How ‘Road to the Riches’ Birthed Mafioso Rap
Kool G Rap & DJ Polo’s debut pioneered the Mafioso-styled rap thirty-five years ago today.
When Nathaniel “Kool G Rap” Wilson’s voice first graced our ears, the hip-hop landscape had yet to encounter an emcee of his caliber. The Cold Chillin’ label’s release of his 12-inch single, “It’s a Demo,” in 1986 occurred at a time when skilled lyricists were not scarce; however, G Rap’s exceptional talent was immediately apparent. His rapid-fire rhymes, delivered through a pronounced lisp, established him as one of the pioneering emcees to wield his voice as a formidable weapon. Over the subsequent years, his recorded material showcased his ability to rhyme with the intensity of a battering ram while simultaneously manipulating his tongue with the precision of a scalpel. This culminated in the release of Road to the Riches 35 years ago, marking his debut collaboration with Thomas “DJ Polo” Pough.
Hailing from Queens, New York, Kool G Rap and Polo were among the inaugural artists signed to Cold Chillin’ Records and integral members of the illustrious Juice Crew, overseen by the renowned super-producer Marley Marl. The duo’s initial encounter occurred through various performances throughout Queens, and Polo introduced G Rap to his long-standing friend Marley to commence their musical journey. The recording of “It’s a Demo” occurred in Marley’s living room, ultimately becoming the second single released on Cold Chillin’.
Amidst a stacked Juice Crew lineup that boasted the likes of Big Daddy Kane, Craig G, and Masta Ace, Kool G Rap distinguished himself and is now widely regarded as one of the greatest lyricists of all time. His influence extended to numerous emcees who have since entered the “best ever” discourse, including Nas, JAY-Z, Black Thought, The Notorious B.I.G., Big Pun, and Raekwon. By the time Road to the Riches was released, G Rap had already established himself to be reckoned with through impactful singles and landmark guest appearances, such as his legendary verse on Marley Marl’s “The Symphony.” The debut album further solidified his position as a formidable verbal presence for years to come.
Throughout Road to the Riches, G Rap made a concerted effort to showcase his talents and pay homage to his musical partner, DJ Polo, frequently acknowledging him throughout the album. Including not one but two DJ-centric tracks on the album reflects the prevailing practices of rap artists three-and-a-half decades ago.
Another luminary of the album is Marley Marl, whose production on Road to the Riches arguably represents his most adept work from that era. In a 2004 interview with Complex, G Rap revealed that he provided Marley with nearly all the records to sample and ideas for their utilization, stating, “The only thing I didn’t do was press the buttons.” Regardless of the veracity of this claim, Marley’s “button pressing” on Road to the Riches is nothing short of exceptional, as he deftly manipulates samples and drum breaks while crafting a comprehensive sonic assault that perfectly complements G Rap’s lethal rhymes.
Despite the nearly three-year gap between the release of “It’s a Demo” and Road to the Riches, the former seamlessly integrates with the album’s sonic landscape. The beat, one of Marley Marl’s earliest triumphs, masterfully weaves together the guitar from Bobby Byrd’s “I Know You Got Soul” with what was, at the time of its recording, one of the earliest uses of James Brown’s “Funky Drummer” drum break. Over six verses, G Rap’s sharp wit and extensive vocabulary, which would distinguish him from his contemporaries, are on full display as he sings the praises of Polo and himself. He raps:
“I activate a musical device
Dialogues are concise; no need to splice
My system contains musical rap rain
Instrumentals inserted inside your brain.”
The success of the song and its B-side, “I’m Fly,” allowed the duo to continue their collaborative recording efforts.
The album and the duo’s most renowned offering is the title track, one of the most skillfully executed first-person crime narratives ever recorded. G Rap’s intricate storytelling traces his ascent from a street kid sweeping floors at the local Key Food to make ends meet to a drug-dealing kingpin. While tales of crime were far from novel in rap music by its release, “Road to the Riches” showcased an unparalleled level of poetic excellence that has seldom been matched since.
G Rap’s lyricism shines brightest on tracks with high BPMs, such as “Poison,” where he navigates the musical landscape remarkably. Marley’s expert sampling of James Brown’s “Get Up, Get Into It, Get Involved” creates the perfect soundscape for G Rap to unleash his skills as he raps (“Faster rhymes I mastermind I have to find/A new method time after time”). Interestingly, the song would gain an unexpected second life just over a year after the album’s release when the New Edition offshoot Bell Biv DeVoe drew inspiration from it for their eponymous song.
The album reaches its zenith with “Men at Work,” which showcases G Rap’s unrestrained lyricism over an uptempo track. Marley’s deft mixing of infamous breakbeats from the Incredible Bongo Band’s “Apache” with Boobie Knight & The Universal Lady’s “The Lovomaniacs,” punctuated by strategic booming bass drum kicks, provides the backdrop for G Rap’s finest performance. He delivers multiple marathon verses, densely packing his rhymes into potent couplets and dropping lyrical bombs rapidly. His first verse, spanning nearly two and a half minutes, is a work of art.
“Sparks shoot out from the mic when I rhyme, ignites
All types of words I write put in flight
Rappers evaporate to vapor
I drop science on paper and then build a skyscraper.”
Other deliberately paced, lyric-oriented tracks also excel. In “Trilogy of Terror,” Marley constructs a hectic track for G Rap to rap to, incorporating bluesy harmonica loops and dueling guitar samples. “Rhymes I Express” is an underrated gem, with G Rap flexing a stop-and-start flow over a stuttering reconstitution of Kraftwerk’s “Trans Europe Express.”
However, the album loses some of its luster when G Rap deviates from lyric-centered exhibitions. “Cars,” which features him rapping over a sample of Gary Numan’s famous song of the same name, evokes the style of Run-DMC, with G Rap employing a less complex rhyming approach. “She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not,” another ill-fated Cold Chillin’ rap love ballad, fails to showcase G Rap’s talents to their fullest extent. While the beat incorporates elements of Isaac Hayes’ “Joy” and The Main Ingredient’s “Everybody Plays the Fool” is commendable, G Rap’s moping about lost love falls short of the album’s high points.
Although DJ Polo may not have been the most flamboyant DJ behind the turntables at the time, his contributions throughout the album are commendable. The two tracks showcasing DJ Polo’s skills, the predominantly instrumental “Cold Cuts” and the album’s closing number, “The Butcher Shop,” are solid entries. Originally featured on the Colors soundtrack, the latter emerges as the superior of the two, incorporating a guitar loop from Avalanche’s “Overnight Sensation” while G Rap delivers a bouncier flow.
Road to the Riches is a compelling introduction to what the duo, particularly G Rap, would eventually become as they honed their craft and identified their strengths. G Rap’s legend would continue to grow with the release of Wanted: Dead or Alive a year later, the duo’s second and most potent album. He subsequently delved deeper into storytelling, becoming one of the first emcees to assume the role of a Mafia don on record. Nevertheless, he retained his ability to deliver verbal eviscerations. While his best work may have been yet to come, Road to the Riches is integral in establishing G Rap’s credentials as one of the greatest emcees ever to grace the mic.