Actually he cursed on one song with one word. On Mahogany he said, "She kissed me slow but you know how far a kiss can go,,, fuck around and miss the show"
Rakim is the GOAT. He is THE greatest rapper to ever do it. He singlehandedly changed the way rappers flowed. Before he came along, everyone was rapping like Run-DMC or the Fat Boys. But it wasn't just the flow. His lyricism was head and shoulders above everyone else. That's why 35 years later, his bars still stand the test of time, because he was ahead of his time.
@@klynch572 Actually he is. There's not another rapper that embodied the mentality, attitude and street style more than him...and that's before getting into the technicalities of his flow. Not only that but his voice is iconic. One of the reasons I never even considered buying anything from Eminem was his voice. I don't like anyone I don't wanna sound like.
Congratulations young men. You just had your first taste of real Hip Hop. Nothing like that crap that these record executives are pushing on y'all today. What you are being offered today was planned for you years ago. Learn from Rakim and others from that era and experience Hip Hop before it was corrupted becoming what has now been dumped on your generation. Other note worthy artists for you to explore; LL Cool J, Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, Public Enemy, Boogie Down Productions, just to get you started.
At 51 years of age, it does my heart good to see you guys appreciating the old school and not only that, making the proper connections and assessments about it. Keep it going, you have a fan!
It's actually sad that they are this old and this is the first they heard this song. My sons were exposed to this in THE WOMB. Hip Hop, reggae and Jordan....in that order. It's like me first hearing AL Green, Stevie Wonder, E,W&F, George Clinton and all the rest of the old school music my parents grew up on in my 20's. I'd get laughed at. I don't know where or how these kats grew up but they were sheltered...
@@sinisterballer2592 I hear you, but you gotta give these cats credit for making an effort to get caught up and actually have a genuine respect and appreciation for music they never knew existed
He is the GOAT, to ever walk the earth. Hailed from Long Island NY. He made his break in 86. He did something no other MC done before. Not one curse out of his mouth. Able to carry all of his albums in his early years without any help from other MC's. The first to collaborate with an R and B singer on a single. The most sampled voice in Music. I can go one. You young men just experienced the moves of a God.
@@sinisterballer2592 that's true, but many of those rappers weren't around anymore once cursing became a popular thing. Ra never cursed in that popular period.
The fact that these cats acting like they ain’t not heard the song is a fact and testament to no creativity existing amongst the lines of social media this sh slow your brain down people it’s why I don’t blog it’s has good aspects but it’s more damaging
I’m young myself, we all consider him that tbh and we do play him. Maybe not just when we around girls cuz we tryna set the mood. Can’t really do that with lyrical music.
MY BROTHER, I'M 51, AN ITS KILLIN ME THAT THESE YUNG BOYS AREN'T BEING BROUGHT UP RIGHT!! I'M SHOCKED THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR YUNG 20'S THAT THESE BOYS NEVER HEARD "I AIN'T NO JOKE!!" THIS IS MY ALL TIME FAVORITE RAP SONG, AN THEY JUS NOT BEIN RAISED RIGHT BY THESE SINGLE MOMS, OR WHOEVER RAISING THESE KIDS THESE DAYS MAN!! SHIT IS A TRAVESTY TO ME MAN!! THESE LIL ONES, I GUESS THEY THINK ALL THIS RAP SHIT STARTED WIT LIL BABY, AND MIGOS, FUTURE, AN KENDRICK!! THEY DONT GET HOW SERIOUS THIS RAP SHIT WAS BK IN DA DAY, WHEN U COULDNT SEE THIS RAP SHIT ON TV, U HAD TO GO TO THE PARKS AN PARTIES WHERE MFERS WAS PLAYIN THE SHIT, CUZ RADIO AN TV WASNT PLAYIN IT!! AN THEN WHEN ERIC B AN RAKIM DROPPED THEY JUST CHANGED THE GAME ALTOGETHER BRUH!! THESE KIDS DONT GET IT THO!
I'm 51 and been into Hip Hop since it's birth. You young cats need to know that Rakim was the O.G. (Original GOAT) and still is. Keep expanding your knowledge my Brothers. ✌
Same here, since we the same age, I've been around since the birth of it as well and to be honest with you I really hope that the young people really expand the minds and understand what hip hop is all about and then demand for better today. Our generation of rap compared to today's is night and day brother
im 44, and white, but I have been listening for EVER.. I agree with you also.. And one other people still sleep on and UNDERRATED is KRS-One... (still my #1 and fav from BDP.).. I worked with Eric B in the studio a few times. and brand nubians.. The rap back in the day from today is REAL HIP HOP... Back in the day it was about Hip hop as a culture, the graffiti, the breakin, the dj, raping bars and lyrics, to the life style... now these people made it more about flashing and money.. no skill and dont know how it started and DO NOT give respect to the originals.. so sad
I was a nerdy white girl in the 80s, working in a record store in Glendale, Arizona. I remember the seismic shift in rap music that occurred when this album dropped. I remember thinking at the time, "This isn't just a novelty genre anymore. This is a paradigm shift." And it makes me smile so much to see another generation discover Eric B. and Rakim, and seeing that rapt attention to what E was putting down. He was no joke.
It's really interesting that you felt that, considering young black men were being told they were really gods walking on earth and then the lure of crack money came and changed the energy .
You actually thought that DEEPLY in the 80's as a"NERDY"white girl?."It's wasn't a novelty anymore" and you saw a"seismic paradigm SHIFT(it was MORE than 1 in the hip hop landscape)..I graduated in 86 and we were hearing a NEW flow,word concept,jazz influenced hip hop from The R to the K.I.M. NOT a seismic paradigm shift as you so romanticize.Public Enemy,Ice Cube,NWA, 2 Live Cru( these groups actually fought and brought light about police corruption and the govt oppression) and lead movement in our collective black conscious) also Nas was our 1st seismic SHIFTS they were shaking up things like a snow globe.Your memory sounds epic and very romantic as a nerdy yt girl but we were LIVING these realities.P.E even caused and BOYCOTTED in your state of Arizona about MLK day!..So you are romanticizing thru rose colored glass memories but it's respected tho and thank you for your support and love for the ART OF HIP HOP!..😉👍
I get what you are saying but it wasn't a novelty genre to us growing up with this music since the beginning. It was what we created, innovated, danced to and listened to. We always knew it wasn't a novelty and that it would stand the test of time.
those of us who know real rap/hip hop, know that Rakim is ALWAYS mentioned in top 5 if not first ( for me he is #1). Glad yall got put on and can appreciate this legend! check out more of his flow on Microphone Fiend, Know The Ledge, In the Ghetto and one of my faves, As The Rhyme Goes On
Yeah, of coarse.. too a lot of washed up Og’s and drunkard grandma’s, he’s their #1.. do you still reminisce? Old school Sunday? You use to ride around drinking E&J and Ole’ E, listening to Rakim. The good old days, huh?
