Rakim is a renowned Rapper in the Golden age hip hop days. His actual name is William Michael Griffin Jr. The greatest MCs is one half of the famed Golden age Hip Hop Duet, Eric B. & Rakim. The greatest MCs is frequently regarded among the most talented MCs ever. His record, Paid in full, was regarded as the greatest Hip Hop record by MTV in 2006. He was rated number 4 on the MTVs list of the best MCs ever. Steve Huey of Allmusic said that, Rakim is near-universally recognized among the best MCs possibly the finest of all time within the hip hop community. The reference magazine named him #1 on their list of the Greatest lyricists ever. He could be the nephew of the famed R&B vocalist, Ruth Brown. He gratified in the Hip Hop arena at age 18. He was earlier known as Child Guru. He converted to Islam at age sixteen and embraced the name, Rakim Allah. The single was heard by whoever owns Island records and they were immediately signed.
In 1987, the Duo released their first record, Paid in full, and it went to become among the most powerful hip hop record ever. The record reached a reasonable Success and sold more than five hundred thousand copies. It was held gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. s Microphone Fiend, Lyrics of Fury, with no Competition. were the well-known tracks of the record. It was lyrically more coherent compared to previous records by the duet. It received rave reviews from the critics because of its thick lyrics. Dont Sweat the Technique was the last record declared by the infamous Duet in 1992. It turned out to be a modest hit. The duet split due to legal and private problems then.
Rakim was known for his laid back, relaxed yet strong lyrics. The greatest MCs has been mentioned as an inspiration by many rappers including Eminem, Tupac, Nas, Kool G. Rap, Jay Z, Biggie and Kendrick Lamar. His velvet smooth flow, internally complicated rhymes and strong lyrics make him one of the greatest rappers ever. Rakims subject matter generally contained, own rapping abilities and Islamic religion.
He worked with Dr. Dre as well for a while but they split because of creative differences. About his record The Seventh Seal, Rakim once said, he number 7 has lots of value. There are seven continents, seven seas. The Seventh Seal deals with that and additionally some disclosures in the Bible. By me naming my record that, Im using it metaphorically in hip hop. Im expecting to kill the old state of hip hop and begin with the new. But Islam, Judaism, Christianityall have a variation of exactly the same occasions. After the Apocalypse, God rises in the ashes to recreate the Realm, choosing just the best components from days gone by together. When you examine Hip Hop, I wish to accomplish that: to spit fire and take our greatest from the ashes to construct our realm; to understand all the regional styles, aware lyrics, the tracks, underground, mainstream, the way we handle each other. Lose the trash and reconstruct our scene. Ive always attempted to fit consciousness and spirituality within my records, interpreting the writings of cultures and faiths and how they apply to life today.
To be true, being the game has changed so substantially, you come hoping to find the best and anticipating the worst. To my surprise, theres lots of love out here for me. What was once simple became perplexed and difficult, which brings us back to the mystic issue, who’s God? Add seven more brothers who believe they could rhyme. Letting off ammo in every way, Allah is my only protection. But wait a minute, Saddam Hussein begs the same.
Rapper, Record producer, Singer-songwriter, Composer
Nationality
United States of America
Children
Jabar Griffin
Parents
William Griffin Sr.
Siblings
Steve Griffin
Nicknames
William Griffin , The Alpha and Omega of Hip-Hop , Rakim Allah , The R. , The God MC , Ra , R.A.K.I.M. , The Master , The God Emcee , The God
Awards
BET Hip Hop Awards I Am Hip-Hop Icon Award
Music Groups
Eric B. & Rakim
Nominations
VGX Award for Best Song in a Game
Movies
Chuck D's Hip Hop Hall of Fame
Star Sign
Aquarius
#
Fact
1
Was once signed to Dr. Dre's Aftermath label, but due to creative differences no album came about.
2
Has consistently been called one of the greatest MCs of all time, the God MC, by the likes of Nas, Jay Z, '50 cent', Busta Rhymes, Raekwon, Ghostface Killah and others. In the late 1980s he added a complex flow and fluid delivery to the art of rhyming that many said was ahead of its time.
