I'm listening to Roots of Evil by Kool G Rap. How have I never heard of this guy? He's been pivotal in hip hop since 1985 and I have never heard of him.
I read the book "How to Rap: The art and Science of the hip hop MC" to better integrate hip hop style, flow and pacing into my writing style (which worked, btw) and they talk about this Kool G Rap, and I thought it was just some old ass whino rapper they found at club who'd do the interview for 2 5ths of Wild Turkey, so I didn't think too much. Then they stared saying he did stuff with Nas, and then they said it was him and Rakim who shaped modern rap. I have huge respect for Rakim's writing and rapping, so I had to check it out.
I picked up a couple of his albums. I'm blown away. Good flows, really technical but tell stories, and the beats are tight as hell too.
Anyone else listen to him?