Griffin is the nephew of American R&B singer and actress Ruth Brown. He grew up in Wyandanch, New York, and became involved in the New York hip hop scene at a young age. Eric B brought him to Marley Marl’s house to record "Eric B. is President." At the time Griffin was fresh out of high school and on his way to college, but he decided to forgo higher education and instead chose to record with Eric B. Leshaun
When Griffin turned 16, he joined The Nation of Gods and Earths (also known as the 5 Percent Nation) and changed his name to Rakim Allah.
In 1986, Rakim started to work with New York-based producer-DJ Eric B. The duo — known as Eric B & Rakim — is widely regarded as among the most influential and groundbreaking of hip-hop groups. The duo’s first single, "Eric B. Is President" (#48, 1986) b/w “My Melody,” was a success and got the duo a contract with the fledgling Island Records sub-label 4th & B'way. The duo’s next single, the smash “I Know You Got Soul,” sparked early debate on the legality of unauthorized, uncredited sampling when James Brown sued to prevent the duo's use of a fragment of his music. Their first full length album, Paid in Full, was released in 1987, and has since been hailed as one of hip-hop's seminal albums. Their follow-up LP; Follow the Leader was released a year later, and was also well received by fans and critics. The duo recorded two more albums; Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em and Don't Sweat The Technique before they parted ways in late 1992. Due to legal wrangling over royalties and his contracts with both his record label, and with Eric B., Rakim would not release a solo album until five years later.
After splitting with Eric B., Rakim signed with his good friend at the time DeShamus "Q=BOB" Sallis of Q=BOB Records to commence his solo career, however, the label folded shortly afterward. He eventually returned in 1997 with The 18th Letter, which included collaborations with DJ Premier and Pete Rock; which was released in two versions, one of which included an Eric B. & Rakim greatest hits disc titled The Book of Life. The critical reception of the album was positive, and it was certified gold. In 1999, Rakim released The Master, which received very good reviews as well.
Rakim was signed to Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment record label in 2000, for work on an album tentatively titled Oh, My God. The album underwent numerous changes in artistic direction and personnel and was delayed several times. While working on the album, Rakim made guest appearances on numerous Aftermath projects, including the hit single "Addictive" by Truth Hurts, the Dr. Dre-produced "The Watcher Part 2" by Jay-Z, and Eminem's 8 Mile soundtrack. However, Rakim left the label in 2003 and Oh, My God was indefinitely shelved, a result of creative differences with Dre. Rakim signed with DreamWorks Records shortly afterward, but the label closed its doors shortly after that.
Rakim also made cameos in the Juelz Santana video "Mic Check," the Timbaland & Magoo video "Cop that Disc," and the Busta Rhymes video "New York Shit." Eric B. and Rakim's classic album Paid In Full was named the greatest hip-hop album of all time by MTV. Rakim was engaged in a lawsuit with reggaeton performer R.K.M (formerly Rakim) over the use of the name "Rakim". Rakim won the rights to the name. Recently, Rakim was featured in an All-Pro Football 2K8 commercial.
The Seventh Seal, Rakim's long-anticipaited album, was released November 17 2009. The first single off the album, Holy Are You, was released through his MySpace page on July 14, 2009 and was made available on iTunes July 28. A second track "Walk These Streets" ft. Maino was released in October. Rakim has been active during its recording with several national tours and special events. Rakim recently closed the Knitting Factory in NYC as the last Hip-Hop performer to walk off the historic club's stage after 25 years of underground performances.
Rakim has influenced songs by Jay-Z, Nas, The Notirious BIG, Lil- Wayne and countless others. Other rappers use many of his lyrics in their songs, often without giving credit.
Tributes to Rakim include:
* Tupac Shakur pays homage to Rakim in the song "Old School" off the album "Me Against the World"
* Raekwon of Wu-Tang Clan dedicated a tribute to Rakim titled "Rakim Tribute," which was released on DaVinci Code: The Vatican Mixtape Vol. II in 2006.
* 50 Cent makes a reference to Rakim on his hugely successful collaborative effort "Hate It or Love It" with The Game. "Daddy ain't around, probably out committing felonies/my favorite rapper used to sing Ch-Check out my melody," referencing Eric B & Rakim's hit "My Melody".
