Rakim
released four influential albums in partnership with Eric B that have accorded
him the status of one of rap's greatest figureheads. His complex, cross-referencing
lyrics and relaxed delivery style inspired a new generation of hip-hop artists
in the 90s, including the hugely successful Wu-Tang Clan, Nas and Dr. Dre. Following
the duo's split in 1992, Rakim worked on the soundtrack to Gunmen before disappearing
into seclusion for five years. He returned in 1997 with the long-awaited The
18th Letter, a smooth soulful album that earned praise for Rakim's imaginative
and intelligent rhyming on tracks such as "The 18th Letter" ("Nobody's
been this long-awaited since Jesus/I heard the word on the street is/I'm still
one of the deepest on the mike since Adidas") and "The Mystery (Who
Is God)". The album also came with a greatest hits bonus CD, The Book Of
Life, a compelling selection of the music which made Rakim the legendary figure
he is today. His sophomore set, The Master, was released in November 1999. Falling
short of both his work with Eric B and The 18th Letter, the album failed to
distinguish itself from any other hip-hop album released in the late 90s, which,
for a MC of Rakim's quality, was little short of a crime.
Infomation
provided by
MTV
