The rapper Rakim referred to as “most underrated”

Rakim is a highly-respected emcee and made an indelible mark on hip-hop alongside Eric B along with his debut album Paid In Full. As a part of a duo, the 2 modified hip-hop for the higher and superior the tradition in a extremely important method.

Rakim is extensively thought of a lyrical pioneer, and when Paid In Full was released, it modified the course of lyricism in hip-hop. Rakim made it extra advanced, broke the mould of the fundamental rhyme schemes and set a precedent for MCs to return. 

With Eric B by his aspect, the singles Rakim launched had been catchy, with excellent manufacturing matching the improbable and ground-breaking lyricism. Following the discharge of their LP, all over the East Coast, children rising up tried to mimic Rakim.

Whereas he hasn’t launched new materials in over a decade, the influence of his early work with Eric B modified the course of historical past, and it nonetheless stands up all these years later. That stated, it’s all the time fascinating to listen to a lyricist title their favorite artists.

In an interview with rap veteran Kxng Crooked I on his legendary Criminal’s Nook podcast, Rakim (actual title William Griffin) was requested who he considers to be the highest 5 rappers ever, to which he responded, “Gotta start from the beginning cause without them I would not be who I am. That’s Melle Mel, Kool Moe Dee, Grandmaster Caz. That’s old school. And then you got Eminem, one of my favourite MCs, Jay-Z, another my favourite and a few more cats. And one of the most underrated MCs is Black Thought.”

Griffin has all the time professed his love for Jay-Z and, in an interview with HipHopDX, expressed, “Big Ups to Jay. If he’s living life by those lyrics, he’s probably doing it better than anyone out there. It’s a blessing to hear accolades and a blessing to give them back.”

He concluded, “Elevation and expansion have always been at the core of Hip Hop, the core to any art form and a blueprint for personal growth, so understand that our history and universal consciousness is the foundation that born you, but build your own castle on top of it.”

You may watch Rakim on Criminal’s Nook within the video beneath.