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.
Keep The Beat
Rakim Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
So here's the beat every time it pounds you get weak
Comfy embedded like a pillow bouncing wit an echo
My voice is moist and plus mellow
I got it going on you're gonna want to come
Skins is the drum, I said I'm the drummer give the drummer some
And we'll see if you can hang wit Ra
Let's see if you can Shangri-La
Like Rick James, I'm the fire in your desires flames;
I heat up your temperature, keep the tempo raw
When you start to smoke, rest assured
I start to think 'cause you're a singer like Anita
High pitched like a tweeter, deep beats start to beat her
Much harder than love taps, my rap's above that
I get girls where I want wit a maze full of love traps
But I don't want to fall in love
I stand in love, good balanced wit a plan to shove
A cappella as we start to speak
Heart to heart and cheek to cheek then I complete the beat
[Chorus:]
Tempo's moving and I'm hoping it'll never fade away...
The beat is grooving, words are soothing and please tell
Me that you're here to stay
In the morning and I'm hoping the morning come again
Hold me close and give me another dose and
Keep the beat don't ever let it end
She said, ah, so far, you didn't miss a beat yet
Pop in another cassette, then I'm in to wreck
I'll give you a beat you never had before,
I had to explore and came up wit more
Deep trunk kicks wit a brick for a drum stick
You know the song, don't hum along, come quick
You lay like Sade, it feels like paradise
At the top of the pyramid, we review new heights
The scenery of Egypt, you and me as we get
So deep in the groove, when you move, you get seasick
You seen enough, close your eyes and relax
Move wit the tracks and stay tuned for the sax
The instrumental, enters your mental..
Tense but gentle and, sentimental,
A cappella as we start to speak
Heart to heart and cheek to cheek then I complete the beat
She wanted the extended version
So I kept splurging and add more words in
Strong, the emotion, notions move and
The poetry's smoking, potions soothing,
There goes the moon, I'm far from done,
Rise like the sun, here comes the sun
And I won't stop 'till it sets and then
Rewind the cassettes and I'm a play it again;
But this time it's instrumental at a faster tempo
All I want to hear is "Yea Rakim, Go"!
I work overtime on your body and mind
Cause I'm incline to do both combined
My job is never done but done well
Horizontal or parallel
A cappella as we start to speak
Heart to heart and cheek to cheek then I complete the beat
In Rakim's song Keep The Beat, the artist talks about his smooth delivery of rap, likening it to the beat of a drum that can make someone weak when it pounds. He compares himself to a drummer and invites the listener to see if they can hang with him. Throughout the lyrics, Rakim uses musical references, comparing himself to various musicians such as Tina Marie, Rick James, and Sade. He talks about getting women with love traps but insists he doesn't want to fall in love. The chorus emphasizes the importance of keeping the beat going, and Rakim promises to keep the tempo raw and make the listener dance.
The lyrics in Keep The Beat are rich in allusions to music and instruments, and the message is one of unity and togetherness despite life's difficulties. Rakim invites his listener to a journey where the beat never ends, and they can hold each other close and dance together, forgetting their worries. The lyrics suggest that music can be a source of comfort and hope that can uplift people out of their sadness and fears.
Line by Line Meaning
She asked could I keep the beat
The singer is asked if he can maintain the rhythm
So here's the beat every time it pounds you get weak
The rhythm is so captivating that it makes it hard to resist dancing
Comfy embedded like a pillow bouncing wit an echo
The beat feels comfortable, enveloping, and reverberates beyond the singer's voice.
My voice is moist and plus mellow
The artist's voice is relaxing, soothing, and skillfully expressive.
I got it going on you're gonna want to come
The beat is so infectious that listeners will be inclined to participate.
Skins is the drum, I said I'm the drummer give the drummer some
The singer asserts himself as the rhythm maker, controlling the pace and tempo of the music.
And we'll see if you can hang wit Ra
The singer welcomes listeners to try and keep up with the rhythm he creates.
Let's see if you can Shangri-La
The artist challenges listeners to follow the rhythm with him and reach some state of musical enlightenment.
Easy... Like Tina Marie I play it slick
The artist compares himself to Tina Marie, expressing that he performs with grace and precision.
Like Rick James, I'm the fire in your desires flames;
The artist compares himself to Rick James, saying that he ignites the passion of his listeners.
I heat up your temperature keep the tempo raw
The singer gets the listeners excited and maintains the rawness of the rhythm.
When you start to smoke, rest assured
When the listeners start to feel the rhythm and move their bodies, the artist is confident they'll enjoy it.
I start to think 'cause you're a singer like Anita
The rhythm is so good that it makes the singer think about making love, reminiscent of the love songs of Anita Baker.
High pitched like a tweeter, deep beats start to beat her
The music becomes like a subwoofer, making lower frequencies more prominent, while high-pitched elements become less relevant.
Much harder than love taps, my rap's above that
The singer's music is more intense and potent than love taps, it has a deeper impact.
