Kool G Rap is a true original. Arguably the godfather of Queens crime rap, he's a lyrical legend whose wordy street narratives have influenced countless rappers. From his early days with Marley Marl and DJ Polo, through his current status as a reclusive icon who still releases albums independently, he has remained true to his craft, reemerging every so often to bless us with his trademark, lisp-addled, machine-gun flows. 4,5,6 was released in 1995, and is a stark slice of ghetto commentary, breaking down the bloody realities of everyday life, set to distinctly NYC-flavored production from Dr. Butcher and Buckwild, among others. Much slower (BPM-wise) than his earlier material, it is short and to-the-point, with 11 tracks of hyper-visual felony rhymes and a few choice guest spots from Nas (on the excellent single "Fast Life") and MF Grimm ("Take Em To War" and "Money On The Brain"). Other winners include the slice of trife life reflections "It's A Shame" and "For Da Brothaz."