Rakim is thee quintessential definition of what an M.C. is supposed to be...his flow, lyrics, look and attitude...he had it all...one of my top 5 rap M.C.'s of all time
Rakim is still considered the GOAT by most hip hop fans that was around from 86 to 00. He changed the way everyone rapped and is called the GOD MC by all respected emcees and hip hop heads. Listen to songs like In The Ghetto and Juice (Know The Ledge). This is the beginning. He gets way better. This video made my day fellas. Sidenote: That video was the first time the world was introduced to Flavor Flav, right before Public Enemy dropped their debut album.
You must do "Microphone Fiend" next. An absolute must. Rakim was the turning point for high level lyricism in Hip-Hop. Every great emcee of at least the last 30 years has Rakim as a major influence on their list of influences. He gave birth to barz. 🔥🔥🔥
@@leobrad2199 Probably Rakim at his peak for me and possibly an all-time top 10 track. I'm from '91 so I wasn't actively around during his time, but he was a staple of my hip-hop education when I was a kid and Follow the Leader left one of the biggest impressions on me. That's peak Rakim and it was such a clear bridge between 80's and more evolved 90's hip-hop. Rakim or his lyrics are getting a tattoo on my body at some point in some form, he's been that important to me.
Eric B/Rakim album, "Paid In Full," (1987) is a timeless hip-hop classic. It's even been sampled by other rap artists over the years. Other rappers making cameo in this video: Flavor Flav, Chill Will, EPMD.
No question I posted then decided to read some comments, but no question, "Paid In Full" was always on my cassettes I'd make, then my CDs I'd make, then playlists I'd make for my iPod, etc. It's hip hop essential
Lots of legends from this period - Rakim, Big daddy kane, Slick rick, Chuck d, KRS1, Kool g rap, etc. And even people before that. Great to see younger heads, checking this stuff out.
Yeah you're right however, Rakim set the standard on how to intellectually break down a rhyme. No one did it the way he did it until after him. This is what separates him from the greats you mentioned.
Wrong! This todays "hip hop mumble wtf shit" is coldly calculated dumbing down of nations and lucrative buisness for private jails system across America and Europe, but that there is hip hop what it is meant to be, to send message to people and yought about life through poetic recitation( in the beginning of hip hop poetic recitation with blues/jazz band) not some mumbling like rtards today
@@Gnaritas42 obviously you no nothing about rap there was many white people involved in rap and most of the record sales was in white suburban areas and worldwide coming from the uk rap from the late 80's onwards was massive, now it commercialised crap 'rap' with no style or originality a total different genre
@@alexisonfire223 people said the same shit about hip hop back in the day. People didn't consider it music and older folks hated it, cussing and it was considered wack cause sampling was seen as stealing. Old head mentality
I am in my 50s and grew up in the South Bronx, the old school rappers from my day will blow out the rappers of today. Eric B’s I ain’t no joke and Paid in Full are some of the best rap songs ever. I can go on all day with the albums I had growing up. Kurtis Blow! Lol
I feel bad for anyone who didn't get to witness hip hop from the 80's to mid 90's. It was soooo many different artist. Everyone had their own style, their own flow. It was so many dope mc's.
Rakim is called the Godfather of rap! He is top tier lyricism. The pioneer. And look at when he did it. No one else was doing that. Your favorite rapper's favourite rapper lol
@@TBell-yi6xf You’re the first to mention Knowledge Reigns Supreme on this thread. This wasn’t about placement it was more about giving an MC his flowers who appears to be forgotten about in the group of Hip-Hop GOATS. Since you brought him up, KRS is my GOAT… Then KANE, then Rakim. Even Biggie said KRS was the greatest.
Rakim is considered one of the best ever and a GOAT to many from our generation. I'm 51 yrs old. You have to remember rap was about battling when it first came out. So rappers put out lyrics to be colder than the next MC or EMCEE as Rakim just stated in that song. Before Rakim. NO ONE had ever made rappers go home and rip up their entire notebooks of lyrics. He was the MJ of rap when he came out. He birth the necessity to come with that heat when you touch that microphone. He was the first artist ever studied by a university. He birthed everyone and everything that came after him. Cool G Rap, Nas, Jay Z, Biggie, on and on and on we're all fire b/c Rakim was "No A Joke." So it birthed the movement to be great with bars as MJ birthed the movement to be insanely great on the court. Rakim's hits are considered classics
I was today years old when I learned that Ra was studied by a University...wow! But then again, why not...he's the GOAT in my opinion. What he delivered was a science. Class is in session, young men! Listen and learn.
Rakim is the cement being poured into the foundation of the Rap Hall of Fame. Without him, who's to say where rap music would be. This video captures everything about the glorious 80s. I was there and wouldn't trade it for nothin. Respect
Check old interviews with all the rappers of the 90s, I bet very few, if any, didn’t mention Rakim as one of their biggest influences. He took rap from its infancy with the choppy cadences and borderline silly lyrical content and flipped the game on its head, started flowing and actually saying some real shit. One of the true fathers of hip hop. Got to see him live a few years ago, bucket list show.
Rakim was so ahead of his time. Rappers were doing the "dr. seuss, mother goose" simple flow until Ra came along. Multi syllabic rhymes with a serious tone. He's no joke.
Yes. And his levels of verbal complexity and depths of metaphysics encoded in his rhymes are all still way ahead to this day. Just check out his song "Mystery: Who is God".
@@preston9920 basic by today’s standards? I would say that there aren’t many rappers that can get on his level. From the flow, to lyrical content and vocal cadences and commandeering the crowd they’re not many that can compare.
This is what I grew up on, Rakim is definitely in my top 5, no question. His spot is solidified and he'll never fall out. Check out more of his stuff, Eric Sermon is a phenomenal DJ too. Just classic stuff man, miss this old school hip/hop.
