“This wiseguy’s enterprise, we emphasize who ever die/ Never sympathize, still on the rise, no matter how many we minimize” Kool G Rap rapped on “Thug’s Anthem,” a song recorded in ’95 and featured on his 1998 LP Roots of Evil.
The genre of mafioso rap, largely attributed to the Corona, Queens legend, has its heritage deeply rooted in G Rap and DJ Polo’s ground-breaking debut Road to the Riches. That lone 1989 project, and many of the albums which followed, including 4, 5, 6 would give rise to other like-minded artists including AZ, Nas, Cormega, Raekwon, The Firm and many more.
Now, following a six year gap since 2011’s Riches, Royalty, Respect, Don Giancana is set to release his fifth solo album, Return of the Don featuring production from MoSS and features from veterans Cormega, N.O.R.E, Raekwon and Sean Price, plus “newcomers” Manolo Rose, Westside Gunn & Conway and more (although to be honest, I would have been happily content with a solo G Rap album with no features).
Just ahead of the upcoming June 2nd release date, G Rap drops by with the LP’s first high-energy single, “Wise Guys” featuring Freeway and M.O.P.’s Fame, with chorus cuts supplied by Statik Selektah.
Press play and peep the Return of the Don tracklist and upcoming tour dates below.
- “Return Of The Don”
- “Mack Lean” f. Fred The Godson & AG Da Coroner
- “Criminal Outfit” f. Noreaga
- “Wise Guys” f. Fame (M.O.P.) & Freeway
- “Out For That Life” f. Raekwon
- “Times Up”
- “Capitol Hill” f. Manolo Rose, Sheek Louch & Cormega
- “Running” f. Termanology & Saigon
- “World Is Mine” f. KXNG Crooked, Willie The Kid & Pearl Gates
- “Popped Off” f. Sean Price & Ransom
- “Rest In Peace” f. Conway The Machine & Westside Gunn
Return of the Don tour dates.
5-12-17- Philadelphia, PA – Voltage Lounge
5-13-17- Manchester, NH – Shaskeen Pub
5-25-17- New York, NY – BB Kings
6-10-17- Rome, Italy – Villaggio Globale
6-13-17- Stockholm, Sweden – Kagelbanan
6-14-17- Copenhagen, Denmark – Pumpehuset
6-16-17- Dublin, Ireland – Sugar Club
6-19-17- Glasgow, UK O2 ABC2
6-20-17- Leeds, UK – Wardrobe
6-21-17- Manchester, UK – Sound Control
6-22-17- Bristol UK – O2 Academy Bristol
6-23-17- London UK – O2 Academy Islington
6-26-17- Norwich, UK – TBA
6-28-17- Leicester, UK – 2 Funky Cafe
7-6-17- Amsterdam, The Netherlands – Bitterzoet
7-8-17- Oslo, Norway – Blaa
7-9-17- Paris, France – Paris hip-hop festival
8-18-17- Orpund, Switzerland – Royal Arena Festival
8-19-17- Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic – Hip Hop Kemp Festival
