Rakim 428906 226176886 2008-07-17T04:36:56Z 24.149.65.218 {{Refimprove|date=March 2008}} {{distinguish2|José Nieves from [[R.K.M & Ken-Y]]}} {{Infobox musical artist |Name = Rakim |Img = rakim_allah.jpg |Img_size = 220 |Background = solo_singer |Birth_Name = Rakim Allah |Alias = The Microphone Fiend, The 18th Letter, The R, The God MC |Born = {{birth date and age|1968|1|28}} |Origin = [[Long Island, New York]] |Instrument = |Genre = [[Hip hop music|Hip hop]], [[East Coast hip hop]], [[hardcore rap]] |Occupation = [[Rapper]], [[hip hop production|Producer]], [[Poet]] |Years_active = 1986 - present |Label = [[4th & B'way Records|4th & B'way]]/[[Island Records|Island]]/[[PolyGram Records]]<br>[[Uni Records|Uni]]/[[MCA Records]]<br>[[Universal Records]]<br>[[Aftermath Entertainment|Aftermath]]/[[Interscope Records|Interscope]]/[[Universal Music Group|Universal Records]] |Associated_acts = [[Eric B. & Rakim]], [[Eric B.]], [[Gang Starr]], [[Dr. Dre]], [[Ghostface Killah]], [[Nas]], [[WC]] |URL = |Current_members = |Past_members = |Notable_instruments = }} '''Rakim''' (pronounced Rah-Kem) (full name '''Rakim Allah''', born '''William Michael Griffin Jr.''' on [[January 28]] [[1968]] in [[Wyandanch, New York|Wyandanch]], [[Long Island]], [[New York]]) is a legendary rapper and pioneer of the musical genre of [[hip hop]]. ==Biography== ===Early life=== Rakim was born William Michael Griffin Jr. and grew up in Long Island, New York where he developed much of his rap talent. The nephew of [[R&B]] star [[Ruth Brown]], Rakim became involved in the New York hip hop scene at a young age. ===With Eric B.=== {{POV|section|date=June 2008}} In 1986, Rakim started to work with New York-based producer/DJ [[Eric B.]] The duo - known as [[Eric B & Rakim]] - are widely regarded as among the most influential and groundbreaking of hip-hop groups, due in no small part to Rakim's technical abilities. Hip-hop trailblazers Eric B and Rakim's first single, "Eric B Is President" (#48, 1986), 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. It also established Brown's back catalog as a hip musical mining ground for a new generation of hip-hop programmers.{{Fact|date=June 2008}} Their first full album, ''[[Paid In Full]]'', was released in 1987. causing a stir in the rap music world due to its novel sound, approach and subject matter. ===Solo career=== Eric B. & Rakim broke up in 1992 after releasing four albums. Due to legal wrangling over royalties and his contracts with both his record label and with Eric B, Rakim did not release a solo album for another five years.He signed with his good friend at the time DeShamus "Q=BOB" Sallis of Q=BOB Records but the label folded shortly after. He then returned in 1997 with ''[[The 18th Letter]]'', which included collaborations with [[DJ Premier]] and [[Pete Rock]]; released in two versions, one of which included an Eric B. & Rakim [[greatest hits]] disc titled ''[[The Book of Life]]''. The critical reception of the album was positive, and it was certified [[gold album|gold]]. In 1999, Rakim released ''The Master'' which received very good reviews as well. Rakim was signed to [[Dr. Dre]]'s [[Aftermath Entertainment]] [[record label]] in 2000,<ref>Elon Johnson and Heather Parry ([[27 October]], [[2000]]). "[http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1428236/20001027/dr_dre.jhtml Rakim Signs With Dr. Dre's Aftermath Records]". ''[[MTV]]''. Accessed [[24 January]], [[2008]].</ref> 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 "Addictive" by [[Truth Hurts]], the Dr. Dre-produced "The Watcher Part 2" by [[Jay-Z]], and [[Eminem]]'s ''[[8 Mile (film)|8 Mile]]'' soundtrack. However, Rakim left the label in 2003 and ''Oh, My God'' was indefinitely shelved, a result of creative differences with Dr Dre.<ref>"[http://www.thaformula.com/rakim_guess_whos_back_thaformula_music.html Q & A w/ Rakim: Guess Who's Back?]". ''thaFormula.com'' (2005). Accessed [[24 January]], [[2008]].</ref> Rakim signed with [[DreamWorks Records]] shortly afterward, but the label closed its doors shortly after that. On [[April 27]], [[2004]], Rakim was arrested regarding an outstanding [[paternity]] matter from 2001. He said he was unaware of the warrant, but he agreed to pay $2,000 in child support for his 14-year-old son. He was released the next day but because of the warrant, that night's [[Wu-Tang Clan]] performance (opening for [[Ghostface Killah|Ghostface]]) at the Roseland Ballroom was canceled. Rakim claimed to be working on a new album in 2004<ref>[http://www.thaformula.com/Thaformula.com%20-%20Home%20Page.htm Thaformula.com - Bringin Tha Real To Tha World Wide Web<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> but [[2007|as of 2007]], it has not been released. Recent rumors have claimed that he is planning to sign to [[Talib Kweli]]'s label, fueled by their collaboration on the track "Getting Up Anthem Part 1". While nothing came of the rumors, Rakim has stated he is still considering the label as distribution. Rakim is currently working on a new album, scheduled to be released this year, titled ''The Seventh Seal'' based on the passage in the [[Book of Revelation]]. According to Rakim, he is taking the seventh seal and "''making it relevant to hip hop and life itself''".