* Shock-G paid homage to Rakim by playfully reciting lines from the Eric-B & Rakim song "I Know You Got Soul" in the Digital Underground song Doowutchyalike: "since ya came here ya gotta show & prove, and do that dance until it don't move.."
* Saul Williams mentions Rakim in the song "Twice The First Time", stating: "not until you've listened to Rakim on a rocky mountain top have you heard hip hop" and also in the song "Penny For A Thought" where he says "Someone like Rakim said – 'I could quote any MC, but why should I? how would it benefit me?'"
* Kurupt references Rakim on Snoop Dogg's debut album, Doggystyle. On "For All My Niggaz and Bitches," Kurupt says, "Who's jokin'? Rakim never joked, so why should I, loc? now that's my idol...."
* Ghostface Killah references Rakim in the end of "Paisely Darts," by saying that he is better than every artist except for Rakim, referring to him as "the older god". On his album More Fish, the first track, "Ghost is Back", makes use of the beat from "Juice (Know the Ledge)". He also raps some lines from "Move the Crowd" in "Ghost Deini."
* Eminem has also paid tribute to Rakim's style as an inspiration and references lines from "My Melody"" in his song “I'm Back”. The hook in Eminem's song "The Way I Am" is a homage to the line "I'm the R, the A, to the KIM. If I wasn't then why would I say I am?" from Eric B and Rakim's "As the Rhyme Goes On". Nas made a similar reference in Got Ur Self A...: "I'm the N the A to the S-I-R / and If I wasn't I must've been Escobar". I-Kompleate has also does the same in his song "Rhymes" on the hook: "I'm not I-K-O to the N-I-C, cos if I was I wouldn't be I-Kompleate".Masta Ace uses this in the song by Bekay "Brooklyn Bridge": "I'm from the B-R double O-K L-Y-N, if I wasn't then why would I yell I am"
* I-Kompleate pays tribute and references Rakim in his songs Rhymes, Dominate (The Microphone), and I'm Ready. "Leaving a trace of R, When I chase the stars" "
* Jay-Z paid tribute to Rakim in his 2007 hit "Blue Magic," where he states: "Eighty-seven state of mind that I'm in/I'm in my prime so for that time I'm Rakim."
* Killah Priest references Rakim in many of his songs. He states: "I remind you of Rakim but I'm not him."
* British rapper Scroobius Pip mentions Rakim in his song "Fixed" from the album Angles, as an example of hip hop as art, in the lines "Take it back to the start/Like KRS and Rakim use passion and heart".
* Nas' Street's Disciple album has a track titled "U.B.R. (Unauthorized Biography of Rakim)" where he tells a short version of Rakim's musical career and life.
* The Game directly refers to Rakim in the first line of the third verse of "Da Shit" by saying, "I'm the West Coast Rakim, got niggaz blocked in." He also mentions Rakim in his song "Angel" on LAX: "So I start hip-hop and I understand why Common used to love her. She got me open so I even had to fuck her. But I used the rubber, cause she was married to Rakim".
* Apathy pays homage to Rakim in his song "Hip Hop is Dead" on Baptism by Fire. Apathy raps, "Remember that video 'I Ain't No Joke', Rakim had a chain that'll break your neck, I'm trying to get paid in full and get that check."
* Rapper R.A. The Rugged Man references Rakim in his song "On The Block" referring to the golden age, "that's when Rakim ran shit."
* Rage Against the Machine covered the song "Microphone Fiend" as the opening song on their final album, Renegades, in 2000.
* Canibus pays homage to Rakim on his 1000-bar song "Poet Laureate Infinity", most notably with the bars "I been toe to toe with the best, I ‘Know the Ledge’" and "As odd as it may seem, the Microphone Fiend, Is God of the Hip Hop regime"
* Songs like Lloyd's "Girls Around the World" and Snoop Dogg's "Paper'd Up" sample the beat of Eric B. and Rakim's "Paid in Full" with both Lil Wayne and Snoop Dogg putting their own twist on the Rakim's verse.
