One could make the case that Kool Moe Dee was hip-hop’s first pop star. His larger-than-life persona afforded him the mythological appeal of a comic book superhero, yet his longevity and influence ensured he always won the respect of the streets. Moe Dee helped give the young producer Teddy Riley his first big break, and Riley in turn guided the musicality of songs like “Wild Wild West,” “God Made Me Funke,” and “No Respect.” But anyone who thinks Moe Dee was a softie need only revisit the rapid-fire attacks of “I Go to Work” and “Gimme My Props.”
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