Definitely a good feeling. I was around when Rakim, Run DMC, LL Cool J, Biz Markie, first came out. So, it's definitely a good feeling seeing this video
@@talesfromthehoodtv503 Yeah you're right, there are a lot of other Rakim songs between the late 80s and late 90s, jumped the gun a bit I guess. "When I B on Tha Mic" is just my favorite Rakim song, that's all
Fila was started by 2 Italian brothers in 1913! They took over the sports apparel world in 1973! In my day it was Fila, Diadora and Bally! Slick Rick rocked Bally and name checked them in his songs!!
I was 9-10 when this came out. What I time to be alive! I was in NYC at the time. You couldn't walk down the street without hearing this pumping from the jeeps, boom boxes or project windows. Rakim is and will always be on the Mt. Rushmore of MC's.
Rakim is still rapping. I saw him in Austin,Tx in the summer of 2022. He still go the skills and his voice is still strong. I was pleasantly surprised by his rap skills.
Rakim was the bridgeway to flow in hip hop. The way he connected words was different from anyone else at that time. Rappers before him mostly held on to the same formula. But Rakim changed the game with the flow and wordplay.
6:50 I hate that you missed the "...or you'll be one of those seven MCs!" line, a callback to a verse highly regarded as one of the hardest rap bars EVER from his song My Melody (also the cut that FIRST introduces the mic drop concept. Rakim's truely the GOAT.
Rakim single-handedly change the rap game he brought a new style that no other rappers were doing if you want to check out more of his stuff look up follow the leader and microphone fiend
The man has never said a word of profanity, disrespect to women, glorification of crime, violence or drug use in a single rap. Just pure artistry. Definitely the GOAT. He’s the Rembrandt of rap. The others are Warhol junk.
This is my favorite old school hip hop track. Rakim is in my top 5!! He played jazz trumpet when he was younger and patterned his rhymes after jazz rhythms unlike other rappers at the time. Rakim was certainly ahead of his time.
Rakim changed the game. He should rank up there with greatest ever! I am almost 54 and I wish rap was more like this than it is now. They had deep messages, life lessons and warnings.
I hear people pointing that out. But keep in mind there's nothing about cussing that will make you a good lyricist. If so,then Eazy E would be in most people's top 10.
Nothing like the 80s. Hip Hop was Hip Hop! Kids played in the parks , fire hydrants open with a wood plank to make a huge sprinkler. OGs made sure the kids were safe. They sold work but kept the fiends separate from the neighborhood! Glad y’all enjoyed and did this. Taking me back to my childhood!!! God bless y’all!
As a suburban 17yr old white guy from way back then I feel very blessed to have been around to see Public Enemy, LL Cool J, IceT and these guys. Everything hip hop coming out then was absolutely crushing. The directness and raw simplicity is perfect. I never got the chance to see Eric B and Rakim live and it’s always been a huge regret. Great to see you guys appreciate it for the same reasons
RUNDMC was the pinnacle of rap at their time.. they opened door for people like Rakim.. their style was what is was for the time... times changed please don't disregard their monumental contributions to Hip hop and rap..
It's so cool to see this generation enjoying the music I was brought up.. Coming from Harlem living thru the 80s & 90s was the best time when it came to hip hop going to the clubs and just enjoying life. I'm 52 and my playlist stays playing 80s n 90s not one curse and no gangster rap.. The beats was n still is on point. I'm proud I'm from that era and appreciate it very much. There's so many hip hoppers back in those says that's when Hip Hop was born..
To call yourself the microphone fiend is 🔥🔥🔥 the Paid in Full & Follow the Leader albums are a must have. Rakim is and will forever be talked about as one of the greatest to hold a mic in the hip hop genre
Rakim is the REAL G.O.A.T.! He was the one who changed rap from the Run DMC and LL Cool J era to being calm, cool, and very very lyrical. Listen to Let The Rhythm Hit'em AND MAKE SURE YOU PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO WHAT HE'S SAYING TOO.
Glad you all got to listen to the god MC. His lyrics are on another level none have ever come close to. His flow and his style cannot be messed with. Paid In Full, to me, is the greatest Hip Hop album ever made. To see him in concert in the 80s as a teenager, he made a massive impression even today as a 52-year-old man. I have every record he has put out over the years, and let's remember Eric B, the DJ. I could go on about the greatness of Rakim, but many people here have already said what I was going to say. My screen picture is the Paid in Full album on a T-shirt. For me, Rakim is the number 1 rapper, then KRS-1, with BDK at three. My top three have stayed the same since the 80s.
Rakim is a G.O.A.T. He is the first rapper in that era to spit a full 16 bars. Also he was a rapper who you wanted to listen to his whole record... and he mad you think about what he was saying in the song.
Family........Listen, it makes me soo happy to see you all enjoying our culture! 50 years in this life. I came up on this and was there since the begining of our journey in this life of HIP HOP. Breakdancing and the whole 9! Rakim has definately one of the PUREST(Clean) flows in the game. Enjoy!!!! #realhiphop
The way you reacted is basically the same way hiphop as a whole did. Rap was never the same again after him. Literally EVERY modern rapper benefited from his innovations in flow
One of the most impactful songs in hip hop history. Rakim changed hip hop forever. Top 5 emcee, period...If you want another classic from him do Microphone Fiend next.. You'll be bobbin your head to that one just like this one...
That and Follow The Leader absolutely blew my head apart when I 1st heard it as a kid. Completely and totally holds up to this day and some of the hardest sh*t ever released.
From the moment I heard Stevie Blass play the opening chords to Put Your Hands Together, I KNEW A FIRESTORM WAS COMING. "I'm late, so hit the brakes and park the Benzito. 007, incognito!"
Anybody with real knowledge of hiphop will ALWAYS mention Rakim in their top tier of GOAT MCs. It's dope that yall are getting exposed to his work. 'Microphone Fiend', 'Paid In Full', 'Follow The Leader', 'Know The Ledge', 'Don't Sweat The Technique'... the God kills it on so many records that it's hard to narrow it down.
58 year old guy from Wales,knew this song bit the first time I heard him was with Eric B,look up Eric B and Rakim, "Paid in full",one of a group of hip hop sounds that crossed over into the ( then) mainstream. LOVE your reaction keep up the good work.
Rakim never cursed in his records. All word play. Lyrical genius
Correct
Actually he cursed on one song with one word. On Mahogany he said, "She kissed me slow but you know how far a kiss can go,,, fuck around and miss the show"
@@shaheedjackson9991 he cursed in “Mahogany” and “Know The Ledge.”