* Brother Ali calls Rakim his hero in his song "As Real As Can Be". He also references the line "I came in the door/said it before" from "Eric B is President" in his song "Whatcha Got" where he raps "I came in the door/1984".
* Drunken Tiger (South Korean hip-hop artist) features Rakim on the track "Monster" off of his 2009 album, "Feel gHood Muzik: The 8th Wonder".
* Jay-Z references Rakim in his song "Run This Town" rapping, "Please follow the leader/So Eric B. we are/Microphone fiend/It's the return of the god/Peace god..."
* Jin references Rakim in his song "It's All Over" from "The Emcee's Properganda" album with the line "ya'll needa follow the leader like Rakim gave the orders"
* Nas paid tribute in his song The World Is Yours by saying "The fiend of hip-hop has got me stuck like a crack pipe"
* Scott Van Pelt recently said on his radio show that '...because I'm Paid in Full like Rakim'
* Saigon mentions Rakim in his song 'Hip-Hop' stating "We crown Rakim the king, cos he was calling the gods of earth that came with bling bling"
* Jedi Mind Tricks paid tribute to Rakim by sampling two of his lines from Heat It Up in their song Saviorself, "Elements burst and gave birth to the first/Get the pen from the nurse and hook the mic up first"
Widely considered the greatest rapper of all time, he continues his career with the recently released Seventh Seal.
Casualties Of War
Rakim Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Casualties of war; as I approach the barricade
Where's the enemy? Who do I invade?
Tear ya outta ya frame with a bag full of clips
Cause I got a family that waits for my return
To get back home is my main concern
I'ma get back to New York in one piece
but I'm bent in the sand that is hot as the city streets
Sky lights up like fireworks blind me
Bullets, whistlin over my head remind me...
President Bush said attack
Flashback to Nam, I might not make it back
Missile hits the area, screams wake me up
from a war of dreams, heat up the M-16
Basic training, trained for torture
Take no prisoners, and I just caught ya
Addicted to murder, send more bodybags
They can't identify em, leave the nametags
I get a rush when I see blood, dead bodies on the floor
CASUALTIES OF WAR! (4X)
Day divides the night and night divides the day
It's all hard work and no play
More than combat, it's far beyond that
Cause I got a kill or be killed kind of attack
Area's mapped out, there'll be no, Stratego
Me and my platoon make a boom wherever we go
But what are we here for? Who's on the other side of the wall?
Somebody give the President a call
But I hear warfare scream through the air
Back to the battlegrounds, it's war they declare
A Desert Storm: let's see who reigns supreme
Something like Monopoly: a government scheme
Go to the Army, be all you can be
Another dead soldier? Hell no, not me
So I start letting off ammunition in every direction
Allah is my only protection
But wait a minute, Saddam Hussein prays the same
and this is Asia, from where I came
I'm on the wrong side, so change the target
Shooting at the general; and where's the sergeant?
Blame it on John Hardy Hawkins for bringing me to America
Now it's mass hysteria
I get a rush when I see blood, dead bodies on the floor
CASUALTIES OF WAR! (4X)
The war is over, for now at least
Just because they lost it don't mean it's peace
It's a long way home, it's a lot to think about
Whole generation, left in doubt
Innocent families killed in the midst
It'll be more dead people after this
So I'm glad to be alive and walkin
Half of my platoon came home in coffins
Except the general, buried in the Storm
in bits and pieces no need to look for em
I played it slick and got away with it
Rigged it up so they would think they did it
Now I'm home on reserves and you can bet
when THEY call, I'm going AWOL
Cause it ain't no way I'm going back to war
when I don't know who or what I'm fighting for
So I wait for terrorists to attack
Every time a truck backfires I fire back
I look for shelter when a plane is over me
Remember Pearl Harbor? New York could be over, G
Kamikaze, strapped with bombs
No peace in the East, they want revenge for Saddam
Did I hear gunshots, or thunder?
No time to wonder, somebody's going under
Put on my fatigues and my camoflouge
Take control, cause I'm in charge
When I snapped out of it, it was blood, dead bodies on the floor
CASUALTIES OF WAR! (4X)
The song "Casualties of War" by Rakim talks about the experiences of a soldier during a war. The lyrics highlight the confusion and chaos that surrounds a war and the emotional toll it takes on the soldiers. The song starts with the soldier approaching the barriers, wondering who the enemy is and whom to invade. The lyrics describe the soldier's mission to protect his family and the effort to survive through the battles to return home, which is his main concern. He describes the fear and anxiety of being in a war zone and how it reminds him of his past experiences. The lyrics highlight the never-ending pain and misery of war and how it affects both sides.
