While street rap and pop rap would soon split into two separate categories, Kool Moe Dee’s Knowledge Is King was one of the last records to bridge those two worlds. After engaging by the pop genius of a teenage Teddy Riley, Moe Dee reached a mainstream audience with “They Want Money,” “Get the Picture,” and “The Avenue,” but he never sacrificed his edge. As groups like N.W.A and Public Enemy were pushing hip-hop to greater extremes, Moe Dee matched their ferocity with “I Go to Work,” “I’m Hittin’ Hard,” and the militant black anthem “Pump Your Fist.”