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| 4,5,6 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 26, 1995 (1995-09-26) | |||
| Recorded | 1995 | |||
| Studio | Bearsville | |||
| Genre | Hardcore hip hop[1] | |||
| Length | 42:13 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | ||||
| Kool G Rap chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from 4,5,6 | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [2] |
| RapReviews | 8/10[3] |
| The New Rolling Stone Album Guide | [4] |
| The Source | [5] |
4,5,6 is the debut solo studio album by American rapperKool G Rap. It was released on September 26, 1995, viaCold Chillin' Records. The album's title signifies the winning combination at the urban street game ofcee-lo.[1]
The recording sessions took place atBearsville Studios. The album was produced by Dr. Butcher,Buckwild, Naughty Shorts, andT-Ray. It featuresguest appearances from B-1,MF Grimm,Nas, and Shawn Brown.
The album peaked at number 24 on theBillboard 200 and atop theTop R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. It was supported with singles "It's a Shame" and "Fast Life". The latter made it to number 74 on theBillboard Hot 100.
Following the critical acclaim of a three-album run with Thomas "DJ Polo" Pough, Kool G Rap chose to concentrate his efforts in a moreunderground direction, in continuation with the sound on his albums with DJ Polo. In early 1993, Kool G Rap separated from DJ Polo in the aftermath of the media controversy surrounding the cover art of their previous albumLive and Let Die. The cover – which depicted two police officers being hanged – followed the "Cop Killer" controversy involvingTime Warner andWarner Bros. Records. Warner Bros. Records ultimately refused to distributeLive and Let Die, resulting in the termination of its contract withCold Chillin' Records.[6]Live and Let Die was eventually released and distributed independently via Cold Chillin' in 1992. In 1995, Cold Chillin' signed a distribution deal withEpic Records, of which4,5,6 was the first to be released under the new deal. It would also be Cold Chillin' Records' final release before it went defunct in 1997.
Kool G Rap recorded the album inBearsville, New York, giving it a dark, grimy street sound.
The title track, "4,5,6," depicts the urban street game of cee-lo and how it is played, along with rhymes of a braggadocio nature and his success and skill at cee-lo. The song starts with the notes fromWeather Report's "Mysterious Traveller," which are used throughout the entire song and give the song a very dark street sound.
The single "It's a Shame" contains a prime example of mafioso rap themes and self-boasting. In the song, Kool G Rap portrays himself as a heroin kingpin from a first-person perspective, boasting of his wealth, power, and extravagant lifestyle. However, it is implied that he harbours a sense of remorse over his choice of trade, with Sean Brown on the chorus stating: "Now it's a damn shame, what I gotta do just to make a dollar / Living in this game, sometimes it makes you wanna holler".
The song "For Da Brothaz" details the falling of his friends and the unforgiving struggle on the streets ofNew York.
In the single "Fast Life," Kool G Rap and Nas Escobar (who also appeared on the front cover) rap about their business ventures and mafioso lifestyle. The video for the single revolves around the construction of the mythical "Fast Life Hotel and Casino."
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Intro" | Andrew Venable | Dr. Butcher | 1:03 |
| 2. | "4, 5, 6" | Dr. Butcher | 3:21 | |
| 3. | "It's a Shame" (featuring Sean Brown) |
| Naughty Shorts | 4:04 |
| 4. | "Take 'Em to War" (featuring B-1 andMF Grimm) |
| T-Ray | 3:54 |
| 5. | "Executioner Style" |
| Dr. Butcher | 4:07 |
| 6. | "For da Brothaz" |
| T-Ray | 3:45 |
| 7. | "Blowin' Up in the World" |
| Buckwild | 4:26 |
| 8. | "Fast Life" (featuringNas) |
| Buckwild | 4:55 |
| 9. | "Ghetto Knows" |
| Naughty Shorts | 4:29 |
| 10. | "It's a Shame" (Da Butcher's Mix) |
| 3:10 | |
| 11. | "Money on My Brain" (featuring B-1 and MF Grimm) |
| Dr. Butcher | 4:53 |
| Total length: | 42:13 | |||
Weekly charts[edit]
| Year-end charts[edit]
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