Converted to Faradian (as in W.D. Fard, Elijah Muhammad, the Nation of Islam, and the Nation of Gods and Earths) Islam at age 16, taking the Godly name of Rakim Allah. His lyrics often contain references to the Five Percenters and its Universal Language. Any coincidence between the Nation of Gods and Earths and traditional Islam is accidental, as this form of Islam, which is actually a social movement instead of a faith, a bacronym for I-Self Lord and Master, is a made-up religion that only has Islamic elements in it.
writer: "Juice Know The Ledge" - as William Griffin
Fresh Dressed
2015
Documentary writer: "Move The Crowd"
Top Five
2014
performer: "When I B On tha Mic"
EA Sports UFC
2014
Video Game performer: "Guilty All the Same" / writer: "Guilty All the Same"
Battle of the Year
2013
writer: "Know the Ledge" - as William Griffin
Parenthood
2012
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Something from Nothing: The Art of Rap
2012
Documentary performer: "Follow The Leader", "The 18th Letter Always And Forever" / writer: "Follow The Leader", "The 18th Letter Always And Forever", "My Melody" / writer: "Microphone Fiend" - as William Griffin
The Lincoln Lawyer
2011
writer: "Don't Sweat the Technique" - as William Griffin
Limitless
2011/I
writer: "Don't Sweat The Technique" - as William Griffin
Dance Central
2010
Video Game writer: "Don't Sweat The Technique" - as William Griffin
Cop Out
2010
writer: "Follow the Leader" - as William Griffin
Dance Flick
2009
writer: "Know the Ledge Juice" - as William Griffin
Fish Tank
2009
writer: "Juice Know the Ledge", "Don't Sweat the Technique" - as William D. Griffin
Center Stage: Turn It Up
2008
writer: "Don't Sweat" - as William Griffith
Step Up 2: The Streets
2008
writer: "Money in the Bank" - as William Griffin
Skate.
2007
Video Game performer: "Juice Know the Ledge" / writer: "Juice Know the Ledge"
So You Think You Can Dance
2005
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
2004
Video Game performer: "I Know You Got Soul"
Tony Hawk's Underground 2
2004
Video Game writer: "Soul Brother #1" - as William Griffin
Old School
2003
writer: "Papered Up" - as William Griffin
Brown Sugar
2002
writer: "Paid in Full 7 Minutes of Madness Remix" - as William Griffin
Paid in Full
2002
writer: "Paid in Full" - as William Griffin
The Wash
2001
writer: "I Aint No Joke" - as William Griffin
Life as a House
2001
writer: "Rearranged" - as William Griffin
Freddy Got Fingered
2001
writer: "Microphone Fiend" - as William Griffin
Scratch
2001
Documentary writer: "Know the Ledge Juice", "Microphone Fiend" - as William Griffin
High Fidelity
2000
writer: "Juice Know the Ledge", "What's On Your Mind" - as William Griffin
Boiler Room
2000
performer: "New York Ya Out There" / writer: "New York Ya Out There"
American Psycho
2000
writer: "Paid In Full Coldcut Remix" - as W. Griffin
The Rugrats Movie
1998
performer: "Take the Train" / writer: "Take the Train"
The Replacement Killers
1998
writer: "Makes Me Wanna Die"
Tommy Boy
1995
as William Griffin, "I Love It Loud Injected Mix"
CB4
1993
writer: "Paid in Full" - as William Griffin
Juice
1992
producer: "Juice Know the Ledge" / writer: "Juice Know the Ledge" - as William Griffin
House Party 2
1991
writer: "What's On Your Mind" - as William Griffin
House Party
1990
writer: "Run 4 Cover" - as W. Griffin
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
From Scratch: The Birth of Hip Hop
2016
Documentary executive producer / producer
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Off-Time
post-production
Mack Griffin
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
Down with the Kings
2008
Short special musical thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Hip-Hop Evolution
2016
TV Mini-Series documentary
Himself
The Eighties
2016
TV Mini-Series documentary
Himself
Hip-Hop Evolution
2016
Documentary
Himself
What Difference Does It Make? A Film About Making Music
Just saw him in Philly a couple a weeks ago. He is truly the best ever.