The God MC Rakim

When speaking of popular conscious hip-hop music, it is not possible to have the discussion without recognizing The God Emcee, Rakim Allah, the lead MC of the iconic hip-hop duo Eric B and Rakim.

Rakim changed the popular-music game by raising the bar on lyricism and setting the tone for the conscious hip-hop movement. The God Rakim himself was ranked the 4th greatest MC of all time. As a duo, their 1987 album Paid in Full was named the greatest hip-hop album of all time by MTV in 2006.

Rakim's positive message continues to influence creative communities around the world to become the best versions of themselves and encourages individuals to become more involved in their municipalities.

Besides his positive message, Rakim was known for his creative and intricate lyrical content. Prior to Rakim's impact, lyrics were straightforward accounts of the hardships that the MCs witnessed during their adolescence in the United States of America. Rakim took these stories and used them as the groundwork for his music. Rakim makes music for existing fans of hip-hop, exemplifying the mindset by which fans are able to show respect for the message behind the music.

As opposed to the more serious hip-hop flows from the 1980s, Rakim's flow has been compared to jazz and spoken word. Rakim dominates the competition with his lyricism, and, in the following decades, he is still remembered for his unforgettable and uniquely quotable lines (see the "Paid in Full" quote below).

One of hip-hop's most prominent Muslim rappers, Rakim raised the bar on professionalism and family values in hip-hop music. Advocating for personal responsibility and knowledge of the self, Rakim quotes the Holy Qur'an saying, “All praise is due to Allah and that's a blessing.” The God MC also features text from the Holy Quran in the "Paid in Full" music video.

Rakim remains one of the most influential representatives of Islam in popular culture, and he introduced a positive and current message which continues to be cherished by new and lifelong Muslims living in the United States of America and around the world. The God MC's message remains a groundbreaking leap for representation of Islam in American popular culture.

Rakim's music has influenced generations of future artists, including individuals such as Jay Z, Eminem, and Nas. Besides his incomparably motivational music, Rakim shines in press interviews. Rakim maintains a balance of humility and officiality that comes together to define his unique and unmistakable character.

Rakim sets the standard for moral consciousness and self-aspiration in hip-hop music, shining the light on real and positive representatives of hip-hop as opposed to the fake and negative characters who prioritize their short-term financial gains over their long-term impact on human society as a whole.

As a testament to his enduring legacy and indomitable spirit, The God MC Rakim remains to be one of the greatest MCs of all time.

Rakim Allah is a household name whose community impact we ought to collectively recognize by now in the Americas.

The following verse from the "Paid in Full" single is an example of Rakim's incomparable lyrical technique, which exemplifies his signature combination of reality, positivity, and personal empowerment.

Even if it's jazz or the quiet storm, I hook a beat up, convert it into hip-hop form. Write a rhyme in graffiti—in every show you see me I'm in deep concentration 'cause I'm no comedian.

Jokers are wild—if you want to be tame I'll treat you like a child then you're gonna be named another enemy, not even a friend of me, 'cause you'll get fried in the end if you pretend to be

competing, 'cause I just put your mind on pause and I can beat you when you compare my rhyme with yours—I wake you up and as I stare in your face you seem stunned. Remember me? The one you got your idea from!

But soon you start to suffer, the tune'll get rougher and when you start to stutter, thats when you've had enough of biting, it'll make you choke, you can't provoke.

You can't cope, you should've broke

because I ain't no joke.

In one of the most memorable hip-hop interviews, Nas and Rakim exchange mutual respect and exemplify the rich content of character that defines both of their legacies.