Roots of Evil

Last updated
Roots of Evil
Rootsofevil.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 20, 1998
Recorded
  • 1997–1998
  • 1995 (Track 13 & 15)
Genre
Label Illstreet [1]
Producer Dr. Butcher
CJ Moore [2]
Kool G Rap chronology
4,5,6
(1995)
Roots of Evil
(1998)
The Giancana Story
(2002)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [1]
RapReviews8.0/10 [4]
The New Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]
The Source Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [6]

Roots Of Evil is the second solo album by Mafioso rap artist Kool G Rap, released in 1998 by Kool G's record label, Illstreet. [7] [8] It boasts two singles, "Foul Cats" and "Can't Stop the Shine," and reached #43 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album contains the first recorded appearance of Papoose. [9]

Contents

Production

The album was recorded in Arizona, during a period of time where G. Rap was purposely avoiding New York. [2]

Critical reception

Complex wrote that "G. Rap's rhymes are so richly detailed that they put you right there in the heart of the action." [2]

Track listing

#TitleProducer(s)Performer (s)Length
1"Intro"*Interlude*1:43
2"Hitman's Diary"Dr. ButcherKool G Rap3:43
3"One Dark Night"Fade For Underworld ProductionsKool G Rap1:45
4"Foul Cats"CJ Moore, Dr. ButcherKool G Rap3:23
5"Tekilla Sunrise"CJ Moore, Dr. ButcherKool G Rap4:31
6"At Da Wake"*Interlude*1:10
7"Home Sweet Funeral Home"Haji A.Jinx, Kool G Rap, Papoose 2:51
8"Mobsta's"Fade For Underworld ProductionsKool G Rap3:18
9"Let the Games Begin"Rich 5Kool G Rap3:28
10"A Thugs Love Story (Chapter I, II, III)"CJ Moore, Dr. ButcherKool G Rap9:33
11"Da Bosses Lady"A. EvansCamileone, Kool G Rap3:54
12"Mafioso"Rich 5Kool G Rap2:51
13"Thug's Anthem"E. ThompsonJohnny 2 Gunz, Kool G Rap, Pokaface3:46
14"Da Heat"CJ Moore, Dr. ButcherKool G Rap3:34
15"Can't Stop the Shine"Kool G RapKool G Rap, Miss Jones 3:58
16"Cannon Fire"Kool G RapKool G Rap4:11
17"Outro"*Interlude*1:05
18"Daddy Figure"Fade For Underworld Productions, J. StankKool G Rap5:06

Samples

Album singles

Single information
"Foul Cats"
  • Released: September 1, 1998
  • B-Side:
"Can't Stop the Shine"
  • Released: 1998
  • B-Side: "Thugs Anthem"

Charts

Chart (1998)Peak
position
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [10] 43

Related Research Articles

G-funk, short for gangsta funk, is a sub-genre of gangsta rap that emerged from the West Coast scene in the early 1990s. The genre was heavily influenced by the synthesizer-heavy 1970s funk sound of Parliament-Funkadelic, often incorporated through samples or re-recordings. It was represented by commercially successful albums such as Dr. Dre's The Chronic (1992) and Snoop Dogg's Doggystyle (1993).

<i>Midnight Marauders</i> 1993 studio album by A Tribe Called Quest

Midnight Marauders is the third studio album by American hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest, released on November 9, 1993, by Jive Records. Recording sessions for the album occurred at Battery Studios, Platinum Island Studios and Scorcerer Sound in New York City. Its production was mainly handled by Q-Tip, with contributions from Skeff Anselm, Large Professor and the group's DJ, Ali Shaheed Muhammad. A culmination of the group's two previous albums, People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm and The Low End Theory, it features an eclectic, gritty sound based on jazz, funk, soul and R&B samples, in addition to socially conscious, positively-minded, and humorous lyrics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kool G Rap</span> American rapper from New York

Nathaniel Thomas Wilson, better known by his stage name Kool G Rap, is an American rapper. 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 widely considered to be one of the most influential and skilled MCs of all time, and a pioneer of mafioso rap/street/hardcore content and multisyllabic rhyming. On his album The Giancana Story, he stated that the "G" in his name stands for "Giancana", but on other occasions he has stated that it stands for "Genius".

