dave sets the scenery to music by digging deep into symphonic soul. Yet like virtually all comebacks from rap's elder statesmen, Riches, Royalty, Respect reveals certain shortcomings that may or may not have been present before but become apparent as rap history advances. Advocates of the arform will argue that Kool G Rap and most of today's successful rap acts are worlds apart artistically. They are absolutely right, but for a Kool G Rap the bar is placed higher than chart positions and numbers of social media followers".[4]

Alvin Blanco of XXL gave the album three out of five, saying "For the most part, the Queens native relies on his signature style, where he shines, weaving yarns about illicit scenarios that often include shady vixens looking for a come up. Though the album includes beats from Alchemist and old Juice Crew buddy Marley Marl, a lack of star-level production hinders the release a bit. Even so, a legion of lesser-known beatsmiths build a capable enough backdrop to showcase G Rap's New York grittiness".[5]

Track listing

No.TitleProducerLength
1."Pimptro"Blastah Beatz1:50
2."Ya Chic Chose Me"The Insurgency3:35
3."In Too Deep" (featuring Heather Walker)DJ Supa Dave3:13
4."70's Gangsta"Leaf Dog3:19
5."Pillow Talk"DJ Supa Dave2:39
6."The Meaning to Your Love"LEVEL 132:53
7."Sad"DJ Supa Dave3:09
8."Maggie"Simply Smashin3:52
9."$ Ova Bitches"
Infamous
4:31

Samples

  • "American Nightmare"
  • "Maggie"
    • "Drowning Man" by U2
  • "$ Ova Bitches"
    • "Truly Yours" by
      Kool G. Rap & DJ Polo
  • "Pages of My Life"
    • "True Love Don't Grow on Trees" by
      Helene Smith
  • "The Meaning to Your Love"
    • "The Limit to Your Love" by Feist
  • "In Too Deep"
  • "Sad"
  • "Da Real Thing"
    • "What a Wonderful Thing Love Is" by Al Green

References

  1. ^ a b AllMusic review
  2. ^ a b HipHopDX review
  3. ^ a b iHipHop review
  4. ^ a b Rap Reviews review
  5. ^ a b XXL review
  6. ^ SpycaseSpycase (2011-02-08). "Kool G Rap's Free EP Is an 'Offer You Can't Refuse'". The Boombox. Retrieved 2023-10-26.

External links


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