Rakim
Wikimp3 information about the music of Rakim. On our website we have 29 albums and 70 collections of artist Rakim. You can find useful information and download songs of this artist. We also know that Rakim represents Hip Hop/R&B genres.
Biography
[Edit]Although he never became a household name, Rakim is near-universally acknowledged as one of the greatest MCs — perhaps the greatest — of all time within the hip-hop community. It isn't necessarily the substance of what he says that's helped him win numerous polls among rap fans in the know; the majority of his lyrics concern his own skills and his Islamic faith. But in terms of how he says it, Rakim is virtually unparalleled. His flow is smooth and liquid, inflected with jazz rhythms and carried off with an effortless cool that makes it sound as though he's not even breaking a sweat. He raised the bar for MC technique higher than it had ever been, helping to pioneer the use of internal rhymes — i.e., rhymes that occurred in the middle of lines, rather than just at the end. Where many MCs of the time developed their technique through improvisational battles, Rakim was among the first to demonstrate the possibilities of sitting down and writing intricately crafted lyrics packed with clever word choices and metaphors (of course, he also had the delivery to articulate them). Even after his innovations were worshipfully absorbed and expanded upon by countless MCs who followed, Rakim's early work still sounds startlingly fresh, and his comeback recordings (beginning in the late '90s) only added to his legend.
Rakim was born William Griffin, Jr. on January 28, 1968, in the Long Island suburb of Wyandanch. The nephew of '50s R&B legend Ruth Brown, Griffin was surrounded by music from day one, and was interested in rap almost from its inception. At age 16, he converted to Islam, adopting the Muslim name Rakim Allah. In 1985, he met Queens DJ Eric B., whose intricately constructed soundscapes made an excellent match for Rakim's more cerebral presence on the mike. With the release of their debut single, "Eric B. Is President," in 1986, Eric B. & Rakim became a sensation in the hip-hop community, and their reputation kept growing as they issued classic tracks like "I Ain't No Joke" and "Paid in Full." Their first two full-length albums, 1987's Paid in Full and 1988's Follow the Leader, are still regarded as all-time hip-hop classics; Rakim's work set out a blueprint for other, similarly progressive-minded MCs to follow, and helped ensure that even after the rise of other fertile scenes around the country, East Coast rap would maintain a reputation as the center of innovative lyrical technique. The last two Eric B. & Rakim albums, 1990's Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em and 1992's Don't Sweat the Technique, weren't quite as consistent as their predecessors, but still had plenty of fine moments.
Unfortunately, their legacy stopped at four albums. Both Eric B. and Rakim expressed interest in recording solo albums to one another, but the former, fearful of being abandoned by his partner when their contract was up, refused to sign the release. That led to their breakup in 1992, and Rakim spent a substantial amount of time in the courts, handling the legal fallout between himself, his ex-partner, and their ex-label, MCA. His only solo output for a number of years was the track "Heat It Up," featured on the 1993 soundtrack to the Mario Van Peebles film Gunmen. Moreover, a reshuffling at MCA effectively shut down production on Rakim's solo debut, after he'd recorded some preliminary demos. Finally, Rakim got a new contract with Universal, and toward the end of 1997 he released his first solo record, The 18th Letter (early editions contained the bonus disc Book of Life, a fine Eric B. & Rakim retrospective). Anticipation for The 18th Letter turned out to be surprisingly high, especially for a veteran rapper whose roots extended so far back into hip-hop history; yet thanks to Rakim's legendary reputation, it entered the album charts at number four, and received mostly complimentary reviews. His follow-up, The Master, was released in 1999 and failed to duplicate its predecessor's commercial success, barely debuting in the Top 75. Moreover, while The Master received positive reviews in some quarters, others seemed disappointed that Rakim's comeback material wasn't reinventing the wheel the way his early work had, and bemoaned the lack of unity among his array of different producers.
Seeking to rectify the latter situation, Rakim signed with Dr. Dre's Aftermath label in 2001, and the two began recording a new album early the next year, to be titled Oh My God. In the meantime, to help heighten anticipation for the summit between two legends, Rakim guested on the single "Addictive" by female R&B singer and Aftermath labelmate Truth Hurts; "Addictive" hit the Top Ten in the summer of 2002, marking the first time Rakim had visited that territory since he and Eric B. appeared on Jody Watley's "Friends" in 1989. Disagreements between Dre and Ra, however, prevented the album from coming out, though the rapper was able to retain the tracks he had made with the producer. For the next couple of years, Rakim continued to talk about the record, since retitled The Seventh Seal, even going so far as to promise a release on July 7, 2007. The date came and went however, without any signs of a full length, though, in early 2008, The Archive: Live, Lost & Found, a mostly live album that also contained four new previously unreleased songs, hit shelves. The Seventh Seal finally did arrive a year later on the SMC label.