<i>The Documentary</i> 2005 studio album by the Game

The Documentary is the commercial debut studio album by American rapper the Game. It was released on January 18, 2005, by Aftermath Entertainment, G-Unit Records, and Interscope Records. The record serves as his major-label debut, preceded by his independently released debut Untold Story in 2004. In 2001, while the Game was in hospital recovering from a shooting, he decided to pursue a career in music. He released the mixtape, "Q.B. 2 Compton" under his then record label "Get Low Recordz" in 2002, which was later discovered by Dr. Dre and led to him signing the Game to his label, Aftermath Entertainment. The album includes production from high-profile producers such as Dr. Dre, Kanye West, Scott Storch and Timbaland, among others, and guest appearances from 50 Cent, Eminem, Nate Dogg and Faith Evans, among others. This would be the Game's only album on Aftermath and G-Unit Records, as he left the label later in 2006 after a feud began between him and fellow G-Unit label-mate 50 Cent.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Papoose (rapper)</span> American rapper

Shamele Mackie, known professionally as Papoose, is an American rapper. Well known for his freestyles and prolific mixtape output, Papoose has released four studio albums and 29 mixtapes since 1998.

<i>We Cant Be Stopped</i> 1991 studio album by Geto Boys

We Can't Be Stopped is the third studio album by Geto Boys, released on July 9, 1991. It was among their most successful records in terms of units sold. The album is analysed track-by-track by Geto Boys in Brian Coleman's book Check the Technique. We Can't Be Stopped was certified Platinum in early 1992.

<i>Dah Shinin</i> 1995 studio album by Smif-N-Wessun

Dah Shinin' is the debut studio album by American East Coast hip hop duo Smif-N-Wessun. It was released on January 10, 1995, via Wreck/Nervous Records. Recording sessions took place at D&D Studios in New York City. Production was handled by Da Beatminerz. It features a guest appearance from the Boot Camp Clik. The album peaked at number 59 on the Billboard 200. The production is the signature Beatminerz sound which is elevated from their work on Black Moon’s 1993 effort ‘Enta da Stage’. The album spawned 4 singles: Bucktown/Let’s Git It On, Wrekonize/Sound Bwoy Burriel, Wrekonize (Remix)/Sound Bwoy Burriel (edit) and Wontime. A track known as ‘Nothin’ Move but The Money’ was left of the release of the album due to sample clearance issues and was released on white label as a result.

<i>Game Theory</i> (album) 2006 studio album by the Roots

Game Theory is the seventh studio album by American hip hop band the Roots, released August 29, 2006, on Def Jam Recordings. The group's first release for the label after leaving Geffen Records, the album was recorded by the Roots mostly using the Apple-developed software application GarageBand. A darker, grittier album with minimal emphasis on hooks in comparison to their previous work, Game Theory features a stripped-down sound similar to the work of Public Enemy, with lyrics that concern sociological themes and the late hip hop producer J Dilla.

<i>The Giancana Story</i> 2002 studio album by Kool G Rap

The Giancana Story is the third solo album by American rapper Kool G Rap, released by Koch Records on November 26, 2002. Its producers included Bink, Buckwild, Jaz-O, Knobody, Rockwilder and V.I.C., while AZ, Capone-N-Noreaga, Havoc, Joell Ortiz and Prodigy were amongst the guest vocalists.

Hip hop or hip-hop, also known as rap and formerly as disco rap, is a genre of popular music that originated in the early 1970s from African Americans and Afro-Caribbean immigrants in the Bronx, a borough of New York City. Hip-hop music originated as an anti-drug and anti-violence genre consisting of stylized rhythmic music that often accompanies rapping, a rhythmic delivery of poetic speech. In the early 1990s, a professor of African American studies at Temple University said, "Hip-hop is something that blacks can unequivocally claim as their own." By the 21st century, the field of rappers had diversified by both race and gender. The music developed as part of the broader hip-hop culture, a subculture defined by four key stylistic elements: MCing/rapping, DJing/scratching with turntables, breakdancing, and graffiti art. While often used to refer solely to rapping and rap music, "hip hop" more properly denotes the practice of the entire subculture. The term hip hop music is sometimes used synonymously with the term rap music, though rapping is not a required component of hip hop music; the genre may also incorporate other elements of the culture, including DJing, turntablism, scratching, beatboxing, and instrumental tracks.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waka Flocka Flame discography</span>

The discography of Waka Flocka Flame, an American rapper, consists of two studio albums, 41 singles and 28 mixtapes. His highest-charting single, "No Hands" featuring Roscoe Dash and Wale, peaked at number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100.

