Neha Patil (Editor)

On the Run (Kool G Rap and DJ Polo song)

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A-side
  
On the Run

Released
  
1992

B-side
  
Straight Jacket

Recorded
  
1992

Format
  
12-inch single, cassette single, CD single

Genre
  
East coast hip hop, hardcore hip hop, Mafioso rap, Gangsta rap

"On the Run" is the second single from American hip hop duo Kool G Rap & DJ Polo's 1992 album Live and Let Die. Released with "Straight Jacket" as a B-side, it was later also featured on the compilation albums Killer Kuts (1994) and The Best of Cold Chillin' (2000).

Contents

Background

"On the Run" is a long, twisty heist story that Kool G Rap tells from the perspective of a low-level mob henchman, working for the Luciano crime family. Dissatisfied by what he thinks is insufficient pay for the drug running and money laundering jobs he is required to handle from day to day, he steals a shipment of 10 kg of cocaine (around $200,000 worth) so he can go into business for himself. His bosses catch him on the way to the airport, where he is plotting to flee town with his wife and son, but they are able to escape following a gunfight. He then drives into Mexico and stops at a filling station where he is again pursued by the Luciano family. He is able to kill his pursuers, including Don Luciano, and escapes.

Music video

In the music video for "On the Run", Kool G Rap & DJ Polo's fifth and last as a duo, each scene follows and depicts the respective lyrics.

Critical acclaim

Complex ranked "On the Run" at #29 on their list of 50 best storytelling rap songs.

Samples

"On the Run" samples the following songs:

  • "Surprises" by The Last Poets
  • "I'm Gonna Love You Just a Little More Baby" by Barry White
  • "Canned Funk" by Joe Farrell

    • And was later sampled on:

  • "SlaughtaHouse" (Murder Mix) by Masta Ace Incorporated
  • "Whassup Now Muthafucka?" by Artifacts

    • 12"

    A-side
    1. "On the Run" (Dirty Al Capone Version) (4:10)
    2. "On the Run" (Instrumental Al Capone) (4:10)
    3. "On the Run" (Acapella Al Capone) (3:55)
    B-side
    1. "On the Run" (Dirty Untouchable Version) (4:19)
    2. "On the Run" (Instrumental Untouchable) (4:19)
    3. "Straight Jacket" (Album Version) (3:11)

    Cassette

    A-side
    1. "On the Run" (Dirty Al Capone Version) (4:10)
    2. "On the Run" (Instrumental Al Capone) (4:10)
    3. "On the Run" (Acapella Al Capone) (3:35)
    B-side
    1. "On the Run" (Dirty Untouchable) (4:19)
    2. "On the Run" (Instrumental Untouchable) (4:19)
    3. "Straight Jacket" (Album Version) (3:11)

    CD

    1. "On the Run" (Dirty Al Capone Version) (4:10)
    2. "On the Run" (Instrumental Al Capone) (3:25)
    3. "On the Run" (Acapella Al Capone) (3:45)
    4. "On the Run" (Dirty Untouchable Version) (4:19)
    5. "On the Run" (Instrumental Untouchable) (4:19)
    6. "Straight Jacket" (Album Version) (3:11)

    References

    On the Run (Kool G Rap & DJ Polo song) Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA