Rakim

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Rakim Allah

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Long Island, New York, USA (1986 – present)

Rakim (pronounced rah-KIM) (Born William Michael Griffin Jr. on January 28, 1968 in Long Island, New York, USA) is an American rapper and pioneer of the musical genre of hip hop. He is consistently cited as one of the most skilled (and top amongst the most influential) MCs of all time due to his exceptional flow and complex lyrical craftsmanship, he revolutionized hip-hop lyricism with his complex flow, elaborate metaphors and rapid delivery. Together with Eric B, he released a number of classic albums between 1987 and 1992. To date his most successful album is ‘The 18th Letter,’ released in 1997 as his solo debut album.

Griffin is the nephew of American R&B singer and actress Ruth Brown. He grew up in Wyandanch, New York, and became involved in the New York hip hop scene at a young age. Eric B brought him to Marley Marl’s house to record “Eric B. is President.” At the time Griffin was fresh out of high school and on his way to college, but he decided to forgo higher education and instead chose to record with Eric B. Leshaun

When Griffin turned 16, he joined The Nation of Gods and Earths (also known as the 5 Percent Nation) and changed his name to Rakim Allah.

In 1986, Rakim started to work with New York-based producer-DJ Eric B. The duo — known as Eric B & Rakim — is widely regarded as among the most influential and groundbreaking of hip-hop groups. The duo’s first single, “Eric B. Is President” (#48, 1986) b/w “My Melody,” was a success and got the duo a contract with the fledgling Island Records sub-label 4th & B’way. The duo’s next single, the smash “I Know You Got Soul,” sparked early debate on the legality of unauthorized, uncredited sampling when James Brown sued to prevent the duo’s use of a fragment of his music.

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  • david-1992

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ISvMptU6Sk Unreleased track off The Seventh Seal called 'What's wrong' produced by Marco Polo

    8 Mar 11:02pm Reply
  • GyN070X

    Rakim is the best for me

    9 Feb 11:54am Reply
  • Wolfdogg1

    The GREATEST MC to ever live. If you disagree, your wrong. Take some time to listen to his content, style, flow, and rhythm. You will agree.

    22 Oct 2012 Reply
  • DickBigems

    His lack of material after The Master is disheartening and one of the reasons he's not at my number one slot, though he'll likely stay in my top five for a good while. The Seventh Seal was decent, subpar for a "God". I'm hopeful that he'll release some better material in the future (with Premo specifically).

    27 Sep 2012 Reply
  • TuNa_DriNk

    The 7th seal is underrated. The production isn't even that bad. Dope album [2]

    20 Sep 2012 Reply
  • GRAFFULTRAS

    ..G.O.D.

    14 Aug 2012 Reply
  • cokeboy2

    @FrankyRey Sorry to say, but most hip hop heads avoid his most mainstream stuff..some of it is alright but most it is for kids who think he's the ''best whit3 rappa eva!!''.

    9 Jul 2012 Reply
  • nicejumping

    "he musical genre of hip hop"

    29 Jun 2012 Reply
  • IxCLuTcH

    The 7th seal is underrated. The production isn't even that bad. Dope album

    14 Jun 2012 Reply
  • Kaydigi

    Rakim is the greatest emcee of all timez,,,

    11 Jun 2012 Reply
  • Chingy314

    nobody can't fuck with rakim's flow and lyrics! he is s god mc and muthafucking rap legend!

    10 May 2012 Reply
  • andrey_guss

    батько

    9 May 2012 Reply
  • david-1992

    IxCLuTcH i'm not disregarding his whole career I used to listen to him all the time up until about 06 but for FrankyRey to say he's better than Rakim is a joke, and he says at the end of 25 to life 'fuck you hiphop', he says he's quitting but it must have been for dramatic effect or somethin, and @FrankyRey crossin over into pop territory doesn't make you a better hiphop artist, there are artists who are more lyrically advanced than rakim but eminem in his prime didn't raise the bar, at best he was on the same level as rakim, eminems influences include masta ace, rakim, big daddy kane and kool g rap but he hasnt raised the bar since either, lyrically or musically, so for eminem to be in the charts a lot and have more listeners online than rakim after the way rakim changed the game goes to show eminem is more overrated than rakim

    21 Apr 2012 Reply
  • FrankyRey

    And I'm not dissing by Rakim by any means...I'm just saying that SINCE he's come out there has been better...and that's saying something.

    20 Apr 2012 Reply
  • FrankyRey

    Honestly the fact that Eminem has been able to crossover into pop territory should be more credit to him...he's been able to remain relevant in the mainstream and be recognized by hip hop heads....

    20 Apr 2012 Reply
  • Music-Ninja

    he is called GOD EMCEE for a reason

    19 Apr 2012 Reply
  • IxCLuTcH

    There has been plenty of people to use Hip Hop as a metaphor for a girl since Common. And Eminem i'm not sure is talking about Hip Hop because he mentions quitting but he clearly isn't retired. Yes Eminem has gone down hill the past few years, but he had those first few albums that were true hip hop, with dope lyrics and production. Don't disregard his whole career because of what he is now.

    19 Apr 2012 Reply
  • david-1992

    @FrankyRey: Rakim changed the game, you can hear it when you listen to hip-hop artists that made music before Rakim then compare them to artists that came out after him, he revolutionised hip-hop, Eminem put out a few nice albums, but Em gets more credit than Rakim, Em is way more overrated coz he makes pop/rap, Rakim makes hip-hop/art, plus Em steals lyrics and concepts, in Spellbound Eminem says 'love is evil, spell it backwards ill show you', rakim said 'love backwards is evil' on his song Uplift (more than 10 years before Em put Spellbound out) and in 25 to life Em talks about a woman then reveals at the end of the song he was talkin about hip-hop, Common did the exact same thing on his song I used to love H.E.R more than 15 years before Em put out 25 to life, plus Kanye, Kid Cudi and Lupe are in your top 10

    19 Apr 2012 Reply
  • FrankyRey

    Honestly, he is a bit overrated. He was awesome for his time...but there are several who have come since that are just lyrically advanced... Mostly Em...

    18 Apr 2012 Reply
  • DropSoap

    Not even half a million listeners? Jesus christ, hip-hop.

    15 Apr 2012 Reply
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