I get girls where I want wit a maze full of love traps
The artist knows how to evoke emotions with his music and lead women where he wants them to go.
But I don't want to fall in love
The artist enjoys being in control and not succumbing to the trap of love.
I stand in love, good balanced wit a plan to shove
The singer asserts that he stands above love, he is in control with a plan to keep his mastery.
A cappella as we start to speak
The singer and listener strip down to the bare essentials, as they begin a discussion of music and rhythm.
Heart to heart and cheek to cheek then I complete the beat
The connection between speaker and listener becomes intimate as he finalizes his musical idea.
Tempo's moving and I'm hoping it'll never fade away...
The artist hopes that the motion of the music will last indefinitely.
The beat is grooving, words are soothing and please tell
Me that you're here to stay
The artist enjoys his groove, soothing lyrics, and hopes his listeners will stay engaged.
In the morning and I'm hoping the morning come again
Hold me close and give me another dose and
The singer hopes to keep feeling the music in the morning, and to keep being stimulated by his listeners.
She said, ah, so far, you didn't miss a beat yet
The listener notes that the artist has maintained a consistently captivating beat.
Pop in another cassette, then I'm in to wreck
The listener wants more, and the singer will continue providing an unrivaled beat.
I'll give you a beat you never had before,
I had to explore and came up wit more
The singer is innovative, always striving to come up with new music and beats that his listeners have never heard before.
Deep trunk kicks wit a brick for a drum stick
You know the song, don't hum along, come quick
The singer's music hits hard, with a deep bass kick and a hard rhythm, beckoning listeners to dance to the muse.
You lay like Sade, it feels like paradise
The artist evokes a paradise-like feeling as listeners relish the music, reminiscent of Sade's smoothness.
At the top of the pyramid, we review new heights
The music takes the listener to new heights, ascending atop the music pyramid.
The scenery of Egypt, you and me as we get
So deep in the groove, when you move, you get seasick
The music takes listeners on an exotic journey, feeling the groove so deeply that it becomes overpowering.
You seen enough, close your eyes and relax
Move wit the tracks and stay tuned for the sax
The singer encourages the listener to relax and surrender to the music, potentially making way for a saxophone solo.
The instrumental, enters your mental..
Tense but gentle and, sentimental,
Instrumental music takes over the mind, making for a tense yet sensitive rhythm that stirs the emotions.
She wanted the extended version
So I kept splurging and add more words in
The listener demands an extended version, and the artist is happy to oblige and keep expanding on the music.
Strong, the emotion, notions move and
The poetry's smoking, potions soothing,
The rhythm is strong and moves people, stirring emotions and intoxicating the listener's senses.
There goes the moon, I'm far from done,
Rise like the sun, here comes the sun
The music goes on and on, paralleling the moon and sun rising and setting in the sky.
And I won't stop 'till it sets and then
Rewind the cassettes and I'm a play it again;
The artist is dedicated to pushing the music to its limits, until the end of the tape, before starting again.
But this time it's instrumental at a faster tempo
All I want to hear is 'Yea Rakim, Go'!
The singer speeds up the rhythm for a last push, remaining devoted to getting people involved and giving them what they want.
I work overtime on your body and mind
Cause I'm incline to do both combined
The singer takes pleasure in pushing the limits of the listener's mind and body, combining them to make them work together.
My job is never done but done well
Horizontal or parallel
The singer's work goes on, always striving for the best, with the music taking the listener in all directions simultaneously.
A cappella as we start to speak
Heart to heart and cheek to cheek then I complete the beat
The artist and listener strip down to the bare essentials, communicating in a personal and intimate way as the artist finalizes his musical idea.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ERIC BARRIER, WILLIAM GRIFFIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@pasqualesansonna
She asked could I keep the beat
So here's the beat every time it pounds you get weak
Comfy embedded like a pillow bouncing wit an echo
My voice is moist and plus mellow
I got it going on you're gonna want to come
Skins is the drum, I said I'm the drummer give the drummer some
And we'll see if you can hang wit Ra
Let's see if you can Shangri-La
Easy... Like Tina Marie I play it slick
Like Rick James, I'm the fire in your desires flames;
I heat up your temperature, keep the tempo raw
When you start to smoke, rest assured
I start to think 'cause you're a singer like Anita
High pitched like a tweeter, deep beats start to beat her
Much harder than love taps, my rap's above that
I get girls where I want wit a maze full of love traps
But I don't want to fall in love
I stand in love, good balanced wit a plan to shove
A cappella as we start to speak
Heart to heart and cheek to cheek then I complete the beat
Tempo's moving and I'm hoping it'll never fade away...