Title: Walk These Streets (feat. Maino and Tracey Horton) - Single
Artist: Rakim
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: No Mystery Presents: Don't Call Me (Single)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Punk Rock
Title: Euphoria (feat. Busta Rhymes, Cocoa Chanelle, Jadakiss & Styles P) - Single
Artist: Rakim
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Collections
Title: The One & Only 2
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: Old School Hip-Hop
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: The One & Only 4
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: 60 Minute Hip Hop Workout
Genre:
Title: Getting Up (Soundtrack from the Video Game)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: Nick Wiz Presents: Cellar Sounds, Vol. 2: 1992-1998
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: Nick Wiz Presents: Cellar Sounds, Vol. 1: 1992-1998
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: Pump Ya Fist
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: Official Joints
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: Chosen Few el Documental II
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Latin
Title: Bravo Black Hits Vol. 2 CD 1
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B
Title: Bravo Black Hits Vol. 3 CD 1
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B
Title: Super Hits Vol. 29
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Reggae, Reggaeton, Latin
Title: Super Hits Vol. 57
Genre: Latin
Title: Super Hits Vol. 61
Genre: Electronica
Title: Super Hits Vol. 97
Genre: Latin
Title: Super Hits Vol. 106
Title: Super Hits Vol. 164
Genre: Latin
Title: In The Club CD3
Genre: Club/Dance, Pop
Title: In The Club CD4
Genre: Club/Dance, Pop
Title: Pure Hip Hop 2011 CD 3
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B
Title: Reggaeton Plus
Genre: Electronica, Hip Hop/R&B, Rock, Dancefloor, Reggae, Latin, Pop, Pop Rock
Title: 12 " Dance: The Definitive Collection (Disc 2: 80s)
Genre: Freestyle Music, Electronica, House, Acid House, Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Disco, Pop, Pop Rock, Funk
Title: Masterpiece 03
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Funk
Title: Lo Ke Esta Sonando Vol. 3
Genre: Blues
Title: Dance Classics New Jack Swing Volume 5
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Funk
Title: X - Mix Chartbusters 71
Genre: Club/Dance
Title: DMC Commercial Collection 355 (CD 2)
Genre: Pop
Title: Reggaeton Blend Fest
Genre: Reggaeton
Title: Europop Vol. 1
Title: Def Beat Remixes, Volume 1: Coldcut
Genre: DJ/Remixes
Title: Welcome Hip - Hop Get 2013 (CD1)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B
Title: Step Up - Basketball Music Vol. 1 (CD 1)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Pop
Title: Badmeaningood, Volume 2: Roots Manuva
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Dub
Title: Urban'S Finest - Rap Classics (CD2)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: Hip - Hop RnB Singles (2013 - 20 - 07) (CD2)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Soul, Pop
Title: Soft Latino 77
Title: Lintegrale (CD1)
Genre: Rap
Title: Lintegrale (CD2)
Genre: Rap
Title: For Once In My Life (Single) (CD1)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Rock, Dancefloor, Club/Dance, Pop
Title: Hip-Hop ITunes Singles Pack (September 2013)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: The Rugrats Movie (Original Soundtrack)
Genre: Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: Las 500 Mejores Canciones De La Historia (CD20)
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Soul, Rock, Rock & Roll, Pop
Title: The Lincoln Lawyer (Original Soundtrack)
Genre: Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: DMC Commercial Collection 331 August
Genre: Dancefloor
Title: ITunes Singles Pack (September - Vol. 3) (CD1)
Genre: Electronica, Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Blues, Rock, Dancefloor, Reggae, Country, Pop, Alternative, Songwriter/Lyricist, J-Pop
Title: LA PLENA REMIX DJ'S GROUP (CD ADELANTO VOL 1)
Genre: DJ/Remixes
Title: ITunes Singles Vol. 3 (CD1)
Genre: Electronica, Hip Hop/R&B, Rap, Blues, Rock, Dancefloor, Reggae, Country, Pop, Alternative, Songwriter/Lyricist, J-Pop
Featuring albums
Title: The Lincoln Lawyer (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: FabricLive 26: The Herbaliser
Artist: The Herbaliser
Genre: Trip Hop, Electronica, Rap, Dancefloor, World Music, Pop, Dance Pop
Title: Live At The Social, Volume 1 (Remixes)
Artist: The Chemical Brothers
Genre: Electronica, Techno, Dancefloor, DJ/Remixes, Dance Pop
Title: Masterpiece Created By Jazzie B Soul II Soul (CD2)
Artist: Jazzie B
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Blues, Pop, Funk
Title: Back To Love 03. 03 CD2
Artist: Hed Kandi
Genre: Garage, House, Acid House, Hip Hop/R&B, Disco
Title: Influence: Hits, Singles, Moments, Treasures
Artist: The Art Of Noise
Genre: Electronica, Pop
Title: Buckwild Presents: Diggin' in the Crates - Rare Studio Masters (1993-1997)
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: Luke Cage: Season 2 (Original Soundtrack Album)
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: Buckwild Presents: Diggin' in the Crates - Rare Studio Masters
Artist: Various Artists
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: The Live Mixtape (#Top5MCs Edition) [Live at Sony Hall] [DJ Mix]
Artist: DJ J-Period
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap
Title: Great Artists Of My Heart (CD1)
Artist: Linkin Park, Prepared Docentxxx
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rock, Punk Rock, Alternative, Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: Great Artists Of My Heart Vol. 04 (CD1)
Artist: Linkin Park, Prepared Docentxxx
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rock, Punk, Punk Rock, Alternative, Theatre/Soundtrack
Title: Extinction Level Event 2: The Wrath Of God (Reloaded)
Artist: Busta Rhymes
Genre: Hip Hop/R&B, Rap