The soldier is trained to take no prisoners and is addicted to murder. He describes how he gets a rush when he sees blood and dead bodies on the floor, which shows the psychological impact war has. There is a sense of irony in the lyrics, where the soldier sees himself as a hero while participating in an act that is morally wrong. The lyrics also express how soldiers dehumanize the enemy and how the government uses propaganda to convince them that their cause is just.
As the song proceeds, it talks about the aftermath of the war, and how both sides suffer. The lyrics mention how innocent families are killed and how a whole generation is left in doubt. The soldier is left traumatized, and he waits for a terrorist attack to happen, so he can retaliate. The lyrics describe how he becomes paranoid and how he confuses thunder with gunshots.
Overall, the song is a powerful commentary on the senselessness of war and the effects it has on those who participate in it.
Line by Line Meaning
Casualties of war; as I approach the barricade
The true cost of war hits me as I approach the battlefield
Where's the enemy? Who do I invade?
I'm not sure who the enemy is, and who I'm supposed to attack
Bullets of Teflon bulletproof vest rip
Even with a Teflon bulletproof vest, bullets can penetrate and harm me
Tear ya outta ya frame with a bag full of clips
I have a lot of ammunition in my bag, and can easily harm or kill others
Cause I got a family that waits for my return
I have loved ones counting on me to come back alive
To get back home is my main concern
My biggest priority is to safely return home to my family
I'ma get back to New York in one piece
I hope to return from war without any harm
but I'm bent in the sand that is hot as the city streets
The heat and conditions of war make the environment feel like a hot city street
Sky lights up like fireworks blind me
Explosions in the sky disorient and overpower me
Bullets, whistlin over my head remind me...
The sound of bullets flying and whistling over my head reminds me of the danger I'm in
President Bush said attack
I've been ordered to attack by President Bush
Flashback to Nam, I might not make it back
I fear dying in combat like many before me in Vietnam
Missile hits the area, screams wake me up
War is chaotic and violent; the screams and sounds of missiles hit me hard
from a war of dreams, heat up the M-16
I'm a skilled soldier who is ready to fire my weapon due to the adrenaline of war
Basic training, trained for torture
I've been trained to endure physical and mental torture as a soldier
Take no prisoners, and I just caught ya
I'm ordered to kill and take no prisoners
Addicted to murder, send more bodybags
I've become desensitized to killing and ask for more body bags to hold those I harm
They can't identify em, leave the nametags
War destroys people to the point that they're unidentifiable and their name tags don't matter
I get a rush when I see blood, dead bodies on the floor
I find pleasure in killing and seeing the aftermath of war; it's like a drug to me
Day divides the night and night divides the day
Time is meaningless during war; the lines between day and night blur
It's all hard work and no play
War is exhausting and leaves no room for leisure or enjoyment
More than combat, it's far beyond that
War is more than just combat, it has deep implications and consequences
Cause I got a kill or be killed kind of attack
My mindset is either to kill or be killed without much thought or concern
Area's mapped out, there'll be no, Stratego
We've planned the attack and know every inch of geography to make sure we have the upper hand
Me and my platoon make a boom wherever we go
We are so destructive that explosions follow us wherever we go
But what are we here for? Who's on the other side of the wall?
I wonder why we're fighting and who our enemies really are
Somebody give the President a call
I don't know what the purpose of our mission is, and someone needs to let the President know
But I hear warfare scream through the air
The sounds of war are everywhere, and it's hard to focus on anything else
Back to the battlegrounds, it's war they declare
We're quickly reminded that we are in a warzone
A Desert Storm: let's see who reigns supreme
The desert has become a battleground between two forces; we'll see who comes out on top
Something like Monopoly: a government scheme
War seems almost like a game or a scheme orchestrated by the government
Go to the Army, be all you can be
The army promises empowerment and development but doesn't warn the cost of war
Another dead soldier? Hell no, not me
I don't want to become another statistic or casualty of war
So I start letting off ammunition in every direction
I become careless and simply start firing in any direction
Allah is my only protection
I believe that only Allah can protect me in this warzone
But wait a minute, Saddam Hussein prays the same
I remember that even my enemies have their own faith and beliefs
and this is Asia, from where I came
I'm far away from home in Asia, a region that's foreign to me
I'm on the wrong side, so change the target
I come to realize that I'm not fighting for the right side and need to change course
Shooting at the general; and where's the sergeant?
