So...how many of yall were fans of Rakim before...

[Lincoln]

i made a topic like this a few months back......... i was, back in like 95-96 when i was 9-10 years old i had a mixtape that a cousin had given me, and Eric B Is President, Paid In Full, & I Know You Got Soul were on it + other rap songs by NWA & Big Daddy Kane etc. were on there. i wish i still had that tape for the memories........ Rakim was the first rapper I listened to i think.

[Lincoln]

why don't you people like 18th Letter, that album is amazing! 4.5/5 easily

[Lord Funk]

why don't you people like 18th Letter, that album is amazing! 4.5/5 easily

I liked a few tracks, like Remember That and Been A Long Time.  I didn't even hate when I heard him use the word "jiggy" on Guess Who's Back. But there were a few too many tracks like Stay A While that did nothing for me. I didn't feel it was classic Ra at all.

Wasn't there a track leaked from that album called New York to Cali? THAT was dope.

[S.G.V.]

for some reason i think some of you are not telling the truth

yea...some of em seem to be lyin...but im not gonna call em out...

since like 94. without dre half these fools wouldn't know who ra is..which is a fucking shame..

i was never a ra fan...im still not...i like some eric b and rakim shit...his solos were aight...but i always liked krs and g rap better...they brought more to the table i think...but ur right...it is a shame...ra been out since the 80s...and just finally hes gettin exposure and acknowledged...


there is a few people who r missin from this thread...i wonder why....(cough) bandwagoners (cough)

[gdjone]

I'm 30 years old. I've been a Rakim Fanatic since 1986 (Paid in Full) I've been reppin for Ra every since. I have had argument after argument with people about who's the GOAT. But most people, even though would put him in there top five, didn't think he was the greatest. To be a Rakim fan you must be willing the seperate production from lyrics. You can't say the song isn't good just because you don't like the beat. This is why this album will be so good, because now production will match lyrics. How can this not be a classic. I have loss sleep thinking about this album and imagining what Ra will come with to blow mind. For too long Rakim has not been given enough credit for his skills and his place in hiphop. This album will show the world that Rakim is the greatest who ever picked up the mic. And it will also allow people like me be able say "I told you so" to all na-sayers

[King Tech Quadafi]

nah only of Eric B. & Rakim.. didn't pay that much attention to the solo releases for some reason

[Skindiana bon3z]

I was a fan of Eric B. and Rakim then I got Rakim's solos...my favorite song is Microphone fiend....

[Twentytwofifty]

Since "Guess Who's Back" and The 18th Letter.  I love that album, 9/10.  I didn't get into hip-hop until The Chronic dropped so I pretty much missed the Eric B. & Rakim days.  But I caught up, I've got everything now.  

[T-Dogg]

I always liked his stuff with Eric B., but I never really was a fan of his. I ain't got any albums of his, I only got mp3's. Being a huge fan of Dre of course steered more of my attention towards the man. But it's not like I didn't bump his songs or know who he was until Dre signed him. I guess I never got into his stuff very deep 'cause of the production. (Some joints are legendary both lyric AND production wise though - like Paid In Full). But now that the production's taken care of, I'm ready for an album that's next to perfect both lyric wise and production wise.

Speaking of which, wouldn't it be great if Dre did all the production on the album? (Like in the good old days when albums were (at least mostly) produced by one or two guys and often came out doper than anything in the last 6-8 years.)

[I`m Wayne Brady bitch!]

I`ve been a fan of him since 98

[Twentytwofifty]

Here's the old thread with the same question for anyone who is intrested.

[_That_Cracka_J]

I never really listened to THAT much of him besides "Let the Rhythm hit 'em" cause they played that video a lot.  I never got into his music (his older shit) until about '96 or so.....I was always bumpin' Eazy-E and N.W.A. back then.  Not much outside of that in the 80's!

[The Watcher]

but i always liked krs and g rap better...they brought more to the table

^ agreed, always thought krs was doper, same as g rap

[pappy]

i worked with a guy that claimed to be rakims cousin.  i dont think he is bull shittin cuz its not like many kids my age kno who rakim is an plus if he was goin say he was related to a rapper he might as well said some1 who pushes major units.  what does this have to do with did i listen to rakim b4 he signed to aftermath........ not a damn thing

[abstruse]

My brother used to play Ra in the early 90's when I was a youngin.  Was introduced to hip-hop with Dre, and Ra.