Rakim

Released: November 4, 1997

Songwriter: Rakim

Producer: Father Shaheed

[Verse]
Just when things seem the same, and the whole scene is lame
I come and reign with the unexplained
For the brains 'til things change
They strain to sling slang, I'm trained to bring game
History that I arranged been regained by King James
Go to practice with tactics, when the track hits, theatrics
Women that look like actresses, the status of Cleopatra's
Stacks of mathematics to feed yo' Asiatics
As I find out, what the facts is, for geographic
No time to sip Mo's with hostess
Never mind what the total gross is
I rip shows, stay focused, and split cheese with soldiers
While you hit trees and coast, I spit flows that be ferocious
And with these explosives, I split seas for Moses
Shine permanently, only my mind's concernin' me
Fire burns in me eternally, time's eternity
Followers turn on me, they'll be in a mental infirmary
Determinedly advance technology better than Germany
Since the first days you know of, 'til the last days is over
I was always the flow-er, I made waves for Noah
From a compound, to the anatomy, to the breakdown of a atom
Some of my rap patterns still surround Saturn
From the ancient hieroglyphics, to graffiti painted pictures
I study, I know the scriptures, but nowaday ain't it vicious?
Date back, I go beyond, check the oly Qu'ran
To speeches at the Audobon, now we get our party on
So bein' beneficent, I bless 'em with dialogue
They expectin' the next testament by the God
I roam through battle zones with chrome for chaperone
Blast beat with saxophones, one of the baddest rappers known
Every country, city and borough, side-street and ghetto
Island, alley and meadow, theory's thorough enough to echo
When it was one mass of land, with one nat' of man
And the whole mass was ran under one master plan
Since the world's metamorphis, and the planet's kept in orbit
Turntables, we spin awkward but needles never skip off it
Rhythms we expressin' similar to our ancestors
It'll answer your questions if you understand the message
From the days of the slave topics, to the new age of prophets
As heavy as hip-hop is, I'm always ready to drop it
From the mind which is one of Allah's best designs
And mines'll stand the test of time, when I rhyme

[Hook x2]
The 18th Letter, the prophecy professor
I stay clever, long as the planet stay together
Bring up praise from Mecca, make a phrase for the better
In new days to remember, always and forever

[Outro]
The R, baby

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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