I start shooting at high-ranking officers in the opposition without much thought about the consequences
Blame it on John Hardy Hawkins for bringing me to America
I find someone or something to blame for my position in this conflict
Now it's mass hysteria
Everything feels chaotic and confusing, and I don't really understand what's happening anymore
The war is over, for now at least
The active conflict has ceased, resulting in a temporary truce
Just because they lost it don't mean it's peace
Even though my side won, it doesn't mean that there is peace
It's a long way home, it's a lot to think about
The journey home is long and filled with a lot of memories and emotions to process
Whole generation, left in doubt
The impact of war has left an entire generation wondering about the true cost of conflict
Innocent families killed in the midst
Many civilians and innocent people lost their lives as a result of our actions in war
It'll be more dead people after this
Despite the end of the conflict, the death toll will likely continue to rise
Half of my platoon came home in coffins
Many of my fellow soldiers were killed in combat and never made it home alive
Except the general, buried in the Storm
Even high-ranking officials weren't immune to the violence of war and ended up dying in combat
in bits and pieces no need to look for em
The general's body was destroyed beyond recognition and there was no point in searching for his remains
I played it slick and got away with it
I made it out of war alive and avoided any severe punishment for my actions
Rigged it up so they would think they did it
I cleverly manipulated events to make it seem like someone else was responsible for the conflict
Now I'm home on reserves and you can bet
I returned home and became part of the reserves, not yet fully separated from the military
when THEY call, I'm going AWOL
I'm not committed to returning to war and will go AWOL if called upon
Cause it ain't no way I'm going back to war
I don't want to go back to war and have had enough of the violence and chaos
when I don't know who or what I'm fighting for
I don't fully understand the reason behind the conflict or my role in it
So I wait for terrorists to attack
I fear terrorist attacks and prepare for them even back home
Every time a truck backfires I fire back
I have a knee-jerk reaction to different sounds and immediately respond by firing my weapon
I look for shelter when a plane is over me
Even the sound of planes overhead trigger my war experiences and make me seek shelter
Remember Pearl Harbor? New York could be over, G
I fear another catastrophic attack like Pearl Harbor could occur in New York
Kamikaze, strapped with bombs
I fear suicide bombers could strike at any moment
No peace in the East, they want revenge for Saddam
The enemies that were fighting in the East still hold resentment and want revenge for the death of Saddam Hussein
Did I hear gunshots, or thunder?
I'm unsure if I'm hearing gunshots or simply thunder due to the impact of war on my senses
No time to wonder, somebody's going under
There's no time to waste, and someone will likely become a casualty of war
Put on my fatigues and my camoflouge
I'm ready to go back to war and will put on my gear accordingly
Take control, cause I'm in charge
I take charge and become a leader, even in wartime
When I snapped out of it, it was blood, dead bodies on the floor
I become so lost in the violence and chaos of war that I snap back to reality to see the aftermath before me
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ERIC BARRIER, WILLIAM GRIFFIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Bits'n Octets
I'm on the wrong side, so change the target
Shooting at the general; and where's the sergeant?
....
Half of my platoon came home in coffins
Except the general, buried in the Storm
In bits and pieces no need to look for em
I played it slick and got away with it
Rigged it up so they would think they did it
Now I'm home on reserves and you can bet
When THEY call, I'm going AWOL
Cause it ain't no way I'm going back to war
When I don't know who or what I'm fighting for
Raw skills and moral genuineness.
I banged this song today and other Rakim's songs driving 45 miles road. This one right here, could easily be 1 of the top 3 songs in hip hop history.
