"It's a Shame" is the debut solo single from American hip hop artist

Kool G Rap Nathaniel Thomas Wilson (born July 20, 1968), better known by his stage name Kool G Rap (or simply G Rap), is an American rapper from Queens, New York City. He began his career in the mid-1980s as one half of the group Kool G Rap & DJ Polo and as ...

, from his 1995 album ''

4,5,6 ''4,5,6'' is the debut studio album by American rapper Kool G Rap, released on September 26, 1995, on Cold Chillin' Records. The release followed his break-up with DJ Polo in 1993. The album was mostly received neutrally among critics, but was war ...

''.

Background

"It's a Shame" was recorded at

Bearsville Studios Bearsville Sound Studio was a recording studio founded by Albert Grossman in Bearsville, New York, west of Woodstock in 1969. History Albert Grossman, who was the manager of Bob Dylan and Peter, Paul and Mary, first arrived in Bearsville in 1 ...

Bearsville, New York Bearsville is a hamlet in Ulster County, New York, United States, in the town of Woodstock. It is located along New York State Route 212, within Catskill State Park The Catskill Park is in the Catskill Mountains in New York in the United Sta ...

. In the song, Kool G Rap portrays himself as a

heroin Heroin, also known as diacetylmorphine and diamorphine among other names, is a potent opioid mainly used as a recreational drug for its euphoric effects. Medical grade diamorphine is used as a pure hydrochloride salt. Various white and brow ...

kingpin, 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 the chorus (sung by an uncredited Sean Brown) 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 A particularly memorable part of the song is G Rap's description of his

mistress Mistress is the feminine form of the English word "master" (''master'' + ''-ess'') and may refer to: Romance and relationships * Mistress (lover), a term for a woman who is in a sexual and romantic relationship with a man who is married to a d ...

Tammy in verse two: :I got a fly ho up under the wing, a swinger that does her thing :And if you step inside my ring, she'll bang it out and make your brains hang :She sits at restaurant tables with mink foxes and sables :Drinkin' Cherenade brand label, she'll rock a sucker's cradle :And yeah, honey is more bounce to the ounce :She walks around with Lucci in large amounts :Millions inside

Swiss bank accounts Banking in Switzerland dates to the early eighteenth century through Switzerland's merchant trade and has, over the centuries, grown into a complex, regulated, and international industry. Banking is seen as emblematic of Switzerland, along wit ...

:Her name is Tammy, got a beach house in

Miami Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a East Coast of the United States, coastal metropolis and the County seat, county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade C ...

:Rides around with a small jammy in her silk and satin panties :A down ho, a '' Foxy Brown'' ho, standin her ground ho :And if you clown yo, she'll turn into a bust a round ho :Fly as a Heaven's Angel, got sapphires in her bangles :Diamond earrings hang n' dangle, gettin' money from all angles :She's pretty under the New York City bright lights :And real late, way after midnight, I hit it cause the slit's tight

Music video

The

music video A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a m ...

for "It's a Shame" shows Kool G Rap living a life of luxury as a wealthy and powerful gangster as well as shots of drug addicts and prostitutes, signifying the less glamorous side of the drug trade.

Critical reception

Hip Hop Album Reviews called the song "one of G Rap's premier ventures at storytelling, only weakened by the dime-a-dozen

hook A hook is a tool consisting of a length of material, typically metal, that contains a portion that is curved or indented, such that it can be used to grab onto, connect, or otherwise attach itself onto another object. In a number of uses, one e ...

Samples

"It's a Shame" samples the following songs:It's a Shame at Who Sampled
/ref> *"Love Is for Fools" by

Southside Movement The Southside Movement was an American Soul music, soul and funk musical group from Chicago, Illinois. Composed of vocalist Melvin Moore, guitarist Bobby Pointer (June 19, 1945 - December 26, 2016), keyboardist Morris Beeks, bassist Ronald Simmons, ...

Track listing

12"

;A-side # "It's a Shame" (Original) (4:02) # "It's a Shame" (Acapella) (4:01) # "It's a Shame" (Instrumental) (3:54) ;B-side # "It's a Shame" (Original) (4:03) # "It's a Shame" (Acapella) (4:01) # "It's a Shame" (Instrumental) (3:54)

CD

# "It's a Shame" (Original) (3:54) # "It's a Shame" (Acapella) (3:54) # "It's a Shame" (Instrumental) (3:54)

References

External links

*
It's a Shame
at

Discogs Discogs (short for discographies) is a database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. While the site was originally created with a goal of becoming the la ...

{{authority control 1995 singles Kool G Rap songs Songs written by Kool G Rap Gangsta rap songs Hardcore hip hop songs Songs about crime Songs about drugs 1995 songs Cold Chillin' Records singles Mafioso rap songs