The beat is grooving, words are soothing and please tell
Me that you're here to stay
In the morning and I'm hoping the morning come again
Hold me close and give me another dose and
Keep the beat don't ever let it end
She said, ah, so far, you didn't miss a beat yet
Pop in another cassette, then I'm in to wreck
I'll give you a beat you never had before,
I had to explore and came up wit more
Deep trunk kicks wit a brick for a drum stick
You know the song, don't hum along, come quick
You lay like Sade, it feels like paradise
At the top of the pyramid, we review new heights
The scenery of Egypt, you and me as we get
So deep in the groove, when you move, you get seasick
You seen enough, close your eyes and relax
Move wit the tracks and stay tuned for the sax
The instrumental, enters your mental..
Tense but gentle and, sentimental,
A cappella as we start to speak
Heart to heart and cheek to cheek then I complete the beat
She wanted the extended version
So I kept splurging and add more words in
Strong, the emotion, notions move and
The poetry's smoking, potions soothing,
There goes the moon, I'm far from done,
Rise like the sun, here comes the sun
And I won't stop 'till it sets and then
Rewind the cassettes and I'm a play it again;
But this time it's instrumental at a faster tempo
All I want to hear is "Yea Rakim, Go"!
I work overtime on your body and mind
Cause I'm incline to do both combined
My job is never done but done well
Horizontal or parallel
Acappella as we start to speak
Heart to heart and cheek to cheek then I complete the beat
@MM-sz6ku
Verse 1]
She asked could I keep the beat?
So, here's the beat, every time it pounds, you get weak
Comfy, embedded like a pillow, bouncin' with an echo
My voice is moist, and plus mellow
I got it goin' on, you're gonna wanna come
Skins is the drum, I said I'm the drummer, give the drummer some
And we'll see if you can hang wit Ra
Hmm, let's see if you can Shangri-La
Easy like Teena Marie, I play it slick like Rick James
I'm the Fire and your Desire's flames
I heat up your temperature, keep the tempo raw
When you start to smoke, rest assured
I start to think 'cause you're a singer like Anita
High pitched like a tweeter, deep beats start to beat her
Much harder than love taps, my rap's above that
I get girls where I want with a maze full of love traps
But I don't want to fall in love
I stand in love, good balanced with a plan to shove
A capella as we start to speak
Heart to heart and cheek to cheek
Then I complete the beat
[Hook]
Tempo's movin' and I'm hopin' it'll never fade away
The beat is groovin', words are soothin'
And please tell me that you're here to stay
In the mornin' and I'm hopin' the mornin' come again
Hold me close and give me another dose and
Keep the beat, don't ever let it end
[Verse 2]
She said, "R, so far, you didn't miss a beat yet"
Pop in another cassette, then I'm in to wreck
I'll give you a beat you never had before
I had to explore and came up with more
Deep trunk kicks with a brick for a drum stick
You know the song, don't hum along, come quick
You lay like Sade, it feels like paradise
At the top of the pyramid, we review new heights
The scenery of Egypt, you and me as we get
So deep in the groove, when you move, you get seasick
You seen enough, close your eyes and relax
Move wit the tracks and stay tuned for the sax
The instrumental enters your mental
Tense but gentle and sentimental
A capella as we start to speak
Heart to heart and cheek to cheek
Then I complete the beat
[Hook]
Tempo's movin' and I'm hopin' it'll never fade away
The beat is groovin', words are soothin'
And please tell me that you're here to stay
In the mornin' and I'm hopin' the mornin' come again
Hold me close and give me another dose and
Keep the beat, don't ever let it end
[Verse 3]
She wanted the extended version
So, I kept splurgin' and add more words in
Strong: the emotion, notions move and
The poetry's smokin', potions soothin'
There goes the moon, I'm far from done
Rise like the sun, here comes the sun
And I won't stop 'til it sets and then
Rewind the cassettes and I'ma play it again
But this time, it's instrumental at a faster tempo
All I wanna hear is "Yeah, Rakim, go!"
I work overtime on your body and mind
'Cause I'm inclined to do both combined
My job is never done but done well
Horizontal or parallel
A capella as we start to speak
Heart to heart and cheek to cheek
Then I complete the beat
[Hook]
Tempo's movin' and I'm hopin' it'll never fade away
The beat is groovin', words are soothin'
And please tell me that you're here to stay
In the mornin' and I'm hopin' the mornin' come again
Hold me close and give me another dose and
Keep the beat, don't ever let it end
@jeffshankle5379
one of his superior hits that was neglected. by the majority of his listeners...
@tysn90805
Im sayin🥶
@CollinMPLS
I agree...Sophisticated ambiance...slow, yet detailed and dynamic cadence... What is not to marvel?
@skullman5089
Not slept on...never that! It's just when this song came out, folks got either Horizontal or Parallel...there was no room or time to debate :)
@James.k1373
Definitely wasn't neglected by me
@rodinowright6591
The whole album was underrated
@reggiemunch
CLASSIC ...His sisters are doing the singing so he said it was special to him due to that ALONE.
@maximatmatt
You mean Eric's sister or Rakim?
@reggiemunch
@@maximatmatt Ra"s two sisters...Stephanie snd Robin.
@a.m.armstrong8354
That's beautiful to know.