<i>Riches, Royalty, Respect</i> 2011 studio album by Kool G Rap

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rapsody</span> American rapper from North Carolina

Marlanna Evans, better known by her stage name Rapsody, is an American rapper. After signing with music producer 9th Wonder's music label It's a Wonderful World Music Group, she released a series of mixtapes and collaborated with Erykah Badu and Talib Kweli. Soon afterwards Rapsody released her debut album The Idea of Beautiful (2012). She would attain further prominence when she was featured on Kendrick Lamar's 2015 album To Pimp a Butterfly, on the track "Complexion ".

<i>Self Made Vol. 3</i> 2013 compilation album by Maybach Music Group

Self Made Vol. 3 is the third compilation album by MMG. The album was released on September 17, 2013, by Maybach Music Group and Atlantic Records. Like the two previous albums in the Self Made series, the album features contributions from members signed to the MMG label including Rick Ross, Meek Mill, Wale, Stalley, French Montana, Omarion and Rockie Fresh along with Gunplay, Young Breed and Torch of Triple C's. The album features additional guest appearances from Yo Gotti, Lil Boosie, Birdman, J. Cole, Fabolous, Pusha T, Hit-Boy, and Lupe Fiasco among others.

"The Language" is a song by Canadian rapper Drake from his third studio album Nothing Was the Same (2013). "The Language" was produced by frequent collaborator Boi-1da, along with additional production by Allen Ritter and Vinylz. It also features an outro from Cash Money Records founder Birdman. The song was serviced to mainstream urban radio on October 29, 2013, as the fourth single from the album in the US and has peaked at number 51 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike & Keys</span> Production duo

Mike & Keys are an American hip hop production and songwriting duo from Los Angeles, California that consists of Money Mike and J-Keys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Foul Cats</span> 1998 single by Kool G Rap

"Foul Cats" is the first single from American hip hop artist Kool G Rap's 1998 album Roots of Evil.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Can't Stop the Shine</span> 1998 single by Kool G Rap featuring Miss Jones

"Can't Stop the Shine" is the second single from American hip hop artist Kool G Rap's 1998 album Roots of Evil, featuring Miss Jones.

Shane Lee Lindstrom, known professionally as Murda Beatz, is a Canadian record producer. Born and raised in Ontario, he has produced commercially successful singles for various artists since 2011, predominantly in hip hop and trap music. His credits include the hit singles "Butterfly Effect" by Travis Scott, "Back on Road" by Gucci Mane, "Nice for What" by Drake, and "Motorsport" by Migos. He is best known for his guest feature alongside Nicki Minaj on 6ix9ine's 2018 single "Fefe", which peaked at number three on both the Canadian Hot 100 and US Billboard Hot 100.

Sean Merrick, known professionally over his career by the pseudonyms Jacky Jasper, H-Bomb and HDV, is a Canadian-American rapper, record producer and celebrity gossip blogger.

References

  1. 1 2 Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 5. MUZE. p. 8.
  2. 1 2 3 "10 Underrated Albums by Great Rappers". Complex.
  3. Roots of Evil at AllMusic
  4. "Kool G. Rap :: Roots of Evil :: Down Low". RapReviews. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
  5. Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide . Simon and Schuster. p.  466. ISBN   978-0-7432-0169-8.
  6. "Music: Roots Of Evil (Vinyl) by Kool G. Rap (Artist)". tower.com. 2009-02-26. Archived from the original on 2009-02-26. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
  7. "Kool G Rap | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  8. "Kool G Rap Poised To Reclaim Throne". MTV News. Archived from the original on November 2, 2020.
  9. "Next". Vibe. Vibe Media Group. July 29, 2006 via Google Books.
  10. "Kool G Rap Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.