It's May 21, 2024, 05:44:58 AM
Ra really did revolutionize what an MC is today. If you're a younger cat trying to get into his stuff, i'd recommend starting with his solo's that he dropped in the mid/late 90's. The only reason I say this is because the production on the Eric B. & Rakim joints is def old school, and if you haven't worked your way up to it, you prob won't feel it as much. I'd recommend getting "The 18th Letter". The album as a whole has its ups and downs, but there are some INCREDIBLE tracks on there. My favs are "18th Letter", "Remember That","It's been a long time", "Guess who's back". Those songs def have a more contemporary production style, and Ra is great as always.Don't get it twisted, the tracks that Elevz listed are ESSENTIAL to really know inside & out what makes Ra one of the greatest. But i'm just saying i'd ease into those tracks.More about the production on the Eric B. & Rakim albums: I've read lots of things that suggest that Eric B. wasn't really a producer at all. He was really just the DJ spinning the records, scratching and such during performances. I've read Rakim played a big role in the soundscapes of those songs. Another thing i've heard is that the majority of their records were actually ghost produced by Large Professor. It wouldn't surprise me.Oh and props for trying to educate yourself on hip-hop.