Live & Let Die

Kool G Rap & DJ Polo | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 19, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Traffic (The Orchard)
• ASIN: B001D1DL4W
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #144,738 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

A strong case could be made for Live and Let Die as Kool G Rap & DJ Polo's crowning achievement. Who can really say for sure if the controversy surrounding the cover artwork, which shows the duo feeding steaks to a pair of rottweilers, in front of two noose-necked white men, clouded a proper consensus? The artwork could have been even more graphic according to the liner notes by legendary Photography/Art Director George DuBose. With across-the-board stellar production help from Sir Jinx and Trakmasterz, G Rap (who also produces) continues his no-holds-barred narratives that peaked with Wanted: Dead or Alive's "Streets of New York", but most everything on this album comes close to eclipsing that song. "Ill Street Blues" is practically a sequel, and it manages to use more swanky piano vamps and horn blurts without making for a desperate attempt at capitalizing on a past glory. Few tales of growing up in a life of crime hit harder than the title track, in which G Rap displays the traits, unforced frankness, that unmistakable voice, and a flow that drags you involuntarily along, that made him a legend. The album is one story after another that draws you in without fail and they come at you from several angles. Whether pulling off a train heist, venting sexual frustration, analyzing his psychosis, or lording over the streets, G Rap is a pro at holding a captive audience. All die-hard East Coast Rap fans, especially followers of the Notorious B.I.G., 2Pac or any now school wanna-be gangsta/thug rapper owe it to themselves to get real familiar with this album and the two that predated it. Cold Chillin and Traffic proudly present Live And Let Die, available for the first time as a double disc set, including the original album, and a collection of substantial bonus material, from artwork to audio. With all the songs being digitally re-mastered, this project has been thought out, done right, and handled with care. We know you ll enjoy it.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kool G Rap & Dj Polo / Live & Let Die, September 26, 2008

By 

Goonz "[e-mail]" (Clinton Md) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Live & Let Die (Audio CD)

Kool G Rap & Dj Polo /Live&Let Die

This Cd is awsome,Right at a tragic time in my lifetime.

My impala was broken into ,& all my CD's got hooped out my ride.

I was at a lost 4 words,so I did find it on amazon,& 2 my knowledge-

Amazon not only had the Live&Let Die Cd, but they had it combined with a disk 2, with all the 12inch remix versions, that's waz banana's.

I thought I had lost my remix 12inch version 2 (On The Run) 4 sure.

So thanx Amazon 4 da bailout, ya'll keep stacking this classic rap-

& I'll keep ordering 4 years 2 come.......Ya'll lover's be safe.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Raw Album Finally Reissued (Rating: 8 out of 10- -4.0 stars), January 4, 2009

By 

Chandler "Infamous" (Atlanta (College Park), Georgia) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Live & Let Die (Audio CD)

Kool G. Rap and DJ Polo's third album Live & Let Die was released back in 1992 on Cold Chillin' Records (I think due to the infamous "Cop Killer" song, not to mention the Biz Markie fiasco the previous year, Warner Brothers pulled out of this album because of the lyrical content and concept- don't quote me on that). G. Rap's story telling abilities places any listener through twists and turns through any storyline that he creates. Most of his rhymes will put you through a lyrical cinema full of anything he can think of.

Every song is unique in it's own way. "On The Run" shows how great his story telling abilities are. "Train Robbery" is another great standout song. Two great standouts here are the following two tracks: "#1 With A Bullet" and "Operation CB". "#1 With A Bullet" features Big Daddy Kane, who probably has the best performance in the 90's decade. His verse is just amazing. The next track "Operation CB" is a hilarious song where under two different occasions someone prevents G. Rap from getting some from a female. The album's lead single "Ill St. Blues" is cleverly made, production and hook wise. Further down the album is the hilarious "F U Man" (many may recognize that beat later used for Jay-Z's "Cashmere Thoughts"). The album ends with the horrorcore sounding track "Two To The Head" featuring Scarface, Bushwick Bill of the Geto Boys, and Ice Cube.

For those who have the reissue, it comes with a bonus disc as well as a booklet full of rare photos and the making of this album. The bonus disc isn't really necessary for casual fans of this album. But for hardcore fans of this, it will be worth your time. The bonus disc is full of alternative versions and radio edits of the singles on this album.

The album is well produced for the most part, done by Sir Jinx, G. Rap, and Trackmasterz (they've been around that long?) Some of the songs may sound like something that one might recognize from Ice Cube's The Predator, giving that west coast vibe, done by Sir Jinx, but the whole album itself never leaves the east coast atmosphere.

This album is one of many great albums in Kool G. Rap's discography. All of his albums on Cold Chillin' Records have been reissued on Traffic Entertainment, and have gone out of print not too long afterward. Its highly recommended that if you're on the fence of getting this album to make the purchase ASAP, because it will not be around for long. Fans of east coast 90's rap will appreciate this. Peace.

Lyrics: A-

Production: B+

Guest Appearances: B+

Musical Vibes: B+

Top 5 Tracks:

1. #1 With A Bullet (featuring Big Daddy Kane)

2. Operation CB

3. F U Man

4. Ill St. Blues

5. On The Run

Honorable Mention:

1. Letters

2. Train Robbery

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Underrated Magnum Opus for East Coast Rappers--, August 25, 2008

By 

Hype Currie "scholar of pop culture" (Detroit, Michigan United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Live & Let Die (Audio CD)

Kool G. Rap & DJ Polo were by now underground rap superstars, and pioneers for hardcore rap; Kool G Rap especially was known for his film-noir-based tales of Mafioso life and the ghetto underworld. For this, their third LP, the group mostly recorded in Southern California with producer Sir Jinx of Ice Cube's Lench Mob camp. Jinx gives Kool G. a West Coast sound, heavy on 70's funk and soul samples. He produces all but a couple of songs here, the remaining done by Trackmasters, who would later achieve great acclaim producing for LL Cool J, Nas, and Will Smith. Released in 1992, the same year as Ice-T's "Cop Killer" controversy, the album was delayed for several months as label executives debated the often violent content.

A summary of key tracks follows:

"Intro"- a sample of the "Godfather" theme music accompanies this intro; Kool G Rap has said in interviews that he wanted this album to play like a movie.

"On the Run"- Kool G. imagines himself as a Mob courier delivering drugs; one day he decides to take the "product" and cash and make a run for it, with violent results.

"Live & Let Die"- not a cover of the Paul McCartney song, but a rap manifesto about the criminal life.

"Train Robbery"- Kool G. imagines robbing a New York City subway train.

"No. 1 with A Bullet"- Kool G. teams up with Big Daddy Kane for a hyper-aggressive track; Kane, for his part, sounds re-energized on this uptempo cut.

"Operation CB"- Kool G. relates misadventures trying to have romantic liaisons with the opposite sex.

"Straight Jacket"- Kool G imagines himself as a psychologically disturbed man whose violent past catches up with him.

"Ill Street Blues"- the leadoff single, a piano-laced track where Kool G. references the "Scarface (the movie)" line of "what's a hassa"?

"Edge of Sanity"- Kool G. imagines himself as a prisoner who goes insane with jealousy towards his girlfriend.

"F***-U Man"- allegedly a proposed song collaboration/tribute to porn actor Ron Jeremy (DJ Polo had a chance meeting with him at a hotel), Kool G spits sexually explicit boasts here.

"Two to the Head"- featuring the Geto Boys' Scarface & Bushwick Bill as well as Ice Cube, the rappers tag-team against wack MCs.

A second disc has various selections from 12-inch singles released during the album's first run.