Here is why Rakim left Dr. Dre and Aftermath....

[wcsoldier]

i kinda think hes lying about Dre telling him to rap more street shit.  but what the fuck i know.....?

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

lmao @ you think he's lying. Why would he lie about that? Look at Dre's track record. Snoop, Eminem, 50 Cent, Game etc. ALL talked about "contraversial" topics in their rhymes. You think Dre wanted to stamp a dude spitting knowledge that the 50 Cent crowd would never understand? Of course not. Don't be dilusional.

Hell yeah , Dre and Iovine are the ones to blame, not Ra. Dre ISN'T God and his work ethic is far to be perfect.....

[BizzyR.I.P.]

dre wanted ra to do what 50 did, just so they would sell

guess what rakim, it works

Yes, dumbing down your music and turning most of your loyal fans away is something Rakim should've done.

[Juronimo]

Anyone remember that Mellowman post? I remember he broke it down what happened and if I remember, Iovine had a lot to do with it.

[The Predator]

Rakim's last album was slackin.

He was gettin paid and looked after by Dre n Aftermath.

His verses on the 2-3 songs he recorded at 'Math were alright but nothing spectacular.

Dre implied he was lazy and evntually gave up on him. Nas said creative differences on his tribute song to Rakim but Rakim trying to play down his work ethic or ability to live up to his expectations of his younger days.

He still aint released an album, whose fault is that Dre's? Hell no it's Rakim's laziness.

He proably needs paper now and will put together some songs.

[wcsoldier]

I'm huge Dre fan but I read some wrong points in this thread. Rakim lazy ? maybe so is Dre. He worked with Ra a long time after he signed him (ask Busta and others too........) I appreciate a lot Mellow comments but no matter what happened he will be loyal with Dre and that's obvious. Plus 2 things didn't work anymore for me....

1) Blame Iovine : Dre knows how the dude is and thinks about music business , so if he wants to make music with uncontroversial mcs , just leave Interscope
2) That perfectionnist and Dre being hella busy shit. When you ask some Mcs if they get a Dre beat, they often answer " Naw Dre is too busy" and less material comes out year after year

[NFX]

All I know is that Rakim on teh truth hurts joint was hot and he was spitting street ish too. Rakim would rather have integrity over the superstardom. Thats his choice to make.

[tonyscarbones]

why won't dre produce a non-mass appeal album?

drop sumthin for the underground

it ain't like he's hurtin

go sell gwen stefani and justin timberlake a few beats to pay for the rakim album

how hard is that with all those beats in the vault

[Juronimo]

All I know is that Rakim on teh truth hurts joint was hot and he was spitting street ish too. Rakim would rather have integrity over the superstardom. Thats his choice to make.

True dat.
The fact that Oh My God will never see the light of day is a damn shame. He tore apart the Truth Hurts track and the Watcher 2.

[jeromechickenbone]

I was hyped about this back in 99.  But the songs I heard from Ra on the Math were pretty much just ok.  Why wouldn't you guys accept what Ra is saying in that interview?  Does it seem unrealistic that Dre/Iovine would push Ra to go the gangsta rapper/top 40 route?  Fuck no.  I'm glad Ra bailed instead of prostituting himself.  

But didn't he also talk about wanting to collab with the Dips?  If I want dope production and patty cake lyrics, i'll pop in Diplomatic Immunity, not a Rakim album.  He needs to just be himself, very limited guest spots, and rap about whatever inspires him.  I want another Rakim album.

[gav09]

why won't dre produce a non-mass appeal album?

Cos he wont make no dollar off it!

[Mygla]

why won't dre produce a non-mass appeal album?

Cos he wont make no dollar off it!

no, cause Interscope won't release it...

and as far as i know, Dre has to go back to Ruthless if he leaves interscope? some contractual shit...

[SGV]

I was hyped about this back in 99.  But the songs I heard from Ra on the Math were pretty much just ok.  Why wouldn't you guys accept what Ra is saying in that interview?  Does it seem unrealistic that Dre/Iovine would push Ra to go the gangsta rapper/top 40 route?  Fuck no.  I'm glad Ra bailed instead of prostituting himself.  

But didn't he also talk about wanting to collab with the Dips?  If I want dope production and patty cake lyrics, i'll pop in Diplomatic Immunity, not a Rakim album.  He needs to just be himself, very limited guest spots, and rap about whatever inspires him.  I want another Rakim album.

The Dipset get love from a lot of vets. Pete Rock produced for Jim Jones. CL Smooth collabed with JR Writer. Ra wanted to collab with em, but he settled for co-signing Juelz in his video.

[Trauma-san]

At the time, Dre's credibility with Iovine was down.  Jimmy probably wasn't feelin it so it didn't happen because they couldn't make a 'wow!' album in the time they spent working on it.  Dre had already dropped two bombs, "The Wash" and "Truth Hurts".  "Truth Hurts" had Rakim on the first single, too, which didn't help matters any. So of course Jimmy's like "Uh, Dre, no lets do something we KNOW we're gonna make money off of" since Dre had already lost with the soundtrack and with Truth Hurts, both dissapointments for Iovine. 

[jeromechickenbone]

I was hyped about this back in 99.  But the songs I heard from Ra on the Math were pretty much just ok.  Why wouldn't you guys accept what Ra is saying in that interview?  Does it seem unrealistic that Dre/Iovine would push Ra to go the gangsta rapper/top 40 route?  Fuck no.  I'm glad Ra bailed instead of prostituting himself. 

But didn't he also talk about wanting to collab with the Dips?  If I want dope production and patty cake lyrics, i'll pop in Diplomatic Immunity, not a Rakim album.  He needs to just be himself, very limited guest spots, and rap about whatever inspires him.  I want another Rakim album.

The Dipset get love from a lot of vets. Pete Rock produced for Jim Jones. CL Smooth collabed with JR Writer. Ra wanted to collab with em, but he settled for co-signing Juelz in his video.

Word.  I know lots of hip-hop cats respect the Dips and their movement.  On a freestyle, metaphoric tip they are very tight on the mic.  But their lyrical style doesn't mesh too well with Ra IMO.  Their beats are top notch.  I would def peep Ra and the SDE Camron over a Heatmakerz beat.  But I think Ra puts too much into his rhymes to really gel with Cam at this point.

[Detox Iz Not Active]

I still get pissed about that album


it could of been one of the greatest album ever



what the fcuk has rakim done since? NOTHING, and his nerw album WILL be wack

He hasnt put out an album but he can still spit fire i know RTISTIC said that he was more like a B+ Rapper, that could be so now, but that is still better then 98 percent of the rappers today. And if you listen to the WATCHER 2 with Jigga and DRE RAKIM has A+ lyrics IMO outshines DRE (no surprise) But Jay-Z as well which is saying something for a guy that is Past his Prime. Point being he can still spit and i cant wait to hear his new album hopefully somethin drops soon.

rakim spiitin that hot shit on a dre track? what a shock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!???