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 Marlโs 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 โ known as Eric B & Rakim โ is widely regarded as among the most influential and groundbreaking of hip-hop groups. The duoโs first single, "Eric B. Is President" (#48, 1986) b/w โMy Melody,โ was a success and got the duo a contract with the fledgling Island Records sub-label 4th & B'way. The duoโs next single, the smash โI Know You Got Soul,โ 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 โ '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 โI'm Backโ. 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 โKnow the Ledgeโ" 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.
New York
Rakim Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Hey yo black it's time again, yeah, yeah (New York, New York)
Come here, yeah, yeah (New York, New York)
Hey yo black it's time
If you knew my streets
You would know all everybody talk about is who got beef
Who snitchin', who told police
Now they killin' over music money, not drugs, rap replaced it
Because thugs with no brains got no patience
New jacks I pistol whip 'em with the funky rhythm I be kickin'
Musician and flatten composition
A pain, I'm like Saddam Hussein
Still alive lookin' at his dead children's burnt remains
I burnt the game, learnt you lames a new lesson
Your crew's soft man, ya'll need some new weapons
The P's breathe Warriorz and skullies and Timmies
Around mixed, spics, niggaz and giddies
From my ghetto kings in deep thought we don't blink
But don't think we wastin' our time
It's a New York State of Mind
New York, New York, New York
New York City, whoa oh
New York, New York, New York
New York City, baby
It's like a jungle, out here
So much struggle, out here
And my dream's still unphased
Greed still the cousin of death
Always feels like always somethin' farther time
In the Streets of New York
All I see is street homes
And who it's holdin', our people
Only comforts the brain
It's like I'm going insane
The revolution has to start, don't waste no time
In the Streets of New York (New York state of mind)
C'mon
New York, New York, New York, New York oh
State of mind (New York City)
New York, New York, New York, New York oh
State of crime (New York City)
New York, New York, New York, New York oh
Big dreams (New York City)
New York, New York, New York, New York oh
Big schemes
Oh, it's like the game
Just ain't the same
Baby loves and girls with no shame
Can't get away (get away), epidemic plague
Every hood in every state
Don't have no reasons 'cause relief is hard to find
In the streets of New York (New York state of mind)
In the streets of New York (New York state of mind)
In the streets of New York (New York state of mind)
In the streets of New York (New York state of mind)
I'm from the home of a million legends and trend settin'
A lot of footsteps to follow, I've been steppin'
Mind stressin' tryin' to find a record crime shreddin'
Time precious, I ain't have rest since nine eleven
I live fast, hustle like today is my last
I get cash, the struggle's like a day on the Ave.
Crack bein' raw, gats squeezin' off
Manhattan squeezin' off, from cats who tease with war
The eve of the Apocalypse, evil keep movin' politics
Every block is at risk, the metropolitan metropolis
The opposite of Liza Minelli and Frank Sinatra
Alicia Keys, Nas and Ra the gangsta's opera
So New York City walk with me, talk gritty
It's up to us New York it's our city
Here the man come with the anthem, hands up
It's time the thrill is back New York, let's stand up
New York, New York, New York
New York City, whoa oh
New York, New York, New York
New York City, baby
New York, New York, New York
New York City, whoa oh
New York, New York, New York
New York City, baby
Rakim's song "New York" is a tribute to the city of New York, focusing on its struggles and strength. Rakim begins the song by acknowledging the harsh reality and violence of the streets. He talks about beefs, snitches, and police, all of which dominate conversations in the streets of New York. He also points out that now, instead of fighting over drugs, people are killing each other over music money. Rakim references Saddam Hussein and his dead children's burnt remains, likening himself to the former dictator in the way he is still standing despite the odds against him.
He then talks about his own strength and the resilience of the people of New York. The city may be like a jungle with struggles everywhere, but Rakim's dream remains unaffected. He says that greed is still the cousin of death, indicating that the greed that drives people to hurt each other is what will ultimately lead to their downfall. Rakim highlights that every hood in every state is affected by the issues that plague New York, making it a universal challenge. In the end, Rakim calls upon New Yorkers to stand up and take back their city.
Line by Line Meaning
Nasty, yeah, yeah (New York, New York)
Rakim starts the song by emphasizing that New York is a tough, gritty place with a lot of challenges to overcome.
