Rakim

Source:

 African American National Biography

Rakim

(28 Jan. 1968– ),

rapper, producer, and hip-hop pioneer, was born William Michael Griffin Jr. in Wyandanch, New York, the son of an artistically inclined father, William Michael Griffin Sr., and a mother (name unknown) who sang jazz and opera. His aunt, Ruth Brown, was an award-winning rhythm and blues singer and actress. Not unlike his musically oriented family, siblings included, Griffin Jr. began studying music composition, saxophone, and drums in his youth. Using the alias Kid Wizard, he began his foray into rap as a hobby, hanging with the Love Brother Crew, deejaying and mastering production boards. Griffin Jr. was a gifted high school athlete with aspirations to play quarterback at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. At age sixteen he joined The Nation of Gods and Earths, an organization founded by Clarence 13X, also referred to as the Five-Percent Nation, and adopted the name Rakim Allah.

Rakim set new standards for MC techniques. Most notably he pioneered the use of internal rhymes, which occur in the middle of lines as opposed to the end. Until then MCs had improvised simplistic rhymes; now Rakim demonstrated the value of composing lyrics. He was also popularized for his introduction of the use of metaphors with multiple meaning in rhymes. Rakim's smooth syncopation of lyrics is evidence of his early exposure to jazz, music studies, and poetry. In 1985 the WBLS radio disc jockey Eric B. (Eric Barrier) approached Rakim to rhyme over his beats composed of sampled music. In 1986 they recorded Eric B. Is President and in the same year it was released on the independent Harlem-based record label Zakia with My Melody on the flipside. These records earned the duo, Eric B. & Rakim, a record deal with Island Records subsidiary 4th & B'way. In 1987 their album Paid in Full was released to critical acclaim. It certified gold in 1987 and platinum in 1995. Paid in Full was influential in the evolution of hip-hop and has been called a classic. In 1988 Eric B. & Rakim released the album Follow the Leader, which certified gold after reaching Top Ten that same year. The rap duo achieved cross-over recognition when they teamed with Jody Watley on her Top Ten Pop Single, “Friends,” in 1989. In 1990 a third album, Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em was released and certified gold the same year. Amid legal disputes with Eric B. and their label MCA over royalties and contracts, Don't Sweat the Technique was released in 1992. Later that same year the duo disbanded and Rakim sought a solo career despite Eric B.'s refusal to sign a formal release.

Rakim performed sporadically and appeared as “guest” on recordings from 1992 until November 1997 when finally, The 18th Letter, his highly anticipated debut album was released in two versions; one included an Eric B. & Rakim greatest hits CD entitled Book of Life. He collaborated with DJ Premiere and Pete Rock to produce the certified gold album tracks that appealed to fans across generations and received rave reviews. Also that year, he performed with Mobb Deep on the soundtrack for Hoodlum and the following year contributed a song to The Rugrats Movie.

The Master was released in 1999, and again Rakim received praise for his solo efforts. In 2000 Rakim signed with Aftermath Entertainment, founded by the rap producer Dr. Dre (Andre Young), noted for his work with N.W.A., Snoop Dogg, and Eminem, to create an album tentatively named, Oh My God. During his tenure with Aftermath, Rakim appeared as a guest on several Dr. Dre–produced projects including Addictive with Truth Hurts, The Watcher Part 2 with Jay Z, and the soundtrack for Eminem's 8 Mile. Creative differences with Dr. Dre stifled the progression of Rakim's hopeful third solo release; in 2003 he left the label and signed with Dream Works Records. Dream Works was soon discontinued, but that did not stop Rakim. He performed on songs with Timbaland & Magoo, Busta Rhymes, and Juelz Santana. He was featured in a commercial for All-Pro Football 2K8 and was honored by the iconic MTV with the title “Greatest Hip Hop Album of All Time” for Paid in Full and ranked number four on their list of “The Greatest MCs of All Time.”

In November 2009 Rakim released his third solo album, The Seventh Seal. The album's fourteen tracks feature production by notable hip-hop artists and a guest appearance from his daughter, Destiny.

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