Craig Curry (born March 24, 1973),[1][2] better known by his stage name Craig G, is an American rapper. He is perhaps best known as one of the members of hip hop producer Marley Marl's Cold Chillin' Records group Juice Crew.[3][4]

Craig G
Craig G in 2013
Craig G in 2013
Background information
Birth nameCraig Curry
Born (1973-03-24) March 24, 1973 (age 51)
OriginQueens, New York City, U.S.
GenresHip hop
Years active1985–present
Labels
Formerly of

He recorded the single "Shout Rap" with Marley Marl in 1985 at 12 years old and in 1988 recorded "The Symphony" with Juice Crew described by Allmusic as "a landmark moment in the evolution of hardcore rap".[4] He was then signed by Atlantic Records who released two albums, in 1989 and 1991, with little promotion[4] After his experience with Atlantic his career went quiet for much of the 1990s although later in the decade he regained popularity with underground rap fans. He released another album in 2003 on D&D Records This Is Now!!! featuring collaborations with Marley Marl, DJ Premier and Da Beatminerz.[4][5]

Career

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Craig G was a leading freestyle battle rapper memorably battling Supernatural on several occasions,[6] and in the early 2000s wrote and coordinated the battle verses used by Eminem and his opponents in the film 8 Mile. The next year he wrote the character Dangerous' lyrics in 50 Cent's feature film Get Rich or Die Tryin'.[7] His battle with fellow battle rapper Supernatural was a subject of the 2005 documentary Freestyle: The Art of Rhyme.[8]

In 2008, he was part of a reunited Juice Crew performing at the A3C Hip Hop Festival in Atlanta.[9]

In 2012 he released his fourth solo album Ramblings Of An Angry Old Man.[10][11] He was recording an as yet to be titled E.P. With Da Beatminerz[12] Craig G dropped his fifth LP titled I Rap & Go Home on June 3, 2016. He recently leaked music from the project online[13][14] Craig G new project the fragile ego will release September 4, 2020 Craig G will release a new album titled “The World Is Cooked” November 1st 2024

Discography

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Albums

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Studio albums

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List of studio albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
R&B
/HH

[15]
The Kingpin
Now, That's More Like It
  • Released: March 19, 1991
  • Label: Atlantic
  • Format: CD, cassette, digital download
97

This Is Now!!!

  • Released: May 20, 2003
  • Label: D&D Records
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download
99
Ramblings of an Angry Old Man
  • Released: October 30, 2012[16]
  • Label: Soulspazm
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download
I Rap and Go Home
  • Released: June 3, 2016[17]
  • Label: Soulspazm
  • Format: LP, digital download
Lost Chronicles
(with The Grinda & T-Leada)
  • Released: August 8, 2019[18]
  • Label: D3G Ent.
  • Format: LP, digital download
Can't Stop the Funk Volume 1
(with KeemBeats)
  • Released: December 27, 2019[19]
  • Label: Boogie Shack Music Group.
  • Format: Digital download
The World Is Cooked
(Featuring Chuck D, KRS-One, B-Real, DV Alias Khrist, Chubb Rock & Freeway)
  • Released: November 1, 2024[20]
  • Label: Soulspazm
  • Format: Digital download
  • Producer: The Manorail
  • Mix Engineer: Kjetil "Harlekin" Hatletveit
  • Mastering Engineer: Mat Leffler-Schulman
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Mixtapes

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List of mixtapes, with year released
Title Mixtape details
This Is Now! Official Bootleg Mixtape
(with DJ Evil Dee)
  • Released: 2003[21]
  • Label: MasterTapes

Group albums

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List of group albums
Title Album details
Climate Control
(as part of Silent Majority)
  • Released: June 27, 2006[22]
  • Label: CurryPack Records
  • Format: CD

