Kool G Rap Solo career How many albums did he have in his solo career? G Rap started his solo career with the album 4, 5, 6, what were his most famous singles? "My Life"
What  music awards did he win?
What  music awards did Kool G Rap win?
In 1995, G Rap started his solo career with the album 4, 5, 6, which featured production from Buckwild, and guest appearances from Nas, MF Grimm and B-1. It has been his most commercially successful record, reaching No.24 on the US Billboard 200 album chart. This was followed by Roots of Evil in 1998. In 1997 G Rap was featured on Frankie Cutlass' "Politic & Bullsht" album track titled "Know Da Game" which also featured Mobb Deep. He was then meant to release his next album, The Giancana Story in 2000, on Rawkus Records, but due to several complications with the label, the album was pushed back several times, and eventually released in 2002. "My Life" the hit single from the album featuring Talk Box legend G-Wise reached No. 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Rap singles charts. He then released a joint album with his group, 5 Family Click, on his own Igloo Ent. label to mild success. In the following years, mixtapes were made and further collaborations continued. There were even rumors of G Rap's signing to both Rocafella and G-Unit Records, and even at one point Maybach Music. In 2007 he released Half a Klip on Chinga Chang Records, featuring production from, among others, DJ Premier and Marley Marl. A full LP was released in 2011, Riches, Royalty, Respect showcasing his true to form style and lyricism. The promise and prospects of collaboration albums were announced later the next year on his own, newly formed label FullMettle. In later years G Rap's interests extended outside hip-hop. He stated in further interviews his desire to begin writing movie scripts, an ambition taken in for a few years as he sought out various collaborators, and even a clothing line was also at one point apparently in the works. CANNOTANSWER
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Nathaniel Thomas Wilson (born July 20, 1968), better known by his stage name Kool G Rap (or simply G Rap), is an American rapper from Queens, New York City. 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 often cited as 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" (after the mobster Sam Giancana), but on other occasions he has stated that it stands for "Genius".

He has also been cited as a major influence to some of hip-hop's most critically acclaimed figures such as The Notorious B.I.G.,
Nas, Eminem and Jay-Z, as well as many underground rappers.

Biography

Early years 
Wilson grew up in the poverty-ridden streets of Corona, Queens, New York City, with legendary producer Eric B. In an interview with The Source he stated;

Around this time, Wilson was looking for a DJ, and through Eric B., he met DJ Polo, who was looking for an MC to collaborate with.

Kool G Rap and DJ Polo 
Juice Crew producer Mr. Magic and DJ Marley Marl allowed Polo and Kool G Rap to go to their studio to record a demo, which resulted in the song "It's a Demo." The song was written and recorded in one night, and had Marley so impressed, that he instantly embraced Kool G Rap and DJ Polo as Juice Crew members. In 1986, the duo appeared on Mr. Magic's Rap Attack radio show on 107.5. They eventually released "It's a Demo" as a single with "I'm Fly", along with two more singles. Shortly after this, Kool G Rap appeared on the Juice Crew's classic posse cut "The Symphony" before they released their debut album, Road to the Riches in 1989. This album and their two later albums, Wanted: Dead or Alive (1990) and Live and Let Die (1992), are highly regarded and considered hip-hop classics. Eventually, in 1993, Kool G Rap parted ways with DJ Polo to pursue a solo career.

Solo career 
In 1995, Wilson started his solo career with the album 4, 5, 6, which featured production from Buckwild, and guest appearances from Nas, MF Grimm and B-1. It has been his most commercially successful record, reaching No. 24 on the US Billboard 200 album chart. This was followed by Roots of Evil in 1998. In 1997, G Rap was featured on Frankie Cutlass'  Politics & Bullshit album, on a track entitled "Know Da Game" which also featured Mobb Deep.

He then planned to release his next album, The Giancana Story, on Rawkus Records in 2000. Due to several complications with the record label, the album release date was pushed back several times, and the album was eventually released in 2002. "My Life", the single from the album, featuring Talk Box legend G-Wise, reached No. 6 on the US Billboard Hot 100 Rap singles charts. Kool G Rap and his group 5 Family Click then released a joint album, Click of Respect, on Kool G Rap's own Igloo Ent. record label in 2003, to mild success. There were rumors of Kool G Rap's signing to both Rocafella and G-Unit Records, and at one point Maybach Music Group. In 2007, he released Half a Klip on Chinga Chang Records, featuring production from, among others, DJ Premier and Marley Marl. A full LP was released in 2011, Riches, Royalty, Respect showcasing his true to form style and lyricism. The promise and prospects of collaboration albums were announced later the next year on his own, newly formed label FullMettle. The first of these new projects came in 2018 with the album  Son of G Rap with Rochester, New York based rapper 38 Spesh.