He got a few, can't say never
Not true
Rap is broken down into sections: before rakim and after rakim. He changed the way rappers flowed.
Factual
How this isn't Run for Cover or No Omega.....those are like 2 of the best. At least for me.
1,000%
💯!!!!!
You don’t know anything about rap if you say there are two sections. Rakim is NOT the only transformative rapper
Rakim is the GOAT. He is THE greatest rapper to ever do it. He singlehandedly changed the way rappers flowed. Before he came along, everyone was rapping like Run-DMC or the Fat Boys. But it wasn't just the flow. His lyricism was head and shoulders above everyone else. That's why 35 years later, his bars still stand the test of time, because he was ahead of his time.
Facts again💯🔥🔥
Correct
he's not the GOAT. But, respect your opinion!
@@klynch572 Actually he is. There's not another rapper that embodied the mentality, attitude and street style more than him...and that's before getting into the technicalities of his flow.
Not only that but his voice is iconic.
One of the reasons I never even considered buying anything from Eminem was his voice. I don't like anyone I don't wanna sound like.
Well put
Congratulations young men. You just had your first taste of real Hip Hop. Nothing like that crap that these record executives are pushing on y'all today. What you are being offered today was planned for you years ago. Learn from Rakim and others from that era and experience Hip Hop before it was corrupted becoming what has now been dumped on your generation. Other note worthy artists for you to explore; LL Cool J, Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, Public Enemy, Boogie Down Productions, just to get you started.
Real rap!!!!
They don’t even know the “ real 50 cent “ in the video
Thank you for writing this!
Awesome post !!!
At 51 years of age, it does my heart good to see you guys appreciating the old school and not only that, making the proper connections and assessments about it. Keep it going, you have a fan!
I said the same thing man... I love their appreciation for Rakim. I hope one day people react to my music like this
It's actually sad that they are this old and this is the first they heard this song. My sons were exposed to this in THE WOMB. Hip Hop, reggae and Jordan....in that order. It's like me first hearing AL Green, Stevie Wonder, E,W&F, George Clinton and all the rest of the old school music my parents grew up on in my 20's. I'd get laughed at. I don't know where or how these kats grew up but they were sheltered...
They would loose their mind if they heard "teenage love" Slick Rick. Don't hurt me again🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I'm 52 and I agree.
@@sinisterballer2592 I hear you, but you gotta give these cats credit for making an effort to get caught up and actually have a genuine respect and appreciation for music they never knew existed
55 years old and it brings so much pride to see people discover what REAL HIP HOP IS.
Das EFX
Yess I understand 😁 I really enjoyed watching these young men listening to real HIP HOP. And they was feeling it..😎
@@KoiAndDopeThey came later
They ain't HEARD Microphone Fiend!!
52 here and I feel the exact same way. I end up bobbin and smirking...
Rakim is so nice that after almost 40 years later people are still talking about his skills - and rightfully so.
Fact
💯
Rakim changed hip hop... Nobody was rhyming like this before him
That flow changed the game
That’s facts
NO one, bro. Not a soul!!
@@sublimeknowing8yes it did. That’s why he always gets his props including Eric B for the production.
He is the GOAT, to ever walk the earth. Hailed from Long Island NY. He made his break in 86. He did something no other MC done before. Not one curse out of his mouth. Able to carry all of his albums in his early years without any help from other MC's. The first to collaborate with an R and B singer on a single. The most sampled voice in Music. I can go one. You young men just experienced the moves of a God.
Right! Goat for real!
Chaka Khan with Melle Mel was the first on I Feel For You in 84. Friends with Jody Watley was 89.
@@sonofabeach71 Melle Mel was on I feel for you? That was the male voice on the song?
Were plenty of Hip Hop artists before Ra that didn't curse. Lawd...🤦🏽♂️🤷🏽♂️
@@sinisterballer2592 that's true, but many of those rappers weren't around anymore once cursing became a popular thing. Ra never cursed in that popular period.
Rakim is considered the GOAT by many. His flow revolutionized the whole game. Great choice to play the God MC!!!
Rakim and Kool G Rap are the two that took it to a whole new level
Top 3 ever
The fact that these cats acting like they ain’t not heard the song is a fact and testament to no creativity existing amongst the lines of social media this sh slow your brain down people it’s why I don’t blog it’s has good aspects but it’s more damaging
I bet it tho they say the reacting videos get you going. I guess we need more content and creativity people
I’m young myself, we all consider him that tbh and we do play him. Maybe not just when we around girls cuz we tryna set the mood. Can’t really do that with lyrical music.
As a 50 y/o, I love seeing yall appreciate our era of rap. If yall love I aint no Joke, then you've gotta check out Follow the Leader.
FACTS! Follow The Leader is a lyrical masterpiece
Literally came to the comments section to say this! Follow the Leader is one of the greatest ever.
Agreed and My Melody
Word and night train
Most influential rap album ever made... it takes a nation of millions to hold us back- PUBLIC ENEMY
This Era the words were clear and strong and straight to the point. No mumble or filler all from the heart!
Amen.
Rakim is, will always be the G.O.A.T 🎤🎙️
Yes
💯💯🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🎤🎧🎼🎹🎵🎶
FACTS!.
Agreed
GOD MC more like it!!
I'm 49. Rakim is my favorite mc of all time. He had everything. Complex rhymes , style, authenticity, street cred, messages in his rhymes
He’s mine too
Da GOD
Definitely in the top 3
Yeah, he's the GOAT
MY BROTHER, I'M 51, AN ITS KILLIN ME THAT THESE YUNG BOYS AREN'T BEING BROUGHT UP RIGHT!! I'M SHOCKED THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN THEIR YUNG 20'S THAT THESE BOYS NEVER HEARD "I AIN'T NO JOKE!!" THIS IS MY ALL TIME FAVORITE RAP SONG, AN THEY JUS NOT BEIN RAISED RIGHT BY THESE SINGLE MOMS, OR WHOEVER RAISING THESE KIDS THESE DAYS MAN!! SHIT IS A TRAVESTY TO ME MAN!! THESE LIL ONES, I GUESS THEY THINK ALL THIS RAP SHIT STARTED WIT LIL BABY, AND MIGOS, FUTURE, AN KENDRICK!! THEY DONT GET HOW SERIOUS THIS RAP SHIT WAS BK IN DA DAY, WHEN U COULDNT SEE THIS RAP SHIT ON TV, U HAD TO GO TO THE PARKS AN PARTIES WHERE MFERS WAS PLAYIN THE SHIT, CUZ RADIO AN TV WASNT PLAYIN IT!! AN THEN WHEN ERIC B AN RAKIM DROPPED THEY JUST CHANGED THE GAME ALTOGETHER BRUH!! THESE KIDS DONT GET IT THO!
I'm 51 and been into Hip Hop since it's birth. You young cats need to know that Rakim was the O.G. (Original GOAT) and still is. Keep expanding your knowledge my Brothers. ✌
Same here, since we the same age, I've been around since the birth of it as well and to be honest with you I really hope that the young people really expand the minds and understand what hip hop is all about and then demand for better today. Our generation of rap compared to today's is night and day brother
100% Rakim is way way over everybody else. he is the real Goat
facts
Facts
im 44, and white, but I have been listening for EVER.. I agree with you also.. And one other people still sleep on and UNDERRATED is KRS-One... (still my #1 and fav from BDP.).. I worked with Eric B in the studio a few times. and brand nubians.. The rap back in the day from today is REAL HIP HOP... Back in the day it was about Hip hop as a culture, the graffiti, the breakin, the dj, raping bars and lyrics, to the life style... now these people made it more about flashing and money.. no skill and dont know how it started and DO NOT give respect
to the originals.. so sad
The expression on their faces as Rakim was flowin' ... PRICELESS!!!! This was when rap was all about the poetry and poetic skills.
I was a nerdy white girl in the 80s, working in a record store in Glendale, Arizona. I remember the seismic shift in rap music that occurred when this album dropped. I remember thinking at the time, "This isn't just a novelty genre anymore. This is a paradigm shift." And it makes me smile so much to see another generation discover Eric B. and Rakim, and seeing that rapt attention to what E was putting down. He was no joke.
It's really interesting that you felt that, considering young black men were being told they were really gods walking on earth and then the lure of crack money came and changed the energy .
You actually thought that DEEPLY in the 80's as a"NERDY"white girl?."It's wasn't a novelty anymore" and you saw a"seismic paradigm SHIFT(it was MORE than 1 in the hip hop landscape)..I graduated in 86 and we were hearing a NEW flow,word concept,jazz influenced hip hop from The R to the K.I.M. NOT a seismic paradigm shift as you so romanticize.Public Enemy,Ice Cube,NWA, 2 Live Cru( these groups actually fought and brought light about police corruption and the govt oppression) and lead movement in our collective black conscious) also Nas was our 1st seismic SHIFTS they were shaking up things like a snow globe.Your memory sounds epic and very romantic as a nerdy yt girl but we were LIVING these realities.P.E even caused and BOYCOTTED in your state of Arizona about MLK day!..So you are romanticizing thru rose colored glass memories but it's respected tho and thank you for your support and love for the ART OF HIP HOP!..😉👍
@@hermandavis2625 everything you said was after what she said though. She's right. White or not.
@@hermandavis2625Gigolo Tony said it years before.
I get what you are saying but it wasn't a novelty genre to us growing up with this music since the beginning. It was what we created, innovated, danced to and listened to. We always knew it wasn't a novelty and that it would stand the test of time.
those of us who know real rap/hip hop, know that Rakim is ALWAYS mentioned in top 5 if not first ( for me he is #1). Glad yall got put on and can appreciate this legend! check out more of his flow on Microphone Fiend, Know The Ledge, In the Ghetto and one of my faves, As The Rhyme Goes On
People's favourite rapper's favourite rapper is GodEmcee RA!
Yeah, of coarse.. too a lot of washed up Og’s and drunkard grandma’s, he’s their #1.. do you still reminisce? Old school Sunday? You use to ride around drinking E&J and Ole’ E, listening to Rakim. The good old days, huh?
@@yo3rdtier128 🍅 booooooooo
Rakim's easily one of the most sampled artist ever.....
Me too, me too!
Rakim is thee quintessential definition of what an M.C. is supposed to be...his flow, lyrics, look and attitude...he had it all...one of my top 5 rap M.C.'s of all time
facts!
Microphone fiend
No the GOAT of rap. Changed rap forever. They are still trying to figure it out.
Rakim changed the game..Dudes weren’t rapping like this before him. He’s called the GOD MC for a reason.
Rakim is still considered the GOAT by most hip hop fans that was around from 86 to 00. He changed the way everyone rapped and is called the GOD MC by all respected emcees and hip hop heads. Listen to songs like In The Ghetto and Juice (Know The Ledge). This is the beginning. He gets way better. This video made my day fellas. Sidenote: That video was the first time the world was introduced to Flavor Flav, right before Public Enemy dropped their debut album.
Absolutely King! Salute! I'm 47 so I'm right here with you.
😭😭😭 he be ask, “why they don’t bring up RA when they talk about GOAT. Check your history BOI… RA gave birth to NAS, and therefore granddaddy J Cole.
im a 2010s kid hes still the goat for reals ones still listen
Considered? Rakim is da GOAT! I'm from this era and no one should stand toe to toe with Rakim! Some may say KRS1 and Nas. But Rakim is the man.
You must do "Microphone Fiend" next. An absolute must. Rakim was the turning point for high level lyricism in Hip-Hop. Every great emcee of at least the last 30 years has Rakim as a major influence on their list of influences. He gave birth to barz. 🔥🔥🔥
YES.... Microphone Fiend is straight FIRE !
also.... Dont sweat the technique !!
And check out my melody
Follow the Leader.
I was thinking the same thing!!
@@leobrad2199 Probably Rakim at his peak for me and possibly an all-time top 10 track. I'm from '91 so I wasn't actively around during his time, but he was a staple of my hip-hop education when I was a kid and Follow the Leader left one of the biggest impressions on me. That's peak Rakim and it was such a clear bridge between 80's and more evolved 90's hip-hop. Rakim or his lyrics are getting a tattoo on my body at some point in some form, he's been that important to me.
Eric B/Rakim album, "Paid In Full," (1987) is a timeless hip-hop classic. It's even been sampled by other rap artists over the years.
Other rappers making cameo in this video: Flavor Flav, Chill Will, EPMD.
EPMD! Every album title had the word business. And a track called Jane!
I was gonna leave the same comment kind of🔥🔥🔥🫡
@@m350350 You gots to chill; that was my jam ❤️
No question I posted then decided to read some comments, but no question, "Paid In Full" was always on my cassettes I'd make, then my CDs I'd make, then playlists I'd make for my iPod, etc. It's hip hop essential
@@jacqueline4514 that was a jam track.