Collaborative albums

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List of collaborative albums
Title Album details
Operation Take Hip Hop Back
(with Marley Marl)
  • Released: June 17, 2008[23]
  • Label: Good Hands/Traffic Entertainment Group
  • Format: CD, LP, digital download
List of extended plays
Title Details
The Legacy
(with DJ Koss)
  • Released: January 28, 2013[24]
  • Label: Reaaal Talk Records
  • Formats: LP, digital download
The WZA Presents OG'S: Original Grown Shit
(with The WZA & Egreen)
  • Released: March 29, 2019[25]
  • Label: Skill To Deal Records
  • Formatos: LP, digital download
Striketeam
(with Mr. Cheeks)
  • Released: May 10, 2019[26]
  • Label: WunderTwinz
  • Formats: Digital download
Limelight
  • Released: July 30, 2020[27]
  • Label: Soulspazm
  • Formats: Digital download
The Fragile Ego
  • Released: September 4, 2020[28]
  • Label: Soulspazm
  • Formats: Digital download
The World According to You
(with Shawneci Icecold)
  • Released: December 30, 2020[29]
  • Label: Zachary Raskin
  • Formats: Digital download
The Pen Is Mightier
(with BigBob)
  • Released: January 18, 2021[30]
  • Label: Elite Sound International
  • Formats: CD, digital download
The Assignment
(with Nivek Bogeezi & Tone Spliff)
  • Released: April 16, 2021[31]
  • Label: Mind Write Music
  • Formats: CD, digital download

Singles

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As lead artist

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List of singles, showing year released and album name
Title Year Peak chart positions Album
US
Rap

[32]
"Transformer"[a][33] 1985 Street Sounds Electro 10
"Shout"[a][34] Non-album single
"Turn This House Into a Home"[35] 1989 The Kingpin
"Shootin' The Gift"[36] 1990
"U-R Not The 1" 1991 16 Now, That's More Like It
"Sing-A-Long/Welcome 2 The Game"[37] 1998 Non-album single
"Cash Money"
(with Domination Statuz)[38]
1999 Non-album single
"Depopulator/The Freestyle"[39] Non-album single
"Say What You Want/The Executioner Song"[40] 2002 This Is Now!!!
"Let's Get Up"
(with Marley Marl)[41]
2003
"Stomped/Make You Say Yes"[42]
"Made the Change/Deep Down"[43] 2008 Operation Take Hip Hop Back
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Guest appearances

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Year Song Featured artist(s) Album
1988 "Droppin' Science" Marley Marl In Control, Volume 1
"The Symphony" Marley Marl, Masta Ace, Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane
"Duck Alert" Marley Marl
1989 "Gotta Get Paid" Roxanne Shanté Bad Sister
1994 "Just When You Thought It Was Over (Intro)" Gravediggaz, Biz Markie, Brother Rich, King Ice, I-Roc, Don McKenzie, Ethan Ryman, Michael Preston, Tim Wright, Dave Warner, Stephanie Jackson, Chino Q, Mike G, Joyce, Robert Robinson, Mr. Sime 6 Feet Deep
"Rest In Peace (Outro)"
1996 "The Cypher: Part 3" Frankie Cutlass, Big Daddy Kane, Biz Markie, Roxanne Shanté Politics & Bullshit
1998 "Intense" Tommy Tee Bonds, Beats & Beliefs
2000 "We Break Bread" Chaos, Littles, Lord Black Nas & Ill Will Records Presents QB's Finest
2007 "Offensive Lineup" Snowgoons German Lugers
"Talk Cheap" Tommy Tee No Studio No Time
"Brother On The Run" O.S.T.R. HollyŁódź
2009 "Lyrics?" Sadat X Brand New Bein'
"Smallest Violin" Sadat X, Jak D
2011 "Mann For Min Hatt" Gatas Parlament Dette Forandrer Alt
2015 "Ain't Nothing Funny" Sadat X, Skyzoo Never Left
"The Kings Sent For Me (Samurydas Remix)" Canibus, Bronze Nazareth, Kurupt, Raekwon Time Flys, Life Dies...Phoenix Rise
2016 "MC Voltron" Kool Keith Feature Magnetic
2016 "streets all day"cutsupreme x Craig g"
2017 "Real NY City" Neek the Exotic The Neek The Exotic Experience
2018 ”Duże Miasto” Gorzki & Soyka Kontrawersja
2022 "Summertime" Specifik The Triple3 Effect
2022 "Get Em" Specifik Get Em 7"
2024 "Take Command" Pushing Buttons Full Level

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b Published as "M.C. Craig "G""