In later years, Kool G Rap's interests extended outside hip-hop. He stated in further interviews his desire to begin writing movie scripts, an ambition taken in for a few years as he sought out various collaborators, and as well as his desire to work on a clothing line at one point.

Legacy 
Kool G Rap is regarded as a hugely influential golden age rapper. Music journalist Peter Shapiro suggests that he "created the blueprint for Nas, Biggie and everyone who followed in their path". Kool G is described by Kool Moe Dee as "the progenitor and prototype for Biggie, Jay-Z, Treach, N.O.R.E., Fat Joe, Big Pun, and about twenty-five more hard-core emcees", and Kool Moe Dee also claims Kool G Rap is "the most lyrical" out of all of the artists mentioned. MTV describes Kool G Rap as a "hip-hop godfather", adding that he paved the way for a lot of MCs who we would not have heard of otherwise. Rolling Stone says, "G Rap excelled at the street narrative, a style that would come to define later Queens MCs like Nas (who was hugely influenced by G Rap on his early records) and Mobb Deep".

Other artists who have named Kool G Rap as a major influence include The Notorious B.I.G., Eminem, Jay-Z, Tajai of Souls of Mischief, Vinnie Paz of Jedi Mind Tricks, Steele of Smif-N-Wessun, Havoc of Mobb Deep, Rock of Heltah Skeltah, MC Serch, Termanology, Black Thought of The Roots, M.O.P., R.A. the Rugged Man, Bun B of UGK, Rah Digga; RZA, Ghostface Killah, and Raekwon of Wu-Tang Clan; The Lady of Rage, Big Pun, O.C. of D.I.T.C., Memphis Bleek, Kurupt, Pharoahe Monch of Organized Konfusion, Action Bronson, and Twista, among others.

He is also often very highly rated in terms of his technical ability and is often ranked alongside other highly regarded golden age MCs, such as Big Daddy Kane, Rakim, and KRS-One. In Jay-Z's track 'Encore', Jay-Z raps, "hearing me rap is like hearing G Rap in his prime". Allmusic calls him "one of the greatest rappers ever", "a master", and "a legend".

A number of rappers, such as Ice Cube, Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Lloyd Banks, and Nas have put him in their lists of favorite rappers. Kool Moe Dee ranked Kool G Rap at No. 14 in his book There's A God on the Mic: The True 50 Greatest MCs, and MTV gives him an 'Honorable Mention' in their Greatest MCs of All Time list.

Rhyme technique 
Kool G Rap is known for using complex multisyllabic rhymes since his debut, and this remains a hallmark of his style, along with his rapid-fire delivery and "superhuman breath control". He is known for rapping with as many multisyllabic rhymes as possible, sometimes all in the same rhyme scheme for a whole verse, such as on Sway & King Tech's "The Anthem".

He has also been cited as one of hip-hop's greatest storytellers, alongside Slick Rick and Notorious B.I.G., with "laser-like visual descriptions", and "vivid narratives". Rolling Stone states that, "Live and Let Die continued G Rap's reign as rap music's premier yarn-spinner".

Kool G Rap provided the foreword for the 2009 book How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC, also providing insight into his rhyming technique.

Mafioso rap 
Kool G Rap is often credited as the first rapper to infuse his lyrics with mafioso and hardcore street content.
This can be seen as early as 1989 in the song "Road to the Riches" where he makes a reference to Al Pacino (who played Michael Corleone in The Godfather	and mobster Tony Montana in the 1983 crime drama movie Scarface) – this was long before albums such as Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx… (1995), and Jay-Z's Reasonable Doubt (1996) made such references popular.

Since his debut, he has used various references to mob movies in his lyrics, album covers, and titles. For example, the first line of 'Bad to the Bone' from Wanted: Dead or Alive (1990) is, I'm bad to the bone / with a style like Al Capone, the album Live and Let Die (1992) uses samples from the 1987 crime film The Untouchables, the album cover of Roots of Evil (1998) uses elements from The Godfather and Scarface theatrical posters, and The Giancana Story (2002) album title references Mafia boss Sam Giancana.

Rolling Stone says, "before Kool G Rap, New York didn't really have the street rap that could hold its own against what artists such as L.A.'s Ice-T and N.W.A were churning out" and that "G Rap excelled at the street narrative".

His take on crime, violence, and the mafioso lifestyle ranges from remorse and contemplation (e.g. 'Streets of New York', described by Rolling Stone as "a vivid look inside the misery of the hood"), to glorification (e.g. 'Fast Life' featuring Nas).

Personal life 
Wilson dated Karrine Steffans from 1995 to 1999 and they have one son together.

