Rakim Says He Will Never Cater To Hip Hop Trends, Speaks On "The Seventh Seal"

[The_Ripper]

The God MC says his last album was an attempt at a "conscious" release and that he's ready to get back to having fun on his next LP.

With his most recent release The Seventh Seal dropping in 2009, Rakim faced some criticism for the album’s content and aesthetic, a chance he knew he was taking. Speaking with splash! Mag TV, the God MC explained that he didn’t let fans’ negative reactions to the album get to him and that he would never sacrifice his style to adapt to the times.

“You care about it, but you don’t let it do nothing to you. It’s rap, it’s an album, some people will like it, some people won’t. Hip Hop is so diverse and mixed right now, you have a lot of fans who like radio-friendly Hip Hop. I don’t do that. You have a lot of fans who like pop Hip Hop. I don’t do that. You got a lot of fans that like different styles,” he said. “I’m from my era, I’m known for doing a certain kind of music. I don’t want to switch off and do what Lil Wayne is doing. That ain’t Rakim. I can’t switch off and do what Wiz Khalifa’s doing. That’s not Rakim. It’s hard trying to keep up with what’s going on and still keep your integrity and keep your logo and your brand of who you are with these times. I made a statement. Definitely wanted to bring about that awareness with a conscious album.”

The Seventh Seal, which bowed at No. 61 on the Billboard 200 with 12,000 copies sold in its first week, was Rakim’s attempt to make what he claims is a “conscious album.”

“I wanted to do a conscious album. There’s zero conscious in the hood right now, zero conscious in Hip Hop right now. But as far as Rakim, I had to do what I felt people expected from me, made a big statement. It’s good that I got that off my chest. Now, I can get back in the studio and have a little fun and not worry about having so many responsibilities and weight on my back.”

[Triple OG Rapsodie]

its not so much catering to hip hop trends as it is catering to good music

[Jimmy H.]

I don't know I really enjoyed the Seventh Seal. I think it's sad how many rap fans just shit on albums that actually have substance behind them. It's all about beats and features, these days.

[Triple OG Rapsodie]

Rap is a music genre. If your beats and hooks suck I don't care what kind of knowledge you think you are dropping. Go write a book or something.

This is just an excuse. I think the truth is Ra just sucks at making hooks and got third rate singers to fill in for him. I don't know why he gave up on the material he had been working on for years. He openly admitted to starting from scratch and making the album at the last minute.

[G3ne]

Rap is a music genre. If your beats and hooks suck I don't care what kind of knowledge you think you are dropping. Go write a book or something.

This is just an excuse. I think the truth is Ra just sucks at making hooks and got third rate singers to fill in for him. I don't know why he gave up on the material he had been working on for years. He openly admitted to starting from scratch and making the album at the last minute.

have you listened to the album?

[Triple OG Rapsodie]

Rap is a music genre. If your beats and hooks suck I don't care what kind of knowledge you think you are dropping. Go write a book or something.

This is just an excuse. I think the truth is Ra just sucks at making hooks and got third rate singers to fill in for him. I don't know why he gave up on the material he had been working on for years. He openly admitted to starting from scratch and making the album at the last minute.

have you listened to the album?

biggest anticipointment of 09

[EnzoUK]

i just hope he's working on a new album, love me some new rakim music 

[Chamillitary Click]

There is nothing wrong with that album. It was good. Didn't really expect a classic. Guess it just met standards for me.

[BiggBoogaBiff]

how about "The 7th Seal" was wack as shit and that's that.  i know there's some people that wanna put me in a box and that's cool i don't care but this nigga's shit was wack.  some of yall actually think i don't like Nas (kill yourself).  i'm all 4 being your own man but this nigga's shit was garbage foreal. 


as far as Ra saying he's not following trends he's just politikin' in real life.  that nigga probably doesn't even listen to rap music from today and yesterday like that.  he's probably more 90's and 80's rap music (and plus all that old black folks music) and that's why i kinda tune that shit out when legends like him say this type of shit tbh.  i know where he's coming from though, it's like u can't play James Brown's "Hot Pants" and then turn around and next play Chris Brown's "Look At Me Now", it just doesn't go together so i get it.  But on 1 hand I'm not totally convinced that this nigga actually listen's to the new. 

[Matty]

he dropped a line about the federal reserve and money printing on one tune, i thought that was cool. but like the whole album was hella weird on the production and dark. the funky throwback one was cool

[D-TalkX]

Bad album...but i'm not a Rak fam ...but bad album

[MIWEST]

Rakim my fav OG rapper...cant wait 4 another tape!

[SCREWFACE]

so sad to see the man i grew up listening to release that piece of trash. anyone can make excuses and say people dont wanna hear consious music or it wasnt mainstream enough, but bottom line is it was fucking wack and if any other rapper released it or he released it under a different name no-one would have checked for it.

[Jay Bananas]

Poor excuse for a shitty album.

[goRaiders]

shakin my head @ the nigga who only listens to beats and hooks - its fags like that who r killin rap