New Rakim interview

[T-Dogg]

They have this up at XXL's website. It's part 1 of 2. They're promising to tell what exactly went down at Aftermath in the next part, but while waiting for that...

http://xxlmag.com/online/?p=625

XXL: Are you a Dipset fan?

Ra: No doubt. I like the Diplomats’ swagger, man. Juelz, Cam’ron, Jim Jones—they bring a lot of swagger back to the game. New York needs somebody right now to hold New York down.

XXL: So when will there be a Rakim/Diplomats collaboration?

Ra: Probably soon, man.

His business of course who he likes and collaborates with, but when you think Rakim & Dipset instead of Rakim & Dr. Dre you gotta say: What the fuck is going on?

[EDIT] Check below for the direct link to part 2.

[AlerG]

Props, i can't wait for a new rakim album, it's been wayyyyyyyyyyyy to long, almost 7 years now, goddamn,

chill

[Meho]

Elvez aint gonna be happy about that Rakim/Diplomats collabo.

Props for the interview.

[SlickPants]

lol, no dr. dre, but dipset?  what the fuck?

[ABN]

damn one of my favorite rapper´s is actually thinking of hooking up with some of the weakest rhymers of all time

[kingwell]

DIPSET BYRDGANG!  CAAAAAAW

[rik]

I wanna see what he gotta say bout the Aftermath situation.

[T-Dogg]

They've upped part 2 now. It contains Ra's comments about the Aftermath situation.

http://xxlmag.com/online/?p=629

Basically, Dre wanted Ra to spit street music, about things that go on in the hood, and Ra wanted to go a different way.

[Rud]

thanks for the heads up, interesting read

[Teddy Roosevelt]

Interesting stuff about Aftermath.

[Meho]

Interesting stuff about Aftermath.

[Larrabee]

Damn, basically it was creative differences. Despite the fact that in my opinion, a Dre produced Rakim album would be awesome, Ra never really fit in with Aftermath. He's too much of a purist to change his style for the sake of selling records.

I guess "Heat" is one of those symbolic records. It was originally for Rakim, but he passed it up. Guess who ended up using it...

[rik]

Interesting stuff about Aftermath.

[Nima - Dubcnn.com]

Great interview. Looks like Dre fucked up!

[Elevz]

Elvez aint gonna be happy about that Rakim/Diplomats collabo.

I'm like sex, I'm on your mind all day!

Anyway... About the Rakim/Dipset collabo... Dipset are good at what they do. I respect the hustle but I don't think the music is good. It just has its purpose (see Sik's signature to see whats up! - props to Sikotic!). I just don't understand why Rakim would want to make music with them. That's like a Public Enemy & Britney collabo. I can just see Rakim spitting a verse full of knowledge, followed by a Jim Jones verse about his hairdo being too coolcool to be true.