Rakim was a turning point for lyrical hip hop. Nas, Eminem and most of the rapper's of 90s got there style from him.

You have to understand that before Rakim, this complex intricate kind of rhyming wasn't really done. And that's a statement echoed by Eminem himself. The internal rhyme schemes that he uses was just not done.

Ita pronounced Rah- KIM, not Keem. He was the trendsetter. Generally, hip hop was party music, mostly bright and upbeat. He opened up a new lane with the calm but deadly type of style. Not to mention the flows he brought to the game. He gave birth to a ton of mc's.

Favorite lyric is probably "I hold the microphone like a grudge".

"RAKIM IS CONSIDERED THE BEST LYRICIST EVER"! "NO TELLING HOW MANY EMCEES AFTER HIM HAD TO TOSS THEIR RHYME BOOK IN THE GARBAGE BECAUSE OF THIS MAN"!

"When I'm gone.. then you can joke" definitely sums up Rakim in a nutshell lol but hands down one of the greatest ever

Rakim transcended lyricism in hip hop, if you listen to records released after Rakims hey day, you’ll hear snippets and versions of his lyrics in even today’s hip hop. Also as hard and serious as he sounds... he never cursed

Rakim is one of the top 5 lyricists of all time!

You two are hilarious, not impressed? Rakim is one of the best Lyricist ever. In that era everyone had their own style which made the rap game great!

Rakim is famous for not smiling while on the mic. Funny that you noticed that because that's the way they wanted it.

Y’all didn’t think Rakim was impressive ? Are you guys smoking crack? This is the God MC start actually listening to the lyrics, this is your favorite rapper favorite rapper .

Rakim always drops spiritual lyrics in his rhymes. He said "guide you out of triple stage darkness" which means a person is mentally physically and spiritually not inline with the divine. Also your comparison with LL is spot on, cause Rakim moved hip hop away from the mid 80s swag that Run DMC and LL Cool J displayed during that time. Rakim was the next generation of rappers that changed the style and sound of rap. Rakim is regarded as the goat of hip hop.

Rakim is on the mt Rushmore of rap. He literally changed rapping. Well before others. I think the only curse word he ever used in his rap was damn once. Then again me may have never used a curse word. His interview on power 105 gives you a glimpse of who he is. One of the most laid back dudes you will see interviewed

Rakim. Your favorite rappers favorite rapper. Rakim brought lyrics of fury at a time when hip hop was mostly still at the "yes yes ya'll" phase.

He said it, "I ain't no Joke!"

The lyricism, the composure, the style, the overall presence and authority on the mic smh CRAZY! And this is like 1985. Look at what the goat is wearing. Look at that gold. The AUDACITY! I love it 🖤

As Eminem said in his most recent interview, Rakim was the pioneer of the rap game in terms of complex rhyme schemes. Nas himself was called "The Second Comimg of Rakim" for his lyricism. Most people admire Rakim for how he influenced every rapper that came after him, and the craft necessary to create his verses.If you're not as crazy about that like some hip hop fans and Emimem, I feel like he would never be one of your favorites.

Y'all love Eminem, but he got part of his style from Rakim. Lol I just saw Rakim in concert last year and he is still one of the coldest on the mic.

Rakim “Microphone Fiend” 🔥

I don't play too much Rakim myself, though I like his album he came out with in the 90s much better. I respect his status and influence. Rakim's big thing was that in the 80s he was one of the first to be doing complex, multi-syllable rhyme schemes back when most of the rappers were doing a very simple rhyme scheme. He was way ahead of his time and influenced almost every rapper since.

Rakim is one of the greatest lyricists. His writing is on another level.

“Wheelz of Steel by OutKast” would be a great song to react to with very high quality scratching.

This is the very essence of hip hop!

Rakim- know the ledge(juice)

Your lord and savior rapper Eminem got his whole style from him,rhyme pattern, multi syllables skillz...Rakim elevated hip hop in those days Scratching in the 80 can't be compared to scratching now, there weren't scratching equipment made back then

He is known as the Best Rapper to ever do it...My Favorite

Asking Rakim to smile is like asking James Hetfield to smile while performing 'Enter Sandman'...

It's amazing rakim is not in the hall of Fame he didn't have the record sales but his influence is unmeasured

One of if not the most important figure in hip hop!!

Rakim was a great lyrical innovator He never cursed Just solid and hardcore

Follow the Leader, Paid in Full, Don’t Sweat the Technique, and Microphone Fiend are a few more videos from Eric B. & Rakim that you need to watch.

Truth hurts ft Rakim addictive hella sick dj quick beat.......hip hop forever

Yall dont understand hip hop culture.. thus.. you lack the context to appreciate the genius you have both just witnessed.

I think one detail that has to be noted...Rakim as a lyricist was very niche...there are so many references made that even to a lot of rap heads of that time, much of what he was saying just sounded like one non sequitur after another. What makes this so classic is because at the time this was arguably one of the top 5 hip hop beats of all time, so the song had something for everyone. However, for those who understood the lyrics combined with the love of the beat, this is absolutely mind blown piece of work..

He's known as the Godfather of hip-hop legendary. The boy was a Beast. His lyrics was unbelievable his word play makes you think and understand.... You have to listen to Chinese arithmetic if you like scratching. Eric B was a beast on the turntables

They are one the Legends of Hip Hop. They are like the Led Zeppelin of Hip Hop. If you criticize, you will get a argument, where ever you go. They can do know wrong, like Led Zeppelin to Classic Rock.