My fav: "So What You Sayin" That beat ROCKS.
I'm 53 and I play this song at least once a month. 80's -90's best decade
The way these young guys connect to this is amazing! Rakim flow is timeless!
I love both.
When the flow is submerged in the foundation of youth- Rakim
Yep! When rap music was actually good too listen too.
Lots of legends from this period - Rakim, Big daddy kane, Slick rick, Chuck d, KRS1, Kool g rap, etc. And even people before that. Great to see younger heads, checking this stuff out.
Big daddy Kane was absolute 🔥
Yeah you're right however, Rakim set the standard on how to intellectually break down a rhyme. No one did it the way he did it until after him. This is what separates him from the greats you mentioned.
I also liked Dana Dane, EPMD, and Schooly D
Back in this era originality was a must. The culture was strong.
All greats!
I know hiphop is whatever the current generation says it is, but this is hiphop
The essence, of it.
Wrong! This todays "hip hop mumble wtf shit" is coldly calculated dumbing down of nations and lucrative buisness for private jails system across America and Europe, but that there is hip hop what it is meant to be, to send message to people and yought about life through poetic recitation( in the beginning of hip hop poetic recitation with blues/jazz band) not some mumbling like rtards today
@@Gnaritas42 obviously you no nothing about rap there was many white people involved in rap and most of the record sales was in white suburban areas and worldwide coming from the uk rap from the late 80's onwards was massive, now it commercialised crap 'rap' with no style or originality a total different genre
Rakim is hip hop. Changed the style.
@@alexisonfire223 people said the same shit about hip hop back in the day. People didn't consider it music and older folks hated it, cussing and it was considered wack cause sampling was seen as stealing. Old head mentality
I am in my 50s and grew up in the South Bronx, the old school rappers from my day will blow out the rappers of today. Eric B’s I ain’t no joke and Paid in Full are some of the best rap songs ever. I can go on all day with the albums I had growing up. Kurtis Blow! Lol
I feel bad for anyone who didn't get to witness hip hop from the 80's to mid 90's. It was soooo many different artist. Everyone had their own style, their own flow. It was so many dope mc's.
This is a gdamn fact!!!
There was probably more great mc's that fell off the face of the earth and we forgot about then there are rapper's making stuff right now
Facts am 45 love old school hip hop
@@027redman I'm 45 as well. Nothing like 93.
I could not agree more!!! They truly missed an era that is undefeated!!!
Rakim is called the Godfather of rap! He is top tier lyricism. The pioneer. And look at when he did it. No one else was doing that. Your favorite rapper's favourite rapper lol
Spoonie G, Gil Scott-Heron etc are called the Godfather of Rap.
Rakim is called 'The God MC'
Real lyricist will always hold Rakim in very high regards💯……… no gimmicks no controversy just straight lyrical heat!
YUP
The lyrics that rakim was spitting back then. Is harder than most rappers today. That's why he's considered the God MC.
Rakim and The Guru are my top 2 MCs of all time! Rest In Peace Guru!
Not too many ppl OVERSTAND what Guru was doing to the Hip-Hop scene. He was ALSO considered one of the GREATEST at that time!
Guru is in my top 5 very underrated dont know why....they never speak about him
I respect your opinion…GURU is goated. I just can’t put him above KRS 1 though. Rakim them KRS for me…..respectfully. 🙏🏾
@@TBell-yi6xf You’re the first to mention Knowledge Reigns Supreme on this thread. This wasn’t about placement it was more about giving an MC his flowers who appears to be forgotten about in the group of Hip-Hop GOATS. Since you brought him up, KRS is my GOAT… Then KANE, then Rakim. Even Biggie said KRS was the greatest.
@@organikmack3975 Respect to you….all of those are goated…🫡 I dig alladat….👍🏾
Rakim is considered one of the best ever and a GOAT to many from our generation. I'm 51 yrs old. You have to remember rap was about battling when it first came out. So rappers put out lyrics to be colder than the next MC or EMCEE as Rakim just stated in that song. Before Rakim. NO ONE had ever made rappers go home and rip up their entire notebooks of lyrics. He was the MJ of rap when he came out. He birth the necessity to come with that heat when you touch that microphone. He was the first artist ever studied by a university. He birthed everyone and everything that came after him. Cool G Rap, Nas, Jay Z, Biggie, on and on and on we're all fire b/c Rakim was "No A Joke." So it birthed the movement to be great with bars as MJ birthed the movement to be insanely great on the court. Rakim's hits are considered classics
Kool Gee rap was before Rakim
I still say LL cool J was one of the best battle rappers out there
@@jhill6033 LL would cook you on record for like 6 mins straight Jack the Ripper is still one of the most slept on diss tracks...
I was today years old when I learned that Ra was studied by a University...wow! But then again, why not...he's the GOAT in my opinion. What he delivered was a science. Class is in session, young men! Listen and learn.
One of the only Hip Hop God's who rarely used profanity if ever in his lyrics. This is Hip Hop royalty at its finest.
@myles mathews; and I've never heard him use the N-word either and I've seen him in person a couple of times.....
Rakim tha true G.O.A.T 💯
Rakim is the cement being poured into the foundation of the Rap Hall of Fame. Without him, who's to say where rap music would be. This video captures everything about the glorious 80s. I was there and wouldn't trade it for nothin. Respect
Dayum. Well said. 💯 correct
Why has he not been abducted?
Rakim is the best. Their song "Follow The Leader" really shows his ability to rap quick and clear.
A must listen
CLASSIC 😎
I've always considered him the GOAT. Been rocking this rap since the 80s... and I'm still playing it like it's new.
👁 felt like a kid again. Damn dat brought back memorie$!!!! Rakim $till ain't no joke!!! 😤🔥👍
"Microphone Fiend", "Paid in Full" and "Follow the Leader" are musts from them.
I don’t think there’s a video but a song called “whats on you mind”
Mahogany
Lyrics of fury
And "Know The Ledge".
Know the Ledge....... 18th letter
Check old interviews with all the rappers of the 90s, I bet very few, if any, didn’t mention Rakim as one of their biggest influences. He took rap from its infancy with the choppy cadences and borderline silly lyrical content and flipped the game on its head, started flowing and actually saying some real shit. One of the true fathers of hip hop. Got to see him live a few years ago, bucket list show.