Yassin Dellarobia
Casualties of war; as I approach the barricade
Where's the enemy? Who do I invade?
Bullets of Teflon, bulletproof vest rip
Tear ya outta ya frame with a bag full of clips
Cause I got a family that waits for my return
To get back home is my main concern
I'ma get back to New York in one piece
but I'm bent in the sand that is hot as the city streets
Sky lights up like fireworks blind me
Bullets, whistlin over my head remind me...
President Bush said attack
Flashback to Nam, I might not make it back
Missile hits the area, screams wake me up
from a war of dreams, heat up the M-16
Basic training, trained for torture
Take no prisoners, and I just caught ya
Addicted to murder, send more bodybags
They can't identify em, leave the nametags
I get a rush when I see blood, dead bodies on the floor
CASUALTIES OF WAR! [x4]
Day divides the night and night divides the day
It's all hard work and no play
More than combat, it's far beyond that
Cause I got a kill or be killed kind of attack
Area's mapped out, there'll be no, Stratego
Me and my platoon make a boom wherever we go
But what are we here for? Who's on the other side of the wall?
Somebody give the President a call
But I hear warfare scream through the air
Back to the battlegrounds, it's war they declare
A Desert Storm: let's see who reigns supreme
Something like Monopoly: a government scheme
Go to the Army, be all you can be
Another dead soldier? Hell no, not me
So I start letting off ammunition in every direction
Allah is my only protection
But wait a minute, Saddam Hussein prays the same
and this is Asia, from where I came
I'm on the wrong side, so change the target
Shooting at the general; and where's the sergeant?
Blame it on John Hardy Hawkins for bringing me to America
Now it's mass hysteria
I get a rush when I see blood, dead bodies on the floor
CASUALTIES OF WAR! [x4]
The war is over, for now at least
Just because they lost it don't mean it's peace
It's a long way home, it's a lot to think about
Whole generation, left in doubt
Innocent families killed in the midst
It'll be more dead people after this
So I'm glad to be alive and walkin
Half of my platoon came home in coffins
Except the general, buried in the Storm
in bits and pieces no need to look for em
I played it slick and got away with it
Rigged it up so they would think they did it
Now I'm home on reserves and you can bet
when THEY call, I'm going AWOL
Cause it ain't no way I'm going back to war
when I don't know who or what I'm fighting for
So I wait for terrorists to attack
Every time a truck backfires I fire back
I look for shelter when a plane is over me
Remember Pearl Harbor? New York could be over, G
Kamikaze, strapped with bombs
No peace in the East, they want revenge for Saddam
Did I hear gunshots, or thunder?
No time to wonder, somebody's going under
Put on my fatigues and my camoflouge
Take control, cause I'm in charge
When I snapped out of it, it was blood, dead bodies on the floor
CASUALTIES OF WAR! [x4]
Dr. Madthumbs
IMPACTFUL,
Legendary track from a legendary MC.
....was around 10 years old. I remember doing the "running-man" practicing this song, non-stop.
Wrote down his lyrics, knew them by heart & still do
...At school, i asked my teachers about Bush, who are the casualties? ARE we at war? Are we from Asia?
Think about it. Hip Hop did THAT. Made us smarter! Made us focus, made us read books & stay in school but most important, it made us ask questions.
Now, if we take that same kid i was. Put some 2017 headphones. Who does he listen to?
... sad ain't it?
... i rest my case.
HH!!!!!
Virgil Wimberly
Rakim was incredibly intellectual and so far ahead of his time it's crazy. His lyrical level was insane and unfair to other rappers.
Lord NU D Tru
The microphone fein
Igor Amokian
Amen
BIGJONDIESEL
Legendary for sure!
Demetris Q Washington
11:11. No doubt !!!
Heat.....2022 !!!
Quentin Parker
This song and "Straight Outta Compton" display the Amen breakbeat beautifully.
OJ’s Bloody Glove
On this record Rakim even raps with the exact tone of aggression you’d expect to hear from a veteran with PTSD, almost as if he’s screaming out for help. Genius!
ambeh ak47
Love that summarisation ✊
Oktober Wolfe
thats what made it so genius...at least I though so
Donald k Mitchell
Thanks you for your service from one vet to another