Rakim
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Rakim is one of the underground hip-hop rappers. He is known for his lyrics of Islamic faith. He released his first solo album The 18th Letter.
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About
Early Life
Hip hop artist Rakim (William Griffin, Jr.) was born on January 28, 1968 in Long Island, New York. He is the nephew of Ruth Brown, an RnB legend. At the age of 16 years old, he changed his religion to Muslim and adopted the name Rakim Allah.
Early Career
In 1985, Rakim got acquainted with DJ Eric B. The two started working together and released a single “Eric B. Is President” the following year. The duo made a name for them selves and released more independent singles like “Pain in Full” and “I Ain’t No Joke”. They released four albums together: Paid in Full in 1987, Follow the Leader in 1988, Let the Rhythm Hit ‘Em in 1990 and Don’t Sweat the Technique in 1992. The last two albums were not that successful. The two stopped recording together and decided to have solo careers.
Solo Career
In 1993, Rakim released his solo-debut single, “Heat It Up”, which was included in the soundtrack of the film Gunmen. After a courtroom battle with MCA Records, Rakim switched to Universal Records in 1997. Later that year, he released his solo-debut album, The 18th Letter. It went straight to #4 on the album charts and received great reviews. In 1999, Rakim’s follow-up album, The Master, was issued. It was not as successful as the previous album.
In 2001, the rapper signed in with Aftermath Label built by Dr. Dre. They started working on the next album, Oh My God, to be released early the next year.
Chart Toppers
| Year | Title | Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | Hot Rap Singles | Album |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Heat It Up | 92 | 24 | The Master |
| 2000 | When I B On Tha Mic | 20 | The Master |
News
Tours & Concerts
No tours and concerts for this artist.
Announcements
Discography
Albums
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Singles
| Year | Single | Label | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Heat It Up | MCA | The Master |
| 1998 | Stay a Little While | MCA International | The 18th Letter |
| 2000 | When I B On Tha Mic | Uptown | The Master |
Compilations & Live Releases
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Other artists
Similar artists
Influences
Contemporaries
Trivia
- He joined the Nation of Gods and Earths with the name Rakim Allah, in 1984.
- He was injured in a car collision in 2004. He scratched his face and suffered a swollen knee.
- He was converted to Faradian as in W.D. Fard, Elijah Muhammad.
Reviews
The new rappers of today should thank Rakim. When you listen to other rappers like Eminem, B.I.G. and Jay-Z listen closely. The rhymes they rap came him. Rakim together with Eric B. are at the top of the rap game. Rakim is original. -Mimi 10:20, 27 April 2007 (PST)
External Links
Categories: Artist | Rap | Hip-Hop