<ref>[http://halftimeonline.com/hip-hop-icon-series/rakim-pt-2/2/ HalftimeOnline.com » Rakim Pt. 2<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> As of now, no official news on what label is handling the distribution for the album. While performing at The Showbox, in Seattle, Washington on [[November 4]], [[2007]], Rakim announced that "The Seventh Seal" would be released on [[February 7]].<ref>[http://bgdboom.blogspot.com/2007/03/es-concert-reviews-rakim-and-ghostface.html Boo Goo Doo Boom<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Rakim also made cameos in the [[Juelz Santana]] video "Mic Check", the [[Timbaland & Magoo]] video "Cop That Disc" and the [[Busta Rhymes]] video "New York Shit". Eric B. and Rakim's classic album ''[[Paid in Full (album)|Paid In Full]]'' was named the greatest hip hop album of all time by MTV. Rakim was engaged in a lawsuit with reggaeton performer [[Rakim & Ken-Y|R.K.M]] (formerly Rakim) over the use of the name "Rakim". Rakim won the rights to the name. Recently, Rakim was featured in an [[All-Pro Football 2K8]] commercial. ==Legacy== {{Unreferencedsection|date=June 2008}} Many hip hop/rap artists (both [[Alternative hip hop|underground]] and mainstream) acknowledge a huge debt to Rakim's innovative style. He is given credit for popularizing the heavy use of internal rhymes in hip-hop - rhymes that are not necessary to the overall rhyme scheme of the verse, but occur between the endpoints of lines and stanzas, serving to increase the [[alliteration]], [[assonance]], and emphasis of the rap. He is also credited for the [[jazz]]y, heavily stylistic, seemingly effortless delivery of his lyrical content. One of his more prominent fans is [[Nas]], who dedicated a song to Rakim, "U.B.R. (Unauthorized Biography of Rakim)", on his album, ''Street's Disciple''. [[Raekwon]] of the Wu-Tang Clan also dedicated a tribute to Rakim entitled "Rakim Tribute" which was released on the DaVinci Code: The Vatican Mixtape Vol. II in 2006. [[50 Cent]] also makes reference to Rakim on his hugely successful collaborative effort "Hate It Or Love It" with [[The Game (rapper)|The Game]]. 50 rhymes "Daddy ain't around, probably out committing felonies / my favorite rapper used to sing Ch-Check out my melody", referencing Eric B. & Rakim's classic hit ¨My Melody". [[Kurupt]] references Rakim on [[Snoop Dogg]]'s debut album, ''Doggystyle''. On "For All My Niggaz And Bitches", Kurupt says "Who's jokin? Rakim never joked, so why should I loc? now that's my idol..." [[Tupac Shakur]] also pays tribute to Rakim in a song called "[[Old School (2Pac Song)|Old School]]". Jay-Z paid tribute to Rakim in his 2007 hit [[Blue Magic]] where he states: "87 state of mind that I'm in/I'm in my prime so for that time I'm Rakim." [[Eminem]] has also paid tribute to Rakim's style as an inspiration, and references lines from [[My Melody]] in his song [[I'm Back]]. Ghostface Killah gave props to Rakim in the end of "Paisely Darts", by saying he is better than every artist except for Rakim, "Rakim's the only god." In the song 'Fixed' by [[Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip]] the chorus includes the lines 'Hip hop is art. Don't make a fucking pop hit, be smart, take it back to the start, like KRS and Rakim use passion and heart' in reference to his key role in hip-hop. Prior to Rakim, rap music lyricism was usually rather simple from a structural standpoint and the ideas it expressed were easy and direct. {{cquote|Biting it I make you choke, you can't provoke/You cant cope, you should've broke cause I aint no joke/}} Rakim pioneered a practice previously unknown to rap called "internal rhyming," already an important aspect of traditional poetry, where rhymes could be found throughout the bar of a lyric which added to the rhythmic complexity of the song: {{cquote|I keep the mic at Fahrenheit, freeze MCs, make 'em colder/The listeners system is kicking like solar/As I memorize, advertize like a poet/Keep it goin', when I'm flowin' smooth enough, you know it's rough}} Instead of two rhyming syllables within two lines at the end of the lines, as we would find in the older rap style displayed above, we have 18 rhyming syllables in just four lines. Rakim also introduced a lyrical technique known as "cliffhanging" and popularized the use of metaphors with multiple meanings. His songs were the first to really impart rap music lyrics with a serious poetic device sensibility. Eric B & Rakim went on to produce three more successful albums, all now considered [[List of hip hop albums|hip hop standards]]. ==Discography== {{Main|Rakim discography}} *1997: ''[[The 18th Letter|The 18th Letter/The Book of Life]]'' *1999: ''[[The Master (album)|The Master]]'' *2008: ''[[The Archive: Live, Lost & Found]]'' *TBA: ''[[The Seventh Seal (Rakim album)|The Seventh Seal]]'' ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://www.rakim.com Unofficial website] *[http://www.myspace.com/rakim Official MySpace Page] *[http://www.iamhiphop.com/rakim Official IAMHIPHOP.com Site] *[http://www.scion.com/broadband/index.html?ch=0&sh=1&ep=31 Video Interview] {{Eric B. & Rakim}} {{Rakim}} [[Category:1968 births]] [[Category:African American rappers]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:New York musicians]] [[Category:Five Percenters]] [[Category:People from Long Island]] [[Category:Rappers from Long Island]] [[da:Rakim]] [[de:Rakim]] [[fr:Rakim]] [[hr:Rakim]] [[it:Rakim]] [[ja:ラキム]]