Discography 

Solo albums
 4,5,6 (1995)
 Roots of Evil (1998)
 The Giancana Story (2002)
 Half a Klip (2008)
 Riches, Royalty, Respect (2011)
 Return of the Don (2017)

Collaboration albums
 Road to the Riches (with DJ Polo) (1989)
 Wanted: Dead or Alive (with DJ Polo) (1990)
 Live and Let Die (with DJ Polo) (1992)
 Click of Respect (with The 5 Family Click) (2003)
 Once Upon a Crime (with Necro as The Godfathers) (2013)
 Son of G Rap (with 38 Spesh) (2018)

References

Further reading 
 Paul Edwards, foreword by Kool G Rap, 2009, How to Rap: The Art & Science of the Hip-Hop MC. Chicago Review Press.
 Kool Moe Dee, 2003, There's a God on the Mic: The True 50 Greatest MCs, Thunder's Mouth Press.
 Brian Coleman, 2007, Check the Technique: Liner Notes For Hip-Hop Junkies, Villard, Random House.
 Peter Shapiro, 2005, The Rough Guide to Hip-Hop, 2nd Edition, Penguin.
 William Jelani Cobb, 2007, To the Break of Dawn: A Freestyle on the Hip Hop Aesthetic, NYU Press.
 Mickey Hess, 2007, Icons Of Hip Hop, Greenwood Publishing Group.

External links

 
1968 births
Living people
Cold Chillin' Records artists
MNRK Music Group artists
People from Corona, Queens
Rappers from New York City
Underground rappers
African-American male songwriters
Songwriters from New York (state)
East Coast hip hop musicians
Gangsta rappers
Hardcore hip hop artists
20th-century African-American male singers
21st-century African-American male singers
Horrorcore artists
21st-century American rappers
Juice Crew members
Loy Mendonsa is an Indian music director  and part of the Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy trio which consist of himself, Shankar Mahadevan and Ehsaan Noorani. Before becoming a music composer, he played piano and keyboards for famous Indian music composers such as A. R. Rahman and Nadeem-Shravan. His daughter, Alyssa Mendonsa, made her singing debut with the song Uff Teri Adaa from the movie Karthik Calling Karthik.

Loy Mendonsa started his career by composing the signature tune for 'The World This Week' show on Doordarshan.

Awards and nominations
National Film Awards
2004: Best Music Direction win for Kal Ho Naa Ho

IIFA Awards
2004: Best Music Direction win for Kal Ho Naa Ho

2006: Best Music Direction win for Bunty aur Babli

Filmfare Awards
2001: RD Burman Award for New Music Talent win for Dil Chahta Hai

2001: Best Music Direction nomination for Dil Chahta Hai

2003: Best Music Direction win for Kal Ho Naa Ho

2005: Best Music Direction win for Bunty Aur Babli

Star Screen Awards
2000: Best Background Music nomination for Mission Kashmir

2001: Best Music Direction win for Dil Chahta Hai

2005: Best Music Direction win for Bunty aur Babli

Zee Cine Awards
2006: Best Music Director win for Bunty aur Babli

Filmography as music composers

References

External links
 Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy (official site)
 

Living people
Indian male playback singers
Indian film score composers
Year of birth missing (living people)
Indian male film score composers GNL Zamba, born Ernest Nsimbi, is a popular and influential hip hop artist in Uganda, credited with bringing rap and Lugaflow style of music to mainstream radio and other media in Uganda.

His stage name, GNL, is short for "Greatness of No Limits". He is the founder and CEO of the independent hip hop record label Baboon Forest Entertainment, which nurtures new talent in Kampala, Uganda. He is also an actor, filmmaker, and ambassador for Ugandan brands and social initiatives.

He began his professional music career in 2007, after completing a bachelor's degree in environmental science at Makerere University in Uganda. He was originally signed to Platinum Entertainment, and formed his own company Baboon Forest Entertainment in 2008.

Music style and career
GNL sings in urban Ugandan hip hop style called Lugaflow. Lugaflow is rap in Luganda, the indigenous language in Uganda's Central Region. Since the late 2000s, Lugaflow has inspired a new generation of Ugandan rappers to create popular music in their native language.

GNL provides his lyrics in both Luganda and English. He auditioned for HIPHOP CANVAS in 2005 and 2008, organized by Platinum Entertainment's Shadrak Kuteesa. In these multilingual projects, GNL stood out by engaging audiences with locally relevant stories in Luganda, with lyrics that addressed Ugandan social issues. GNL Zamba was first recorded as part of the award-winning song "MotherAfrica", released by Hip Hop Canvas in 2005. He released his first mainstream album, Koyi Koyi, in 2009; it was praised for bridging the gap between traditional and contemporary sound. GNL Zamba has toured around Africa, Europe, and North America, performing at various festivals and conventions. He is also credited with inspiring the Ugandan President, Yoweri Museveni, to release his first single, "You Want Another Rap".

