Biography of Kool G Rap

A key figure in the rise of the East Coast rap sound, Kool G Rap was born Nathaniel Wilson in Queens, New York on July 20, 1968; he turned to hip hop while in high school, and soon began collaborating with one DJ Polo (whom he met through mutual friend Eric Barrier, better known as one half of the legendary duo Eric B. and Rakim). Teaming with producer Marley Marl, Kool G Rap (short for "Kool Genius of Rap") and DJ Polo recorded their debut 12-inch "It's a Demo," an underground favorite which led to the release of their 1989 LP Road to Riches. After two more joint efforts, 1990's Wanted: Dead or Alive and 1992's Live and Let Die, the duo went their separate ways and Kool G Rap made his solo bow in 1995 with 4, 5, 6; he returned in 1998 with Roots of Evil, and that same year also contributed to UNKLE's all-star Psyence Fiction. ~ Jason Ankeny

Biography of Jedi Mind Tricks

Underground hip-hop duo Jedi Mind Tricks started out in the streets of Philadelphia in early 1996. Producer Stoupe the Enemy of Mankind and MCs Vinnie Paz (aka Ikon the Verbal Hologram) and Jus Allah (aka Megatron) released the Amber Probe EP in 1996 and later gained a cult following with 1997's Psycho-Social, Chemical, Biological & Electro Magnetic Manipulation full-length, which was reissued in 2003 courtesy of Babygrande. In 2000, Violent by Design came out, the last album before the group signed to Babygrande, and the last before Jus Allah left. Their new label began distributing new material from JMT, including 2003's Visions of Gandhi -- which included the song "Animal Rap," featuring Paz's idol Kool G Rap -- and 2004's Legacy of Blood (plus a compilation of early 12" records titled Outerspace). The duo also began featuring an army of rappers on their albums, with regular guests including 7L, Esoteric, Apathy, Tragedy Khadafi, and Louis Logic. Army of the Pharaohs: The Torture Papers and Servants in Heaven, Kings in Hell followed in 2006. ~ Rob Theakston