Roots of Evil

For the game, see Roots of Evil (Ravenloft). For the book, see The Roots of Evil. For disambiguation, see Root of All Evil.

Roots of Evil
Studio album by Kool G Rap
Released	October 20, 1998
Recorded	1995 (Track 13 & 15) 1997–1998
Genre	East Coast hip hop mafioso rap hardcore hip hop
Label	Illstreet[1]
Producer	Dr. Butcher CJ Moore[2]
Kool G Rap chronology
4,5,6 (1995) Roots of Evil (1998) The Giancana Story (2002)

Roots Of Evil is the second solo album by Mafioso rap artist Kool G Rap, released in 1998 by Kool G's record label, Illstreet.[3][4] It boasts two singles, "Foul Cats" and "Can't Stop the Shine," and reached #43 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album contains the first recorded appearance of Papoose.[5]

Production

The album was recorded in Arizona, during a period of time where G. Rap was purposely avoiding New York.[2]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[6]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[1]
RapReviews	8.0/10[7]
The New Rolling Stone Album Guide	[9]
The Source	[8]

Complex wrote that "G. Rap's rhymes are so richly detailed that they put you right there in the heart of the action."[2]

Track listing

#	Title	Producer(s)	Performer (s)	Length
1	"Intro"		*Interlude*	1:43
2	"Hitman's Diary"	Dr. Butcher	Kool G Rap	3:43
3	"One Dark Night"	Fade For Underworld Productions	Kool G Rap	1:45
4	"Foul Cats"	CJ Moore, Dr. Butcher	Kool G Rap	3:23
5	"Tekilla Sunrise"	CJ Moore, Dr. Butcher	Kool G Rap	4:31
6	"At Da Wake"		*Interlude*	1:10
7	"Home Sweet Funeral Home"	Haji A.	Jinx, Kool G Rap, Papoose	2:51
8	"Mobsta's"	Fade For Underworld Productions	Kool G Rap	3:18
9	"Let the Games Begin"	Rich 5	Kool G Rap	3:28
10	"A Thugs Love Story (Chapter I, II, III)"	CJ Moore, Dr. Butcher	Kool G Rap	9:33
11	"Da Bosses Lady"	A. Evans	Camileone, Kool G Rap	3:54
12	"Mafioso"	Rich 5	Kool G Rap	2:51
13	"Thug's Anthem"	E. Thompson	Johnny 2 Gunz, Kool G Rap, Pokaface	3:46
14	"Da Heat"	CJ Moore, Dr. Butcher	Kool G Rap	3:34
15	"Can't Stop the Shine"	Kool G Rap	Kool G Rap, Miss Jones	3:58
16	"Cannon Fire"	Kool G Rap	Kool G Rap	4:11
17	"Outro"		*Interlude*	1:05
18	"Daddy Figure"	Fade For Underworld Productions, J. Stank	Kool G Rap	5:06

Samples

• "Cannon Fire"
  • "Ballad for the Fallen Soldier" by the Isley Brothers
• "Can't Stop the Shine"
  • "What Cha Gonna Do with My Lovin'" by Stephanie Mills
• "Da Bosses Lady"
  • "He's the Greatest Dancer" by Sister Sledge
• "Foul Cats"
  • "Poor Abbey Walsh" by Marvin Gaye
• "Hitman's Diary"
  • "You Light Up My Life" by Jean Carne
• "Let the Games Begin"
  • "Have Mercy on Me" by the East St. Louis Gospelettes
• "Mobsta's"
  • "Ain't No Sunshine" by Tom Jones
• "A Thug's Love Story (Chapter I, II, III)"
  • "Mellow Mood (Part I)" by Barry White

Album singles

Single information
"Foul Cats" Released: September 1, 1998 B-Side:
"Can't Stop the Shine" Released: 1998 B-Side: "Thugs Anthem"

Charts

Chart (1998)	Peak position
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[10]	43

References

1. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 5. MUZE. p. 8.
2. "10 Underrated Albums by Great Rappers". Complex.
3. "Kool G Rap | Biography & History". AllMusic.
4. "Kool G Rap Poised To Reclaim Throne". MTV News. Archived from the original on November 2, 2020.
5. "Next". Vibe. Vibe Media Group. July 29, 2006 – via Google Books.
6. Conaway, Matt. Roots of Evil at AllMusic
7. Juon, Steve 'Flash'. "Kool G. Rap :: Roots of Evil :: Down Low". RapReviews. Retrieved 2019-09-25.
8. Copeademus (January 1999). "Record Report: Kool G Rap – Roots Of Evil". The Source. No. 112. New York. pp. 182, 184.
9. Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Simon and Schuster. p. 466. ISBN 978-0-7432-0169-8.
10. "Kool G Rap Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.