Riches, Royalty, Respect
| Riches, Royalty, Respect | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by Kool G Rap | ||||
| Released | May 31, 2011 | |||
| Recorded | 2010-2011 | |||
| Genre | East coast hip hop, hardcore hip hop, Mafioso rap, Gangsta rap | |||
| Length | 47:33 | |||
| Label | Fat Beats | |||
| Producer | The Alchemist, Blastah Beatz, Gordon "H.U.M.P." Humphrey, DJ Infamous, The Insurgency, Leaf Dog, LEVEL 13, Marley Marl, Simply Smashin, DJ Supa Dave | |||
| Kool G Rap chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    |
| HipHopDX | |
| iHipHop | |
| Rap Reviews |    |
| XXL | |
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. It was Kool G Rap's first solo studio album since 2002's The Giancana Story.
Riches, Royalty, Respect has a more vintage, soulful sound than much of Kool G Rap's previous work, with notable 1970s artists such as Al Green and Lee Moses sampled on the album, although his usual hardcore, Mafioso sound also features prominently throughout. Production was overseen by mostly lesser-known producers, with some exceptions like The Alchemist, 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.
A music video for the song "In Too Deep" was uploaded to YouTube by FatBeatsRecords on June 20, 2011.
Riches, Royalty, Respect received generally mixed to positive reviews from music critics. Andy Kellman of AllMusic gave the album 3.5 stars out of five, saying "The production lineup for Riches, Royalty, Respect is not quite as impressive as that of 2007's Half a Klip, which boasted DJ Premier. G Rap instead leans on beats from an assortment of up-and-comers while enlisting DJ Supa Dave, 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". 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".
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