Rakim in 1998 Background information Birth name William Michael Griffin Jr. Also known as The God MC, Kid Wizard, Rakim Allah Born January 28, 1968 (age 50), United States Origin New York City, New York, U.S.

Genres Occupation(s) Years active 1985–present Labels Ra Records,,,, Associated acts Website William Michael Griffin Jr., better known by his stage name Rakim (born January 28, 1968), is an American. One half of duo, he is widely regarded as one of the most influential and most skilled MCs of all time. & Rakim's album was named the greatest album of all time by in 2006, while Rakim himself was ranked #4 on MTV's list of the Greatest MCs of All Time. Steve Huey of stated that 'Rakim is near-universally acknowledged as one of the greatest MCs – perhaps the greatest – of all time within the hip-hop community.' The editors of ranked him #2 on their list of the 'Top 50 MCs of Our Time (1987–2007)'.

Rakim began his career as the emcee of the rap duo, who in 2011 were nominated for induction into the. In 2012, ranked him #1 on their list of the 'Top 50 Lyricists of All Time'.

2 Live Crew - Greatest Hits (1992). & Rakim - Don't Sweat The Technique (1992). Eric B & Rakim - Juice.

Contents • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Early life [ ] Rakim is the nephew of the late American singer and actress. He grew up in, and became involved in the New York hip hop scene at 18. Brought him to 's house to record '. Rakim, then known as Kid Wizard in 1985, made his first recordings live at Wyandanch High School.

Rakim was initially introduced to the in 1986, and later joined (also known as the 5 Percent Nation), and took the name Rakim Allah. Career [ ] Pairing with Eric B. (1985–1993) [ ]. Further information: After Rakim responded to Eric B.'

S search for 'New York's top MC', Eric B's friend and roommate allowed them to use his home studio. The first track they recorded—'—was released as a single on the independent Zakia Records in 1986. After founder heard the single, the duo were signed to and began recording the album in 's Power Play Studios in early 1987.

On July 7, 1987, the duo released their debut album,, on the -subsidiary label. The album peaked at number fifty-eight on the chart and produced five singles: ', ', ', 'Move the Crowd', and '. 1988–89: Sophomore peak [ ]. Rakim performing in Hamburg, Germany, June 3, 1998 After his breakup with Eric B. In early 1993, Rakim kept a low profile, only making one notable appearance on the soundtrack to the 1993 film.

A reshuffling in MCA caused Rakim to be dropped from the label in 1994. As Rakim continued to struggle with legal problems, he secured a deal with and began recording his solo debut album in 1996. In November 1997, the album The 18th Letter was released. Expectations were high for Rakim, as the album debuted at #4 on the and went certified Gold by the. In November 1999, Rakim released, which received good reviews but lacked in sales. Download L2 Hack Enchantress. Rakim was signed to 's record label in 2000, for work on an album tentatively titled Oh, My God. The album underwent numerous changes in artistic direction and personnel and was delayed several times.

While working on the album, Rakim made guest appearances on numerous Aftermath projects, including the hit single ' by, the -produced 'The Watcher Part 2' by, and 's soundtrack. However, Rakim left the label in 2003 and Oh, My God was indefinitely shelved. After Rakim eventually left, he stated that the reason he departed the label was because of creative differences with. Rakim used a metaphorical example that wanted Rakim to write about killing someone, while Rakim wanted to write about the resurrection of someone. 2007–09: The Seventh Seal [ ].

Rakim at the hip hop festival in New York, June 4, 2008 Rakim retreated to his Connecticut estate to work leisurely on music. Not having released an album since 1999, he eschewed touring in favor of infrequent gigs.

Rakim was able to retain the tracks he had made with Dr. Dre and, in 2006, announced that he would release a new studio album,. The album was delayed into 2009; instead, he followed up with a live album,, in 2008.

In an interview with in 2007, when asked about story behind The Seventh Seal 's title, Rakim said, The number 7 has a lot of significance. The seventh letter of the [] alphabet is G—that stands for God. There are seven continents, seven seas. The Seventh Seal deals with that and also some revelations in the Bible. Some call it the end of the world, but for me it's the end of the old and the beginning of the new. By me naming my album that, I'm using it metaphorically in hip hop. I'm hoping to kill the old state of hip hop and start with the new.

In another interview with in 2009, he stated, The seals are from the Bible—Revelations and the coming of the Apocalypse. But Islam, Judaism, Christianity—all have a version of the same events. The Lion of Judah breaks the seven seals one by one, each imparting knowledge and inflicting catastrophe, ending with seven trumpets announcing the end of Times. After the Apocalypse, God rises from the ashes to recreate the Kingdom, taking only the greatest elements from the past with them. When you look at Hip-Hop, I want to do that: to spit fire and take our best from the ashes to build our kingdom; to recognize all the regional styles, conscious lyrics, the tracks, underground, mainstream, the way we treat each other.

Lose the garbage and rebuild our scene. I've always tried to insert consciousness and spirituality in my records, interpreting the writings of all cultures and religions and how they apply to life in modern times. The Seventh Seal was released on November 17, 2009, after several delays on Rakim's own Ra Records, TVM, and and distributed through and. Considered a comeback album after a ten-year gap between releases, the album features the two singles: 'Holy Are You', which was released on July 14, 2009, and 'Walk These Streets' which was released on October 7, 2009. It features production from several renowned hip hop artists, including,,,, and Nick Wiz The album sold 12,000 copies in the United States by November 22, 2009, according to. Upon its release, The Seventh Seal received generally mixed or average reviews from most music critics; it holds an aggregate score of 59/100. 2011–present: Fourth studio album [ ] In 2011, Rakim performed Paid in Full in its entirety at the in New York City, in honor of the album's 25th anniversary.

