Rakim

Released: November 4, 1997

Songwriter: Rakim

What is, the one, main thing that you have
That you would want people to remember you by?
Or not one but the, those things that are dear to you
That you would, want to be remembered as
I guess, I guess it's my words man, you know what I mean?
Just my words, and, if people remember my words
They'll remember me forever you know?
God by nature mind raised in Asia, you know?
But umm, it's like you know to live forever you you you gotta
Set you know, not not set trends but you gotta
Apply yourself a certain way and you gotta do certain things you know?
Maybe, maybe when I'm gone twenty years from now
Somebody might be tellin', tellin' they little son
"Oh yo you think shorty bad? Yo I 'member this cat way back
In like nineteen-ninety, kid named Rakim, bananas"
You know what I'm sayin'?
If that can happen man, I'm aight man, you know?
I got, I got, I got kids you know?
They gonna, they gonna umm, finish this for
Me anyway you know what I'm sayin'?
So regardless, you know the legacy lives
But umm as far as the masses just remember my words straight up

The God MC, William Michael Griffin Jr. (b. January 28, 1968), known professionally as Rakim, is an American rapper representing the East Coast, hailing from Long Island, New York. Widely regarded as one of hip-hop’s most influential lyricists of all time, Rakim’s pioneering multisyllabic rhyming techniques demonstrated his lyrical superiority and helped cement his legacy.

Prior to his celebrated solo efforts, Rakim served as one half of the hip-hop duo, Eric B. & Rakim. The duo would go on to release a total of four studio albums before separating in 1992. Their 1987 debut album, Paid in Full, became a benchmark within hip-hop and inspired many future rappers, partly due to Rakim’s lyrical proficiency.

Coming off of a five-year hiatus, Rakim released his acclaimed debut solo album, The 18th Letter, in 1997. It is considered by many to be his best album, debuting at #4 on the Billboard 200 charts. Rakim’s 1999 sophomore album, The Master, received mixed reviews—it would be his last studio album for a decade until re-emerging with 2009’s, The Seventh Seal.

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The Master

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The Master (1999)

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The Master