Citations

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  1. ^ Hess, Mickey (2009) Hip Hop in America: a Regional Guide: Volume 1 - East Coast and West Coast, Greenwood Publishing Group, ISBN 978-0-313-34323-0, p. 55
  2. ^ Bry, David (2001) "Something in the Water", Vibe, March 2001, p. 80
  3. ^ "Juice Crew". hiphop.sh. Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 12 December 2010.
  4. ^ a b c d Birchmeier, Jason "Craig G Biography", Allmusic, retrieved 2011-01-27
  5. ^ Bush, John "This Is Now Review", Allmusic, retrieved 2011-01-27
  6. ^ DiPasquale, Cara & Karnopp, Kris (2003) "Craig G's battle for relevance", Chicago Tribune, May 20, 2003, p. 29
  7. ^ Hall, Rashaun (2003) "Words & Deeds: Now Is the Time", Billboard, June 7, 2003, p. 23, retrieved 2011-01-27
  8. ^ Freestyle:The Art of Rhyme (2005)
  9. ^ "Juice Crew Reunites at the A3C Hip Hop Festival", Hip-Hop Elements, March 10, 2008, retrieved 2011-01-27
  10. ^ "Craig G - Okayplayer". Okayplayer. 2013-01-07. Retrieved 2017-11-13.
  11. ^ Craig G "Ramblings Of An Angry Old Man" Tracklist & Release Date Archived 2012-08-28 at the Wayback Machine, HipHopDX, August 27, 2012, Retrieved on 2012-09-12.
  12. ^ "Craig G & Da Beatminerz To Release A Collaborative EP". HipHopDX. Retrieved 2017-11-13.
  13. ^ Its My Turn, retrieved 2017-11-13
  14. ^ "Moving Music Forward | Audiomack". www.audiomack.com. Retrieved 2017-11-13.
  15. ^ "Craig G Chart History". Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
  16. ^ "Ramblings of an Angry Old Man - Craig G - Release Info". AllMusic.
  17. ^ "I Rap & Go Home - Craig G - Release Info". AllMusic.
  18. ^ "Lost Chronicles - Tha Grinda, Craig G & T-Leada - Release Info". AllMusic.
  19. ^ "Can't Stop the Funk Volume 1 - KeemBeats & Craig G - Release Info". AllMusic.
  20. ^ "The World Is Cooked - Release Info". Apple Music.
  21. ^ This Is Now!!! Official Bootleg Mixtape (track listing). MasterTapes. 2003.
  22. ^ "Climate Control - Silent Majority - Release Info". AllMusic.
  23. ^ "Operation Take Hip Hop Back - Craig G - Release Info". AllMusic.
  24. ^ "The Legacy - Craig G & Koss - Release Info". Apple Music.
  25. ^ "The WZA Presents OG'S: Original Grown Shit - Egreen, Craig G & The WZA - Release Info". Apple Music.
  26. ^ "Striketeam - EP - Mr. Cheeks & Craig G - Release Info". Apple Music.
  27. ^ "Limelight - EP - Craig G - Release Info". Apple Music.
  28. ^ "The Fragile Ego - Craig G - Release Info". Apple Music.
  29. ^ "The World According to You - EP - Shawneci Icecold & Craig G - Release Info". Apple Music.
  30. ^ "The Pen Is Mightier - Craig G and BigBob - Release Info". Apple Music.
  31. ^ "The Assignment - Nivek Bogeezi, Craig G & Tone Spliff - Release Info". Apple Music.
  32. ^ "Craig G - US Hot Rap Songs". billboard.com. Archived from the original on February 4, 2020. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  33. ^ Transformer (track listing). Pop Art Records. 1985. PA-8501.
  34. ^ Shout (track listing). Pop Art Records. 1985. PA-1412.
  35. ^ Turn This House Into A Home (track listing). Atlantic. 1989. 0-86303.
  36. ^ Shootin' The Gift (track listing). Atlantic. 1990. 0-86237.
  37. ^ Sing-A-Long/Welcome 2 The Game (track listing). Sure Shot Recordings. 1998. SSR-0002.
  38. ^ Cash Money/Murder He Wrote (track listing). Echo International. 1999. Echo-2325.
  39. ^ Depopulator/The Freestyle (track listing). Menace Recordings Ltd. 1999. MXR-52800.
  40. ^ "Craig G - Say What Ya Want/The Executioner Song (12 inch Vinyl Single - D&D #641231)". AllMusic.
  41. ^ "Craig G - Let's Get Up (12 inch Vinyl Single - D&D #DAD 6412521)". AllMusic.
  42. ^ "Craig G - Stomped/Make You Say Yes (12 inch Vinyl Single - D&D #DAD 6412571)". AllMusic.
  43. ^ "Craig G - Made the Change/Deep Down (12 inch Vinyl Single - Traffic Entertainment Group #1954)". AllMusic.
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