Rakim was so ahead of his time. Rappers were doing the "dr. seuss, mother goose" simple flow until Ra came along. Multi syllabic rhymes with a serious tone. He's no joke.
Shits basic today but yes he changed the game back then
Yes. And his levels of verbal complexity and depths of metaphysics encoded in his rhymes are all still way ahead to this day. Just check out his song "Mystery: Who is God".
@@preston9920 yeah but before him the hardest bars were stuff like "hip hop hippity" 😂
@@VideoFiles99
I love that song. The 18th letter is a highly slept on album.
@@preston9920 basic by today’s standards? I would say that there aren’t many rappers that can get on his level. From the flow, to lyrical content and vocal cadences and commandeering the crowd they’re not many that can compare.
This is what I grew up on, Rakim is definitely in my top 5, no question. His spot is solidified and he'll never fall out. Check out more of his stuff, Eric Sermon is a phenomenal DJ too. Just classic stuff man, miss this old school hip/hop.
Rakim, hands down, the original lyricist...and by far #1 on my list...!
Wow. Its cool to see the younger generations review olschool rap. I'm glad you guys like and appreciate it. Respect Fellas💯
Not jus review but respect it
This will show these young boys what real bars are REALLY like and not talking about just s h i t,or stupid s h i t
I'm with you!
Definitely a good feeling. I was around when Rakim, Run DMC, LL Cool J, Biz Markie, first came out. So, it's definitely a good feeling seeing this video
LOVE IT!!! I WAS LOOKING FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS!! We used to have wayyyyy more shows that did stuff like this!
If y'all want to check out more Rakim stuff, I suggest "When I B on Tha Mic", that song is hard
TRUTH
I love how they inserted the sound effect from Galaga, on the radio edit for that song.
That whole album is 🔥
Homie, that's later rakim,they need to study let the rhythm hit em,and follow the leader,follow the leader is one of the best hip hop songs ever
@@talesfromthehoodtv503 Yeah you're right, there are a lot of other Rakim songs between the late 80s and late 90s, jumped the gun a bit I guess. "When I B on Tha Mic" is just my favorite Rakim song, that's all
Fila was started by 2 Italian brothers in 1913! They took over the sports apparel world in 1973! In my day it was Fila, Diadora and Bally! Slick Rick rocked Bally and name checked them in his songs!!
I was 9-10 when this came out. What I time to be alive! I was in NYC at the time. You couldn't walk down the street without hearing this pumping from the jeeps, boom boxes or project windows. Rakim is and will always be on the Mt. Rushmore of MC's.
Rakim was a turning point when things start getting more lyrical and serious
Rakim is still rapping. I saw him in Austin,Tx in the summer of 2022. He still go the skills and his voice is still strong. I was pleasantly surprised by his rap skills.
😂😂😂 as a old nigga! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS !!! Youngblood y’all have no idea! Rahkim is the Godfather of true lyrical versatility!
Watching yall discover old school rap is a joy to watch, I was a teenager when Rakim hit the scene
Rakim is the reason I started rhyming. Every bar is impeccable. Cadence, flow, lyrics, delivery. Ra is one of the GOATS.
FACTS!!!👍🏾
Me too
You Brothers have been blessed by The God MC...The R...
Rakim was the bridgeway to flow in hip hop. The way he connected words was different from anyone else at that time. Rappers before him mostly held on to the same formula. But Rakim changed the game with the flow and wordplay.
6:50 I hate that you missed the "...or you'll be one of those seven MCs!" line, a callback to a verse highly regarded as one of the hardest rap bars EVER from his song My Melody (also the cut that FIRST introduces the mic drop concept. Rakim's truely the GOAT.
Word! If they can truly understand from his other track about those 7 MC's 👏🏿👏🏿
Facts! "My Melody" should be prerequisite listening for this.
@@lonnienykhandavis9816 One of the illest bars ever!!!!!
@@Blkzz4 yessir indeed! Lyrically unstoppable.
They wouldn’t have gotten it even if they didn’t miss it
"I hold the microphone like a grudge." Incredible line.
Rakim.... Follow the Leader!!!...🔥🔥🔥
This is Hip Hop in its purest form. God MC Rakim
Rakim single-handedly change the rap game he brought a new style that no other rappers were doing if you want to check out more of his stuff look up follow the leader and microphone fiend
The man has never said a word of profanity, disrespect to women, glorification of crime, violence or drug use in a single rap. Just pure artistry. Definitely the GOAT. He’s the Rembrandt of rap. The others are Warhol junk.
He def swears listen to his own songs without rakim
@@AL-qe7xn What are you talking about? I’m talking about Rakim.
@@borood1188
Idk about his older songs, but he definitely has sworn before a bit.
@@dj-um7el What songs?
@@borood1188
Remember That and When IB On Tha Mic.
This is my favorite old school hip hop track. Rakim is in my top 5!! He played jazz trumpet when he was younger and patterned his rhymes after jazz rhythms unlike other rappers at the time. Rakim was certainly ahead of his time.
Now they know WHAT TO LISTEN TO when it comes to real hip hop! Rakim is as real as it gets!!!
No Doubt ‼️💯
Still til this day for me....lyrics riding the beat...
to see these younger brothers understanding real bars and REAL HIPHOP brings joy to my heart!!! salute KINGS!!
Yes!
There’s still hope for the future
Rakim changed the game. He should rank up there with greatest ever! I am almost 54 and I wish rap was more like this than it is now. They had deep messages, life lessons and warnings.
What’s crazy is Rakim got legendary flow and never cussed on any song
I hear people pointing that out. But keep in mind there's nothing about cussing that will make you a good lyricist. If so,then Eazy E would be in most people's top 10.
@@CrowdPleeza if you lean on it heavy it’s easy if EVERYBAR has nigga,bitch or fuck. Shows a limited ass vocab
@@CrowdPleeza Easy wouldn't be in anyone's top 10 because he didn't write his own lyrics.
Yeah The R was my favorite back then… very little profanity
Rakim is one of the greatest MC’s ever🎙hardly ever cursed that voice is iconic🔥🔥🔥
My favorite MC of all time I put my 20 year old son on Rakim when he was old enough to appreciate lyrics!!❤️🔥🔥🔥
RAKIM WAS A TRUE LYRICIST!!!!!!!!! STILL ON HIS GENIUS IN 2023!!!!!!!!!!!!