Its all about the Lyrics

The reason he seemed serious was because he ain't no joke. LOL That beat is so tight. We used to beat that on our desk and tables at school.

Big Daddy Kane and Rakim were actually friends. People wanted them to go at eachother and they almost did but realized it was pointless.

goosebump time

Really y'all?!? Love it when it's just the rapper over the beat. And Rakim's phrasing is unmatched.

Top 5 hands down

This was 80’s he was the first to do this type of rhyming

The GOAT

Rakim's Style is basically soft spoken, But once he grips That mic, Game Over. "I took 7 MCs to put'em in a line- And brought 7 more MCs they thought they can rhyme- It 7 more MCs That I'll go for mine And that's 21 MCs Ate Up at the same time." ( From the cut Eric-B is President) - Eric-B & Rakim -

That's the god mc! The name of the song is "I ain't no joke". He doesn't play with words on the mic.

Possibly the first ever lyricist of hip hop and first to heavly use metaphors. Paid in Full should be your next one from him

Some people got some type of Superman like DNA 🧬 when it comes to transcending their craft, MJ, MJ, Mike Tyson, Nas, Rakim, Biggie, Muhammad Ali, Andre 3000 etc.

One of the greatest mc’s ever lived

1. Eric B was Rakim's DJ/Producer 2. Yes that is Flava Flav dancing

You guys are sooo cool!!

Rakim is in everyone's top 5, if not top 3, of all-time greatest MC's.

Rakim is the god MC and the greatest of all times

@metalhead.... Rakim the god... This man set the standard in the bar for lyricism... Check out his song.. Follow the Leader...

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

If you guys get a new camera and mic....you guys have a new full time job. Congrats! Keep it up!

The GOAT!

He is the GOAT 🐐

This was the beginning of hip hop, well mid 80s.

Tracks like this will make anyone love Hip-Hop...for a moment anyway. 😁

I appreciate y’all for being so openminded. Rakim is definitely one of the greatest. Much love and props to Eric B. as well. (Notice there are no foul words used.)

Rakim is serious because as he says, he ain’t no joke!

im just here for the comments after the rakim reaction

You should watch the movie "Juice" and give us a movie review. If you want scratching... Omar Epps doesn't disappoint.

This is the God MC put some respect on Rakim’s name !! And learn how to pronounce his name .

HOW CAN YOU NOT BOB UR HEAD WHEN LISTENING TO THIS?!!

Do you Realize this was 1987 and he was only 17 years old😂...The God MC

Eric B.., is the D.J, & Rakim, is the rapper.

Classic

Rakim is your favourite's rapper favourite rapper

One of the best lyricist there is

Rakim is the GOAT of hip hop! The God MC

Personally, they are fully entitled to their opinions. You have to keep in mind that one, they are not of the culture, and so it may actually be sort of lot on them. And, two they are viewing it almost 40 years after it came out and so the feeling it engendered when it was a new record is hard to capture at this point.

ASAP Rocky's parents named him after Rakim. You guys ever done any Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five? The Message is their most famous song.

Rakim=G.O.A.T. period, end of story. Oh and I'm a metal head for over 40 years..

FYI Rahim is the goat of lyricist.

Wouldn't expect two In-breds to understand that.

Eric B and Rakim, Lyrics of Fury

😁Don't knock the scratching - it was 1987!! You should react to 'Casualties of War' also by Eric B & Rakim.

Rakim = Ozzy Osbourne of rap music. Eric B. is the producer. Yall should do more hardcore tracks. Do Rakim "Lyrics of Fury".

I ain't no joke,hello...89'.nice

hi man, this song a brazilian band made an excerpt of it on the guitar, the song called "Ilê Ayê" name of the band "o Rappa" it would be good to make a reaction

Watching this reaction genuinely hurt somehow lmao

Try some Slick Rick..."Childrens Story" love you guys!!!

Before Rap God there was God M.C. the originator of today's modern rap styles who influenced eminem. The original fire spitter other than LL cool J. This guy is a true lyricist.

You should do Eric B and Rakim's- Paid in full and Microphone Feind.

Bow wow that’s my name, neck uv da woods, shook ones, f**k wit Dre day

It’s Ra-KIM (as in Kim). Not Keem😆 His seriousness expresses the New York State of Mind.

You all really need to do Bad Meets Evil (Eminem and Royce da 5’9)...”Fast Lane”

In my top 3

The 🐐

there's no gimmicks to Rakim it's take it or leave it then usually you're going to take it God level rapper💪

Eric B is the DJ. Rakim is the one rapping

I used to let the mind smoke.

I got the same reaction from other people years ago, when I tried to explain what rakim did and where he is as a All time great. But they were like ok whatever, not interested. I'm not sure if you and others who do these reaction videos really want to know about the real hip hop or not.

DJ Premier I think perfected Scratching. Of course there were others who were just as good maybe even better, but to me, He is the G.O.A.T when it comes to that!

Fallow the leader!

Please react to some beatbox.. and i suggest you react to Tom Thum : ratched face .. he did this one live, it's funny and then he used the kaos pads to loop his voice and made a whole track of it.. (please do get the right one) .. you 2 will be amazed 4 sure!! I promise! 🤩👍

The Mic Lebanon Teflon Don Rakim, one of the greatest MCs in rap. Also, Rakim RARELY used profanity in his lyrics. Some great Rakim tracks are Mahogany, Know the Ledge, Paid in Full, New York (Ya Out There) And a great track is Classic from like 2007ish with Nas, KRS One and Kanye West with DJ Premier.

NOW DO FOLLOW THE LEADER!!