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Road to the Riches is the debut album from Hip Hop duo Kool G Rap & DJ Polo, released in 1989 on then-prominent rap label Cold Chillin' Records. The two were flagship members of the legendary Juice Crew, led by producer Marley Marl, who handles all of the production on the album. The video for the title track received strong rotation on the TV show Yo! MTV Raps. Other popular songs included "It's A Demo" and "Poison".
The album is often cited as the beginning of Mafioso-Rap, laying the groundwork for future rap stars like Scarface and Raekwon. Also, according to the linear notes in The Roots's Phrenology, "Men at Work" was the song that brought the group together during a lunch period at their high school. In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source Magazine's 100 Best Rap Albums.
The first track, 'Road To The Riches', was featured at Classic hip hop Radio Station Playback FM of the game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
[edit] Track listing
| # |
Title |
Songwriters |
Producer(s) |
Performer (s) |
| 1 |
"Road to the Riches" |
N. Wilson, M. Williams |
Marley Marl |
Kool G Rap |
| 2 |
"It's a Demo" |
N. Wilson, M. Williams |
Marley Marl |
Kool G Rap |
| 3 |
"Men at Work" |
N. Wilson, M. Williams |
Marley Marl |
Kool G Rap |
| 4 |
"Truly Yours" |
N. Wilson, M. Williams |
Marley Marl |
Kool G Rap |
| 5 |
"Cars" |
N. Wilson, M. Williams |
Marley Marl |
Kool G Rap |
| 6 |
"Trilogy of Terror" |
N. Wilson, M. Williams |
Marley Marl |
Kool G Rap |
| 7 |
"She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not" |
N. Wilson, M. Williams |
Marley Marl |
Kool G Rap |
| 8 |
"Cold Cuts" |
N. Wilson, M. Williams |
Marley Marl |
DJ Polo |
| 9 |
"Rhymes I Express" |
N. Wilson, M. Williams |
Marley Marl |
Kool G Rap |
| 10 |
"Poison" |
N. Wilson, M. Williams |
Marley Marl |
Kool G Rap |
| 11 |
"Butcher Shop" |
N. Wilson, M. Williams |
Marley Marl |
Kool G Rap |
[edit] 2006 Re-release Track listing
Disc 1
| # |
Title |
Songwriters |
Producer(s) |
Performer (s) |
| 1 |
"Road to the Riches" |
N. Wilson, M. Williams |
Marley Marl |
Kool G Rap |
| 2 |
"It's a Demo" |
N. Wilson, M. Williams |
Marley Marl |
Kool G Rap |
| 3 |
"Men at Work" |
N. Wilson, M. Williams |
Marley Marl |
Kool G Rap |
| 4 |
"Truly Yours" |
N. Wilson, M. Williams |
Marley Marl |
Kool G Rap |
| 5 |
"Cars" |
N. Wilson, M. Williams |
Marley Marl |
Kool G Rap |
| 6 |
"Trilogy of Terror" |
N. Wilson, M. Williams |
Marley Marl |
Kool G Rap |
| 7 |
"She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not" |
N. Wilson, M. Williams |
Marley Marl |
Kool G Rap |
| 8 |
"Cold Cuts" |
N. Wilson, M. Williams |
Marley Marl |
DJ Polo |
| 9 |
"Rhymes I Express" |
N. Wilson, M. Williams |
Marley Marl |
Kool G Rap |
| 10 |
"Poison" |
N. Wilson, M. Williams |
Marley Marl |
Kool G Rap |
| 11 |
"Butcher Shop" |
N. Wilson, M. Williams |
Marley Marl |
Kool G Rap |
| 12 |
"Radio Album Introduction" |
N. Wilson |
|
|
| 13 |
"Radio Freestyle" |
N. Wilson, Craig Morgan |
|
Kool G Rap & Craig G |
| 14 |
"Radio Interview" |
|
|
|
| 15 |
"Riker's Island Radio Promo" |
N.Wilson, M. Williams |
|
Kool G Rap |
| 16 |
"Raw" |
N. Wilson, Antonio Hardy |
|
Kool G Rap & Big Daddy Kane |
Disc 2
| # |
Title |
Songwriters |
Producer(s) |
Performer (s) |
| 1 |
"It's A Demo (Original 12" Version)" |
N. Wilson, M. Williams |
Marley Marl |
Kool G Rap |
| 2 |
"I'm Fly (Original 12" Version)" |
N. Wilson, M. Williams |
Marley Marl |
Kool G Rap |
| 3 |
"Riker's Island (Original 12" Version)" |
N. Wilson, M. Williams |
Marley Marl |
Kool G Rap |
| 4 |
"Rhyme Tyme (Original 12" Version)" |
N. Wilson, M. Williams |
Marley Marl |
Kool G Rap |
| 5 |
"Poison (Hip Hop Version)" |
N. Wilson, M. Williams |
Marley Marl |
Kool G Rap |
| 6 |
"Poison (Dub Version)" |
N. Wilson, M. Williams |
Marley Marl |
Kool G Rap |
| 7 |
"Poison (Remix)" |
N. Wilson, M. Williams |
Marley Marl |
Kool G Rap |
| 8 |
"Men At Work (Extended Version)" |
N. Wilson, M. Williams |
Marley Marl |
Kool G Rap |
| 9 |
"It's A Demo (Original 12" Version Instrumental)" |
N. Wilson, M. Williams |
Marley Marl |
|
| 10 |
"I'm Fly (Original 12" Version Instrumental)" |
N. Wilson, M. Williams |
Marley Marl |
|
| 11 |
"Riker's Island (Original 12" Version Instrumental)" |
N. Wilson, M. Williams |
Marley Marl |
|
| 12 |
"Men At Work (Extended Instrumental)" |
N. Wilson, M. Williams |
Marley Marl |
|
| 13 |
"She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not (Instrumental)" |
N. Wilson, M. Williams |
Marley Marl |
|
| 14 |
"Men At Work (Acapella)" |
N. Wilson, M. Williams |
|
Kool G Rap |
|
[edit] Chart Positions
| Year |
Album |
Chart positions |
| Billboard 200 |
Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums |
Top Heatseekers |
| 1989 |
Road To The Riches |
- |
#78 |
[edit] Singles