Hey yo black it's time again, yeah, yeah (New York, New York)
Rakim is calling out to the people of New York, reminding them that it's time to stand up and face the issues that are plaguing their city.
Come here, yeah, yeah (New York, New York)
Rakim is urging the people of New York to come together and work towards a common goal.
If you knew my streets You would know all everybody talk about is who got beef Who snitchin', who told police Who came home, who still gone, who restin' in peace
Rakim is describing the way that people in his neighborhood, and by extension in all of New York, are constantly talking about conflicts and other problems that affect the community.
Now they killin' over music money, not drugs, rap replaced it Because thugs with no brains got no patience New jacks I pistol whip 'em with the funky rhythm I be kickin' Musician and flatten composition
Rakim notes the rise of violence in music production and how reckless rappers with no patience are getting involved in such things, but he has a solution: his smooth bars will get rid of competition.
A pain, I'm like Saddam Hussein Still alive lookin' at his dead children's burnt remains I burnt the game, learnt you lames a new lesson Your crew's soft man, ya'll need some new weapons
Rakim compares himself to Saddam Hussein, who was ruthless but always stayed in power. Rakim asserts his dominance in the rap game and tells people to step up their skills.
The P's breathe Warriorz and skullies and Timmies Around mixed, spics, niggaz and giddies From my ghetto kings in deep thought we don't blink But don't think we wastin' our time It's a New York State of Mind
Rakim describes the diverse population of New York and how people from different backgrounds all coexist together while the people of his community are always thinking about how to make the most of their time.
It's like a jungle, out here So much struggle, out here And my dream's still unphased Greed still the cousin of death
Rakim sees New York as a difficult place full of struggles and obstacles, but he remains determined to succeed. He also comments on how greed can lead to downfall.
Always feels like always somethin' farther time In the Streets of New York All I see is street homes And who it's holdin', our people Only comforts the brain It's like I'm going insane
Rakim talks about how hard it is to escape the chaos of New York and how his constant exposure to the harsh realities of the streets is driving him crazy.
The revolution has to start, don't waste no time In the Streets of New York (New York state of mind) C'mon
Rakim urges his listeners to take action and start a revolution to overcome the problems in their city, and he's speaking from the perspective of someone in a New York state of mind.
Oh, it's like the game Just ain't the same Baby loves and girls with no shame Can't get away (get away), epidemic plague Every hood in every state Don't have no reasons 'cause relief is hard to find
Rakim talks about how the game he's in has changed and how there's now an epidemic of girls with no morals, mainly because people can't get away from the harsh realities of the streets.
I'm from the home of a million legends and trend settin' A lot of footsteps to follow, I've been steppin' Mind stressin' tryin' to find a record crime shreddin' Time precious, I ain't have rest since nine eleven
Rakim is acknowledging that he comes from a place with a ton of musical talent and influential figures, but that he still feels the pressure to create something unique and original. He also references the traumatic events of 9/11 and how they've affected his life since.
I live fast, hustle like today is my last I get cash, the struggle's like a day on the Ave. Crack bein' raw, gats squeezin' off Manhattan squeezin' off, from cats who tease with war
Rakim reflects on the intense pressure he feels to succeed and make money, while also noting how much violence and danger is present on the streets of New York.
The eve of the Apocalypse, evil keep movin' politics Every block is at risk, the metropolitan metropolis The opposite of Liza Minelli and Frank Sinatra Alicia Keys, Nas and Ra the gangsta's opera
Rakim sees the harsh realities of New York as a sign that an apocalypse may be coming, with evil forces controlling politics and every block being at risk. He also notes how different the city is from the era when Liza Minelli and Frank Sinatra were popular, instead comparing it to the gritty music of Alicia Keys, Nas, and Rakim himself.
So New York City walk with me, talk gritty It's up to us New York it's our city Here the man come with the anthem, hands up It's time the thrill is back New York, let's stand up
Rakim rallies the people of New York to join him in fighting for their city, and encourages them to embrace the gritty realities of their lives. He also proclaims that his music can serve as a rallying cry for those who are looking for inspiration.
New York, New York, New York New York City, whoa oh New York, New York, New York New York City, baby New York, New York, New York New York City, whoa oh New York, New York, New York New York City, baby
These lines serve as a refrain throughout the song, emphasizing Rakim's pride and love for his city.
