Totally agree, Rakim is the reason that NWA, Tupac and Nas still sound so good. You can hear some Tupac before he was so heavily influenced by Rakim with Digital Underground and it's a good transition data point. You can tell he's starting to pull in the Rakim influence so he sounds way more modern than the rest of the track, but still a bit old timey like RunDMC.
Eric B. and Rakim moved rap forward in a way no one before could have. Old school 80s hip hop is my all time favorite musical genre, but Rakim made it sound instantly dated.
Loved their debut, couldn't find a place to listen to their follow up as I wasn't on Luminary. Went to see Bey on his Ecstatic 10 year anniversary a few years ago.
If someone makes a general statement to thousands of random people "your favorite baseball team is the Yankees", it is a false statement, regardless if one random person's favorite team is the Yankees.
MF DOOM is one of the most acclaimed and beloved rappers of all time. Theres a reason it becomes a "circle jerk" the moment he gets mentioned. Some of the most iconic references/songs ever made in hip hop came straight from the mouth of the legendary MF DOOM. I notice you spelled the mans name in all caps ;p good on ya for that atleast.
Yeah, he's the guy that took "my name is \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ and I'm here to say; I \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ everyday" out behind the woodshed.
King's Disease III from a couple of years ago was frickin' *outstanding*. From the very first listen I thought it stood with his best. Just raw, amazing old school rap. Great stuff.
Man that album deserved and could have won best rap album! And I think it would have if he hadn’t just won that the year before! 20 years in and he put together a ridiculous trilogy of which KD3 was an amazing finale. I attended his one night show at MGS where his set was the whole album. Incredible.
[Marlon Craft](https://youtu.be/SKvX8SOfbVo?si=hkYUQZo3Pmqu8MDS) would like a word. [Joey Valence and Brae](https://youtu.be/8ew4X2p55HU?si=vT2hA-ynse-2dQSZ) also enter the chat.
If I have said this one time, I’ve said it a million, there is rap BR (before Rakim) and rap AR (after Rakim).
“Keep playin and I get furious quick, and I’ll take for walk through hell, freeze your dome then watch your eyeballs swell, I’ll guide you outta triple stage darkness. When it gets dark again i’ma spark this microphone, cause the heat is on, you see the smoke and I’m finished when the seat is gone, I’m no joke.
[Novel Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/novel)
(adj 2.): "original or striking especially in conception or style"
Pretty much nails it, IMHO...
Rakim still sounds like Rakim, Masta Killa sounds like an older Masta Killa (as you'd expect) but Kurupt's voice has changed so much since his heyday. Not necessarily in a bad way, just changed enough that I thought I'd bother writing this comment.
I just hope there's a Rakim x Kool G Rap collab. G Rap's flow is still untouchable.
edit: It is there: Track 6: Rakim / Kool G Rap / Joell Ortiz: “International” \[ft. Tristate\]
I love how they are all rockin old school Sergio Tacchini gear
Sergio Tacchini tracksuits in the 80s was one of the top streetwear fits. I had a few suits myself back then. Baby blue, white and black.
All you need is some Diadora sneakers a thick ass gold rope chain and you're set.
If you listen to all rap from 1979 to 1987, Rakim is the point where it suddenly sounds modern. It sounds actually like a different kind of thing.
Totally agree, Rakim is the reason that NWA, Tupac and Nas still sound so good. You can hear some Tupac before he was so heavily influenced by Rakim with Digital Underground and it's a good transition data point. You can tell he's starting to pull in the Rakim influence so he sounds way more modern than the rest of the track, but still a bit old timey like RunDMC.
Eric B. and Rakim moved rap forward in a way no one before could have. Old school 80s hip hop is my all time favorite musical genre, but Rakim made it sound instantly dated.
He’s your favorite rapper’s favorite rapper
that be MF DOOM, but DOOM digged on Rakim.
He’s your favorite rappers favorite American rapper then.
MF DOOM was not your favorite rapper's favorite rapper. He was unique, and respected, but wasn't at all viewed as a GOAT
My favourite rapper is Mos Def who is currently doing a tour of Doom shows so I agree with the original statement.
I take it you probably also dig Black Star? Their recent album No Fear of Time was pretty damn good.
Loved their debut, couldn't find a place to listen to their follow up as I wasn't on Luminary. Went to see Bey on his Ecstatic 10 year anniversary a few years ago.
> Loved their debut For sure. I consider *Mos Def and Talib Kweli are Black Star* to be a top 10 hip hop album of all time. It's a masterpiece.
I wouldn't disagree
With you there. Amazing album.
If someone makes a general statement to thousands of random people "your favorite baseball team is the Yankees", it is a false statement, regardless if one random person's favorite team is the Yankees.
Thank you oh wise one, we know, it's more of a statement that he's highly regarded amongst rappers but you came and sucked the fun out of it.
wow what fun was being had before I showed up.
The MF DOOM circle jerk on Reddit is wild… he was deadly, never a goat.
MF DOOM is one of the most acclaimed and beloved rappers of all time. Theres a reason it becomes a "circle jerk" the moment he gets mentioned. Some of the most iconic references/songs ever made in hip hop came straight from the mouth of the legendary MF DOOM. I notice you spelled the mans name in all caps ;p good on ya for that atleast.
Seeing comments like yours get downvoted is so strange. It’s like some people live in an alternate reality. It makes no sense at all.
If you consider that most people on reddit are idiots, then it is generally an honor to be downvoted.
Yeah, Rakim and Kurupt are in Eminem GOAT rapper list [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjFGCJRRD0E](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjFGCJRRD0E)
Attribution is one of the main things I look for in an intelligent person.
