Rakim

Released: November 30, 1999

Songwriter: Eric B. DJ Premier Rakim

Producer: DJ Premier

[Produced by DJ Premier]

[Intro]
Yeah, it's the God, Rakim
Word up, I'm blazin' this out to all my comrades, ya know I mean?
From the slums of New York, to the gutters all over the world
This is for y'all

[Verse 1]
Through my travels, I try to take righteous steps
Because right or left could mean life or death
No matter how trife it get, my sights is set
But it's twice the threat when the nights is death
My mental windows refuse to close, they get exposed
To the neighborhood info where the poison wind blows
A deadly plague spreadin' negativity, viciously
Unto every city be in ghetto misery
Don't let it get to me, the writer be left to die
But it get mesmerize if it catch your eye
Shine's enormous, from jewellery, vehicles and garments
But it's torment, jealousy, drug wars or warrents
Tallyin', slowly turnin' into barbarians
More scary when the whole boulevard's carryin'
Livin' in the world of sin, my ghetto girls and men
Waitin' for the world to end

[Hook]
"Tryin' to paint a perfect picture and excel"
"In case you didn't know"
"Never movin' backwards"
"Complicated"
"Know what I mean?"
"Tryin' to paint a perfect picture and excel"
"In case you didn't know"
"Never movin' backwards"
"Complicated"
"Know what I mean?"

[Verse 2]
I see destruction, even little kids trust none
They bust guns, that's what they get a rush from
When I see 'em, we build and have a real discussion
"Yo Ra, what's the jewel of the day?" "What up, son?"
"You got ambition?" Shorty said, "Man, listen
I got demands for livin', can't stand division
Make grands on my mission, 'til everythin' glisten
Women in the Expedition, no plans for prison
In a vision the city get, two milleni, G
Sittin' in my embassy, sippin' Hennesy
Gettin' high, and watch life pass me by"
So I asked him why, with a fast reply
He said, "I'm livin' just to die without any feelings
So I wait here for my maker 'til it's time to go
With this dime I know, with all of her girls and all of my men
Waitin' for the world to end"

[Hook]
"Tryin' to paint a perfect picture and excel"
"In case you didn't know"
"Never movin' backwards"
"Complicated"
"Know what I mean?"
"Tryin' to paint a perfect picture and excel"
"In case you didn't know"
"Never movin' backwards"
"Complicated"

[Verse 3]
Shorty was taught to keep his head to the sky, and never cry
But the streets left him to die, now it's death in his eye
Livin' in sin'll give men a sinister grin
From the beginnin' to end, in it to win
Evil rebels, doin' what we do in the ghetto
Thinkin' if we was thorough we could deceive the devil
You can't win, your life'll end, try again
Shorty said, "Why we born again to die again?"
That's what I said when I realized I had a gift
To uplift and be one of Allah's advocates
Teach the youth and speak the truth
Show 'em what peace can do when they'll reach for you
And my reward won't be jewels or cheese, it's even better
I can be one of the greatest MC's ever
If I tell 'em they intelligent women and great men
And live, stop waitin' for the world to end

[Hook]
"Tryin' to paint a perfect picture and excel"
"In case you didn't know"
"Never movin' backwards"
"Complicated"
"Know what I mean?"
"I'm ragin', rippin' up the stage an'
Don't it sound amazin', know what I mean?"
"Don't it sound amazin', know what I mean?"
"Rakim"

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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