Lyrics ยฉ Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: ALICIA AUGELLO-COOK, ALICIA J AUGELLO-COOK, ERIC BARRIER, WILLIAM GRIFFIN, NASIR JONES, CHRISTOPHER E MARTIN, TANEISHA SMITH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@BlueMoon561
The New york Roots ,
High Level Hip Hop , the finest
Old School massive ......Dope vibes , Still in Power
Rakim is one of the best ( for me the best)
Unbelieveable and fantastic albums with his rhythm brother Eric B
A revolutionnary performer , he take the style and bring it at the top ,
Respect to the Microphone Fiend !
Good vibes !
Thx (Old Skull Crew /BZH/Fr)
@prizmatik7710
Lyrics
If you was born in New York City let me hear say "You know that"!
You know that!
Hey yo, once upon a rhyme where the scenery sets, you see stress
Streets a matter of life and death, no regrets
Life's a test, strife, wit special effects
Neighborhood's full of reps, cities are projects
Where the young cadets get stripes from the vets
And comrades quest to be the next, to fitness
Collect debts and select bets with death threats
Object, chedder, better your total net
Where trends are set from ways to express the outfits
Friends get wet tryin' to make ends connect
Avenues to check, boulevards to sweat
The smell of gun smoke more common than cigarettes
We got clicks for wreck
We like Pits for pets
We got Giants and Jets, the Knicks, Yanks and Mets
We like much respect and sex extra wet
And high-tech dialect you ain't catch yet
The Bronx,
Ya out there?
No doubt
Brooklyn,
Ya out there?
Hey yo, we got blocks and glocks with
Big shots with big knots and big props
Yo this is where the bullshit stops
Where herbs get got, if you snitch you get shot
We get down and leave the town in a state of shock
We got dangerous hang out spots and slick cops
Place called Riker's Island where kids get locked
A lotta gear to rock with blocks of clothes shops
Styles are top notch, this is the place to watch
So bust the box, the radio station is Hot
Ease your mind staring at skylines from rooftops
Flip scripts for chips, and new whips off the lot
Quick to call a shot, politic with thick plots
And the Garden of Eden against the sea that we got
To make sure the core of the Big Apple don't rot
Where seeing's believing, we be achieving a lot
Since disc jocks created hip hop, check it out!
Queens, ya out there?
No doubt
Manhattan?
No doubt
New York City, Staten Island
New York, New York, Long Island
New York, ya out there?
Hey yo, we got five boroughs of ghettos
With many places to meet, you get lost in city streets
The city that never sleeps
Mecca, Medina the population increase
The desert and the oasis, New York, the far East
With Gods and Sheiks, pretty Amazons for weeks
Player dons that fleece the family's black sheep
Icons that teach that we all act unique
We got stats to reach so we all have to eat
A mass of peeps, with they own masterpiece
The crafts elite, we going past the beat
The latest technique no other place get as deep
Who parks release some of the worlds greatest athletes
DJ's and MC's and graffiti artists
Who use walls and subway trains for marquees
We go back to B-boys, break dancing, break beats
And it'll never cease, and on that note, we say peace
@giovannifilippini8578
Thanks to this guy I can't take seriously 70% of mainstream rappers nowadays. One of the greatests who inspired the greatests. King Rakim.
@jaywilley955
Thatโs whats up
@macaseabey4133
Indeed... They Watered down the Watered down and then dumbed it up to continue to poison the youth... Old School Message Hip hop/
Rap is What's Good.. Sad and Hurtful to see the State of today's Entertainment ..Who is basically raising the Unfortunate Youth as far as the "Culture" goes.. Rakim ๐ฏ๐๐ฝ๐ช๐ฝ๐๐พ..
@richardanderson5389
While serving my country I can't be home. I just close my eyes and let Rakim take me home I feel every word & S/O to the greatest producer on Earth...Preeeeemoooo!!!
@leftysouthpawofdetttth7340
Thank you!!!
@UBZUKki
Rakim and Dj Premier....incredible combination...
@OpelClub98
death combination !
@michaelenders3600
I met Rakim in October 2019! One of the FINEST humans on god's earth! PEACE!!
@JulianJJM
Probably the best New York shout out track...
@julianmilnes9594
Rakim has just taken me on a ride through the city...