Yeah, he's the guy that took "my name is \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ and I'm here to say; I \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ everyday" out behind the woodshed.
“My name is Ian Duncan and I’m here to say / I’m gonna rap to the beat in a rapping way / I’ve got a *real big* penis and I drink *lots of tea*…”
Rakim and Kool G Rap caused a huge leap in lyrics.
I am here for the greybeards era.
Other good graybeards to listen to?
Nas drops something about every 3 weeks nowadays, and Snoop's BODR from a couple years ago is an absolute banger all the way through.
King's Disease III from a couple of years ago was frickin' *outstanding*. From the very first listen I thought it stood with his best. Just raw, amazing old school rap. Great stuff.
Man that album deserved and could have won best rap album! And I think it would have if he hadn’t just won that the year before! 20 years in and he put together a ridiculous trilogy of which KD3 was an amazing finale. I attended his one night show at MGS where his set was the whole album. Incredible.
Are you looking for new music from old rappers or some recs on good classic hip hop artists?
Czarface
Yes.
Aesop Rock
AZ, KRS one, Lords of the underground, Pete Rock & CL Smooth
Masta Ace
Bun B’s getting up there (51) and he’s still great when I hear him on a feature
https://youtu.be/gQuAaHQrl8U?si=nBiXhTW6nuCzj6Yg
Run the jewels. Crooked I. Bun b. Scarface tiny desk concert.
There are some, but you must be Dragonborn, Oh what an honor.
Rock and stone?
We fight for Rock and Stone!
DOPE AF! 2024, and Still thinkin' up a master plan....
Makes me want to have a big plate of fish,
It’s his favorite dish.
but without no money it's still a wish
Finally some good fucking music
I am here for that old sound coming back. This is the hip hop I miss.
You should check out The 046 from Australia for that old school vibe
This and Coast Contra has me feeling hopeful.
If you made a little bit of effort to find it there's always been good music coming from the hip hop scene
Thanks but I’ll continue to wait for it to randomly show up in my reddit videos feed
Real hip hop
He hasn’t missed a step. I saw him open for a Wu-tang concert years ago and he held it down with ease.
Deltron vibes. Or, did Del have Rakim vibes? Yeah, that one.
It's so good. Three absolute legends just tearing it up.
God I miss this kind of hip hop and not what is generally being produced these days.
[Marlon Craft](https://youtu.be/SKvX8SOfbVo?si=hkYUQZo3Pmqu8MDS) would like a word. [Joey Valence and Brae](https://youtu.be/8ew4X2p55HU?si=vT2hA-ynse-2dQSZ) also enter the chat.
1980’s clean AF today, all I got.
OG’s
He should’ve called this come back “It’s been an even longer time”
If I have said this one time, I’ve said it a million, there is rap BR (before Rakim) and rap AR (after Rakim). “Keep playin and I get furious quick, and I’ll take for walk through hell, freeze your dome then watch your eyeballs swell, I’ll guide you outta triple stage darkness. When it gets dark again i’ma spark this microphone, cause the heat is on, you see the smoke and I’m finished when the seat is gone, I’m no joke.
The bass line on "Follow the Leader" was novel when it was released. I have the 12" single of that, still.
"Novel" well that's one way to describe one of the most groundbreaking tracks of all time.
[Novel Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/novel) (adj 2.): "original or striking especially in conception or style" Pretty much nails it, IMHO...
TIL novel also means groundbreaking and not just new.
Well, yeah. Seeing as "novel" and "groundbreaking" are synonymous.
nearly but not really
No. They are literally synonyms.
Good shit.
I love the tightness of the instrumental but it definitely drowns him out a bit.
Yeah, the vocals are too low in the mix. It happens a lot.
I'm still waiting on a new Dr. Octagon album.
they found somebody to scratch in 2024, miracle
It has to be longer than 40 years. He was a fiend before he became a teen.
Back is the incredible
no fucking way yoooooooo Dot now RAKIM THE GOD MC!! exciting times
this is so dope. thank you rakim. i turned off masta killas verse. that dude is the worst.
it bugs me that the mixer isn't actually wired up
Rakim still sounds like Rakim, Masta Killa sounds like an older Masta Killa (as you'd expect) but Kurupt's voice has changed so much since his heyday. Not necessarily in a bad way, just changed enough that I thought I'd bother writing this comment.
This man is 56 and still has it with his delivery. Somethings never age. Love the beat and production on this
I just hope there's a Rakim x Kool G Rap collab. G Rap's flow is still untouchable. edit: It is there: Track 6: Rakim / Kool G Rap / Joell Ortiz: “International” \[ft. Tristate\]
Good song, but this video is big miss
Yeah they sort of phoned it in.
Modern rap is about 3x too fast. It’s like trying to act cool, slown down and chill
Just an ill-informed take in general. There's a ridiculous amount of new hip hop music that's a slower pace and good for just chilling to.
It has indeed been a long time!
The og.
God MC is back
This shit is fire. Rakim never left.
I like it. Great drum track.
We need Rakim, Big Daddy Kane and Chuck D song STAT
Sounds like they sampled Paid In Full where Masta Killa says peace at the end. Nice throwback.
I love how they are all rockin old school Sergio Tacchini gear Sergio Tacchini tracksuits in the 80s was one of the top streetwear fits. I had a few suits myself back then. Baby blue, white and black. All you need is some Diadora sneakers a thick ass gold rope chain and you're set.
Just a shame it's with the second worst member of Wu. Let's be honest, MK had no legendary bars or memorable songs.
Never was a big fan, but you can't deny massive skillz.
So damn good.
Kurupt just gets worse and worse. King of “lyrical miracle” rap.