Discography
Dreaming in Colour (in production 2016)

I Am Zamba / Ceazar, 2014

The Renaissance / Uganda Yaffe, 2013

Speaking Vernacular,  2011

Koyi Koyi (Riddles of Life), 2009

Social campaigns
GNL participated in Friend A Gorilla, an Oxfam-sponsored campaign about environmental education with the Uganda Wildlife Authority. His song "Story ya Luka" was selected by the Uganda Ministry of Health to headline a 2010 AIDS youth education campaign. His video collaboration for "True Manhood" with Young Empowered And Healthy (YEAH) Uganda encouraged Ugandan youth to use condoms, and it won the People's Choice Digital Media Award at the 2011 International Entertainment Education Conference. Over a three-year period, GNL worked with Buzz Teenies to tour Ugandan schools, offering youth mentorship, encouraging social unity and staying in school. In 2014, the  Twaweza Initiative awarded GNL for the positive social impact of his song "We Cry", which speaks about street violence and safe sex. Since 2013, GNL has partnered with Reach A Hand Foundation Uganda to participate in a series of youth edutainment campaigns. He has been invited to lecture at Makerere University's College of Humanities on oral literature and ethnology.

Music awards
2019 - 256 hip-hop awards African rapper of the year (win)

2014 – Twaweza Best Social Impact Through The Arts Award (Win)

2014 – Zina Awards: Best Hip Hop Single (Nomination)

2014 – Hipipo Awards: Best Hip Hop Artist (Nomination)

2014 – Rising Star Awards: Best Hip Hop Artist (Nomination)

2013 – Uganda Buzz Music Awards: Best Group (Win)

2013 – Club Music Video Awards: Video of the Year (Win)

2013 – Club Music Video Awards: Best Male Video of the Year (Win)

2013 – Kadanke Awards: Best Group (Win)

2013 – Kadanke Awards: Best Hip Hop Single (Win)

2013 – Kandanke Awards: Artist of the Year (Nomination)

2013 – Kandanke Awards: Best Male Artist (Nomination)

2013 – Kandanke Awards: Best Hip Hop Single (Nomination)

2012 – Uganda Buzz Music Awards: Best Male Artist (Win)

2012 – Uganda Buzz Music Awards: Best Hip Hop Single (Nomination)

2012 – Kandanke Awards: Artist of the Year (Nomination)

2011 – Uganda Buzz Music Awards: Hottest group (Win) * Baboon Forest

2011 – International Education Conference: People's Choice Digital Media (Win)

2011 – Pearl of Africa Music Awards: Best Hip Hop Single (Win)

2011 – Pearl of Africa Music Awards: Best Single (Nomination)

2011 – Pearl of Africa Music Awards: Best Male Artist (Nomination)

2011 – Uganda Buzz Music Awards: Artist of the Year (Nomination)

2010 – Pearl of Africa Music Awards: Best Hip Hop Single (Win)

2010 – Uganda Buzz Music Awards: Best Hood Rapper (Win)

2010 – Uganda Buzz Music Awards: Artist of the Year (Nomination)

2010 – Uganda Buzz Music Awards: Best Male Artist (Nomination)

2010 – Pearl of Africa Music Awards: Best Group (Nomination)

2010 – Pearl of Africa Music Awards: Best Single (Nomination)

2010 – Uganda Buzz Music Awards: Song of the Year (Nomination)

2010 – Kisima Awards, Kenya: Best Hip Hop Artist & Single (Nomination)

2009 – Pearl of Africa Awards: Best Hip Hop Single (Win)

2009 – Press Association Awards: Artist of the Year (Win)

2009 – Pearl of Africa Music Awards: Best Single (Nomination)

2009 – Uganda Buzz Music Awards: Best Male Artist (Nomination)

2005 – Pearl of Africa Awards: Best Hip Hop Single (Win)

Personal life
Born Ernest Nsimbi in 1986 in Uganda's Mukono district to a technical electrical engineer and civil servant, GNL Zamba was first encouraged toward music by his grandmother, a leader in the church choir.  The family settled into Kampala city's Kawempe slum following the Ugandan civil war, at a time of continuing instability and poverty, which shaped the upcoming artist into a storyteller who drew inspiration from the struggle of his youth. In secondary school, GNL served as the head writer of The Kiira Mirror, a member of the debate team, and chairman of the junior literature club. He went on to graduate with honours from Makerere University with a bachelor's degree in Environmental Management. Through the success of his music career, GNL was able to open a sports bar and bought land around Uganda.

External links

References

1986 births
Living people
Makerere University alumni
Ugandan rappers