He was backed. In 2012, Rakim announced that he and Eric B. Will release a 25th anniversary edition of their 1987 album Paid in Full, which will contain new tracks recorded by Eric B.

& Rakim, by the end of 2012; Rakim announced he would release a new solo album by the end of 2012. He performed at the annual ' Picnic in Philadelphia in June. In an interview with he announced he was in the studio with working on a new album set to be released in 2013, saying the first single will be released before the end of the year. On September 24, 2013, he released a collaborative single with entitled 'Don't Call Me'. In 2014, Rakim is featured on the collaborative single with American rock band, titled '. The song was released on March 6, 2014 under, as the first single from their sixth studio album, titled. He contributed his rap vocals during the bridge for the main version of the song; however, he is not featured on a radio edit of the song.

The song was officially released on March 7, 2014, for digital download. On April 27, 2015, Rakim announced he was working on a new album and planned to release it in the middle or end of 2015. He said 'This is one of those albums where I can have fun. My last album, The Seventh Seal, was somewhat of a conscious album. I wanted to make a statement on that album.' Reunion with Eric B.

(2016–present) [ ] On October 20, 2016, it was announced via that Rakim has reunited with Eric B. After 23 years of dissolution. The duo teased a potential reunion tour the next morning, hosting a poll for the fans to give their opinion on what city Eric B. & Rakim should start the tour. Four locations were the potential candidates:,,, and. Since the announcement of the reunion, fans have speculated if the two will drop a new studio album in the near future. Artistry [ ] Rakim's rhyming deviated from the simple rhyme patterns of early 1980s hip hop.

His free-rhythm style ignored lines and had earned comparisons to jazz pianist. ' Ben Ratliff wrote that Rakim's 'unblustery rapping developed the form beyond the flat-footed rhythms of schoolyard rhymes'. While many rappers developed their technique through improvisation, Rakim was one of the first to demonstrate advantages of a writerly style, as with for instance his pioneering use of and Unlike previous rappers such as,, and, who delivered their vocals with high energy, Rakim employed a relaxed, stoic delivery. According to, 'We'd been used to MCs like Run and DMC, and leaping on the mic shouting with energy and irreverence, but Rakim took a methodical approach to his microphone fiending. He had a slow flow, and every line was blunt, mesmeric.'

Rakim's relaxed delivery resulted from his influences; he had played the and was a fan. Rakim's subject matter often covered his own rapping skills and lyrical superiority over other rappers. Editor Steve Huey comments that 'the majority of his lyrics concern his own skills and his faith.' He also notes Rakim for his 'complex internal rhymes,, literate imagery, velvet-smooth flow, and unpredictable, off-the-beat rhythms.' Writer Jess Harvell described his rapping as 'authoritative, burnished, [and] possessing an unflappable sense of rhythm'.

Legacy [ ] Paid in Full was released during the period in hip hop that became known as the era. Alex Ogg considered it the duo's in his book The Men Behind Def Jam. Rakim's rapping set a blueprint for future rappers and helped secure 's reputation for innovative lyrical technique. Stated in his book To the Break of Dawn that his rapping had 'stepped outside' of the preceding era of and that while the vocabulary and lyrical dexterity of newer rappers had improved, it was 'nowhere near what Rakim introduced to the genre'.

The New York Times ' Dimitri Ehrlich, who described the album as 'an artistic and commercial benchmark', credited Rakim for helping 'give birth to a musical genre' and leading 'a quiet musical revolution, introducing a soft-spoken rapping style'. Allmusic's Steve Huey declared Paid in Full one of hip hop's most influential albums and 'essential listening' for those interested in the genre's 'basic musical foundations'.

Ranked it at number one in 'The Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time', stating it raised the standards of hip hop 'both sonically and poetically' and described it as 'captivating, profound, innovative and instantly influential'. The album is broken down track-by-track by Rakim in Brian Coleman's book. Rolling Stone magazine listed it at number 227 on ', calling it 'Ice-grilled, laid-back, diamond-sharp: Rakim is a front-runner in the race for Best Rapper Ever, and this album is a big reason why.'

Similarly, magazine included the album in its '500 CDs You Must Own Before You Die'. Magazine listed it as one of the eighteen albums of the 1980s in its 'All-TIME 100' albums; editor Alan Light acknowledged the record for changing the 'sound, flow, and potential' of hip hop and that if Rakim is 'the greatest MC of all time, as many argue, this album is the evidence'. Jess Harvell of Pitchfork complimented Rakim for an 'endless display of pure skill' and described the album as 'laidback and funky', but believed it contained 'too much filler to get a free 'classic' pass'. Pitchfork placed Paid in Full at number fifty-two in its 'Top 100 Albums of the 1980s'; editor Sam Chennault wrote that Rakim inspired a generation of MCs and 'defined what it meant to be a hip-hop lyricist'. The rappers who have used the unique rapping style employed by Rakim and attribute it as inspiration include,, and (from the ),,,,,,,, and many more. On July 11, 1995, the (RIAA) certified the album.

As of December 1997, it has sold over a million copies. Discography [ ]. • ^ Huey, Steve.. Retrieved December 13, 2010. • Kool Moe Dee, 2003, 'There's A God On The Mic: The True 50 Greatest MCs', Thunder's Mouth Press, p.324.

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Gold by Released June 14, 2005 Recorded 1986-1992 / 988 142 DJ Cell DJ Mark the 45 King Large Professor Kerwin Young Richard 'Lord of the Board' Simmons chronology (2003) 2003 Gold (2005) Professional ratings Review scores Source Rating Gold is the third compilation album, by hip-hop duo. The album was released on June 14, 2005, on.

The album contains numerous remixes and extended mixes of Eric B. & Rakim's greatest hits as part of ’s.

Track listing [ ] Disc one [ ] • 'Eric B.