Nothing like the 80s. Hip Hop was Hip Hop! Kids played in the parks , fire hydrants open with a wood plank to make a huge sprinkler. OGs made sure the kids were safe. They sold work but kept the fiends separate from the neighborhood! Glad y’all enjoyed and did this. Taking me back to my childhood!!! God bless y’all!
As a suburban 17yr old white guy from way back then I feel very blessed to have been around to see Public Enemy, LL Cool J, IceT and these guys. Everything hip hop coming out then was absolutely crushing. The directness and raw simplicity is perfect. I never got the chance to see Eric B and Rakim live and it’s always been a huge regret. Great to see you guys appreciate it for the same reasons
RUNDMC was the pinnacle of rap at their time.. they opened door for people like Rakim.. their style was what is was for the time... times changed please don't disregard their monumental contributions to Hip hop and rap..
I was about to say the same thing. It’s funny because when “Sucker MCs” came out, people felt the same about a lot of the rappers before them!
@@rbiznezz2it was the sound, sucker MCs was ahead sonically.
Rakim > Run DMC ..... Knock it off
Todays rap is trash matter fact its dead theres no rythm and poetry
@nakabeezy You're missing the point. Not a true fan of the genre?
Glad to see these young brothas listening to the origins of rap. Nuff Respect!
It's so cool to see this generation enjoying the music I was brought up.. Coming from Harlem living thru the 80s & 90s was the best time when it came to hip hop going to the clubs and just enjoying life. I'm 52 and my playlist stays playing 80s n 90s not one curse and no gangster rap.. The beats was n still is on point. I'm proud I'm from that era and appreciate it very much. There's so many hip hoppers back in those says that's when Hip Hop was born..
Rakim is a rap god. In my opinion - the best to ever do it. My favorite all time. Dude was ahead of his time. Lyrical game unmatched.
58+, this is my era, rap music was serious, funny and intellectual. No women being called out of their name and no cursing 😍😍😍
I'm glad you're watching this - he deserves to be known and seen as a legend even by young people today.
To call yourself the microphone fiend is 🔥🔥🔥 the Paid in Full & Follow the Leader albums are a must have. Rakim is and will forever be talked about as one of the greatest to hold a mic in the hip hop genre
Rakim is the REAL G.O.A.T.! He was the one who changed rap from the Run DMC and LL Cool J era to being calm, cool, and very very lyrical. Listen to Let The Rhythm Hit'em AND MAKE SURE YOU PAY CLOSE ATTENTION TO WHAT HE'S SAYING TOO.
Glad you all got to listen to the god MC. His lyrics are on another level none have ever come close to. His flow and his style cannot be messed with. Paid In Full, to me, is the greatest Hip Hop album ever made. To see him in concert in the 80s as a teenager, he made a massive impression even today as a 52-year-old man. I have every record he has put out over the years, and let's remember Eric B, the DJ. I could go on about the greatness of Rakim, but many people here have already said what I was going to say. My screen picture is the Paid in Full album on a T-shirt. For me, Rakim is the number 1 rapper, then KRS-1, with BDK at three. My top three have stayed the same since the 80s.
Truth
Great to see yall youngins appreciate the classics. U got a new followe...
Rakim is a G.O.A.T. He is the first rapper in that era to spit a full 16 bars. Also he was a rapper who you wanted to listen to his whole record... and he mad you think about what he was saying in the song.
🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾FACTS
Family........Listen, it makes me soo happy to see you all enjoying our culture! 50 years in this life. I came up on this and was there since the begining of our journey in this life of HIP HOP. Breakdancing and the whole 9! Rakim has definately one of the PUREST(Clean) flows in the game. Enjoy!!!! #realhiphop
Real heads ALWAYS include Rakim in the GOAT convos, he's one of the godfathers of the advanced rhyme scheme.
The way you reacted is basically the same way hiphop as a whole did. Rap was never the same again after him. Literally EVERY modern rapper benefited from his innovations in flow
This is hands down one of the best songs ever!!!
More bangers are
“Eric b for president “
“Microphone fiend”
“Paid in Full”
“I know you got soul”
My Melody and Follow The Leader
Make em clap to this.
Nobody mentions the rap he goes off on. He lyrically takes you into outer space. "Follow the Leader" lets you know who is the GOAT
@@sieglindeeilserv8799 Ooh yeah thats another classic!
Rolling with the R
One of the most impactful songs in hip hop history. Rakim changed hip hop forever. Top 5 emcee, period...If you want another classic from him do Microphone Fiend next.. You'll be bobbin your head to that one just like this one...
I enjoy seeing you young cats appreciating our old school hip hop!! It was definitely a vibe...
hahahahahah... you guys are funny... Rakim was the first MC's to slow it down and be cool with it..
Good to see the young generations appreciation for True Hip Hop!! Shout to the South!!!
One song needed by Rakim: Lyrics of Fury. Nothing else needs to be said.
Yes, Rakim is a alien
That and Follow The Leader absolutely blew my head apart when I 1st heard it as a kid. Completely and totally holds up to this day and some of the hardest sh*t ever released.
Make it shine like jewelry (or, jurry lol)
They ain't heard nothing until they hear "Follow the Leader, and Put your hands together", one of the most slept on tracks.
From the moment I heard Stevie Blass play the opening chords to Put Your Hands Together, I KNEW A FIRESTORM WAS COMING. "I'm late, so hit the brakes and park the Benzito. 007, incognito!"
Thats that east coast rap thats where it all started NY is the birth of rap and hip hop
Can i say that you 5 are killing these reaction vidoes, by far the best out there
lol no need to cap. It’s serviceable
“As the rhyme goes on”, “Chinese Arithmetic”, “Know the Ledge”… nothin but bangers! Rakim is THEE best to ever do it!
This is the Era I grew up in. There is no other Era like this one. We are very musically inclined
You boyz are in deep OG terrirtory now man 💪💪NYC is the mecca of rap. I used to break dance on a flat piece of cardboard box as kid to this shit 🤣😆
Anybody with real knowledge of hiphop will ALWAYS mention Rakim in their top tier of GOAT MCs. It's dope that yall are getting exposed to his work.
'Microphone Fiend', 'Paid In Full', 'Follow The Leader', 'Know The Ledge', 'Don't Sweat The Technique'... the God kills it on so many records that it's hard to narrow it down.
58 year old guy from Wales,knew this song bit the first time I heard him was with Eric B,look up Eric B and Rakim, "Paid in full",one of a group of hip hop sounds that crossed over into the ( then) mainstream. LOVE your reaction keep up the good work.