Rakim (pronounced Rah-Kem) (full name Rakim Allah, born William Michael Griffin Jr. on January 28, 1968 in Wyandanch, Long Island, New York) is an American rapper. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... is the 28th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about Long Island in New York State. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Hip hop music is a style of music which came into existence in the United States during the mid-1970s, and became a large part of modern pop culture during the 1980s. ... Rap redirects here. ... Hip hop production is the creation of hip hop music. ... Eric Barrier (Eric B.) and William Griffin (Rakim), were a hip-hop duo known as Eric B. & Rakim. ... Eric B. & Rakim was an East Coast rap group that popularized the James Brown-sampled funky hip hop of the late 1980s. ... is the 28th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Wyandanch is a hamlet (and census-designated place) in Suffolk County, New York, United States. ... This article is about the island in New York State. ... This article is about the state. ... Rap redirects here. ...

Biography

Early Life & Eric B Period

Rakim was born William Michael Griffin Jr. and grew up in Long Island, New York where he developed much of his rap talent.^{[citation needed]} The nephew of R&B star Ruth Brown, Rakim became involved in the New York hip hop scene at a young age. He became a member of The Nation of Gods and Earths, taking on the name Rakim Allah, in 1984. Rhythm and blues (or R & B) is a musical marketing term introduced in the United States in the late 1940s by Billboard magazine. ... Ruth Brown (January 12, 1928–November 17, 2006) was an American R&B singer. ... The Five Percenter Universal Flag (Seven, Sun, Moon, and Star). ... This article is about the year. ...

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 album was fairly well-received critically and was certified gold. In 1999, Rakim released The Master, which was considerably less successful than its predecessor, failing to crack the Top 50 on Billboard's album chart and receiving mixed reviews. The 18th Letter is the first solo album from rapper Rakim, coming five years after 1992s Dont Sweat The Technique. The album sees the veteran rapper working with a range of top 90s producers, including Pete Rock and DJ Premier, who provide him with jazzy backing tracks that... This biographical article or section needs additional references for verification. ... Pete Rock (born Peter Phillips, June 21, 1970[1] in Bronx, New York) is an American hip hop DJ, producer and rapper. ... A greatest hits album (sometimes referred to as a best of album) is a compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular music artist or band. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with RIAA certification. ... This article is about the year. ... Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry. ...

Rakim was signed to Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment record label in the early 2000s, 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 soundtrack. However, Rakim left the label in 2003 and Oh, My God was indefinitely shelved, a result of creative differences with Dre.^[1] Rakim signed with DreamWorks Records shortly afterward, but the label closed its doors shortly after that. For the New York radio and television presenter, see Doctor Dre. ... Aftermath Entertainment is an American record label founded by Dr. Dre. ... In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. ... The 2000s are the current decade, spanning from 2000 to 2009. ... Oh, My God is an unreleased album by East Coast emcee Rakim. ... Truth Hurts (born Shari Watson in 1972 in St. ... Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), better known as Eminem or Slim Shady, is a Grammy and Academy Award-winning American rapper, record producer and actor from the Detroit, Michigan area. ... 8 Mile stars Eminem (Marshall Mathers) as the young white rapper Jimmy Smith Jr. ... When David Geffen sold his Geffen Records to MCA Records he joined Steven Spielberg and Jeffrey Katzenberg to form Dreamworks SKG, with subsidiary DreamWorks Records. ...

On April 27, 2004, Rakim was arrested regarding an outstanding paternity matter from 2001. The emcee 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) at the Roseland Ballroom was canceled. April 27 is the 117th day of the year (118th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 248 days remaining. ... Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... Wu-Tang redirects here. ... Ghostface Killah (born Dennis Coles, aka Tony Starks) is an American rapper and member of the Wu-Tang Clan. ...

Rakim claimed to be working on a new album in 2004^[2] but 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. Year 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Talib Kweli (born Talib Kweli Greene in Brooklyn, New York City on October 3, 1975) is an American MC from Brooklyn, New York. ...

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".^[3] As of now, no official news on what label is handling the distribution for the album. Visions of John of Patmos, as depicted in the Très Riches Heures du Duc de Berry. ...

While performing at The Showbox, in Seattle, Washington on November 4th, 2007 , Rakim announced that "The Seventh Seal" would be released "Just after the new year".^[4]

Recently Rakim has been featured in an All-Pro Football 2K8 commercial spot. All-Pro Football 2K8 (abbreviated APF2K8) is a football game for seventh generation consoles and the spiritual successor to the ESPN NFL 2K series. ...

Legacy

Many hip hop/rap artists (both underground and mainstream) acknowledge a huge debt to Rakim's innovative style. 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 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. 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." Nas also derives his nickname of "God's son" from Rakim, who is often hailed as the "lyrical god" of hip-hop. Alternative hip hop (also known as alternative rap) is a genre that is defined in greatly varying ways. ... For other uses, see Nas (disambiguation). ... Raekwon (born Corey Woods, January 12, 1970, Brooklyn, New York, United States) is an American East Coast rapper and a member of the Wu-Tang Clan. ... 50 cents may refer to 50 subunits of currencies where the subunit is called a cent. ... Jayceon Terell Taylor (born November 27, 1979 in Los Angeles,[1] California), better known by his stage name The Game, is a multi-platinum American rapper signed to Interscope Records. ... For other uses, see Nas (disambiguation). ...

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 was named the greatest hip hop album of all time by MTV. LaRon Louis James (born on February 18, 1983) is a rapper, small time actor and producer. ... Timbaland. ... Trevor Smith (born on May 20, 1972), better known as Busta Rhymes, is an American hip hop musician and actor. ... This article is about an album. ...

Tupac Shakur also pays tribute to Rakim in a song called "Old School". Old School is the name of a song by rapper Tupac Shakur from his hit album, Me Against the World. ...

Rakim is also the commercial spokesman for the football video game, All-Pro Football 2K8. A spokesperson (person could be replaced with the gender of the person), or spokesmodel is a person who speaks on behalf of others, but is understood not to be necessarily part of the others (e. ... Computer and video games redirects here. ... All-Pro Football 2K8 (abbreviated APF2K8) is a football game for seventh generation consoles and the spiritual successor to the ESPN NFL 2K series. ...

Rakim was engaged in a lawsuit with reggaeton performer R.K.M (formerly Rakim) over the use of the name "Rakim". Rakim won the rights to the name. This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Discography

Main article: Rakim discography

• 1997: The 18th Letter/The Book of Life
• 1999: The Master
• TBA: The Seventh Seal

This is the discography for rapper Rakim. ... The 18th Letter is the first solo album from rapper Rakim, coming five years after 1992s Dont Sweat The Technique. The album sees the veteran rapper working with a range of top 90s producers, including Pete Rock and DJ Premier, who provide him with jazzy backing tracks that... The Master is the second album by New York rapper Rakim, released in 1999, two years after the surprise success of The 18th Letter. Although The Master followed a similar formula to that album, it was less well received critically, and spawned no hits. ... The Seventh Seal is the 3rd solo upcoming album from Rakim. ...

References

External links

• Unofficial website
• Official MySpace Page
• Official IAMHIPHOP.com Site