He's the greatest emcee ever, yet still incredibly underrated in music history. I place him alongside Bob Dylan, Miles Davis, Willie Nelson, Aretha Franklin, Fela Kuti, James Brown. That's the level Rakim is at to me. Those are his peers as far as influence. That's why any emcee lists without Rakim at #1 look like a joke to me. The list starts at #2.

Rakim is the best to ever do it.. Way ahead of his time...

rakim changed the game...rhymes ahead of the Times

His bars was ahead of his time.. mind blowing verses... I'm 43 and been a hip hop head all my life and his first album sounds like it was just done... You can tell Nas studied him hard body.. peace to the god

RIP Alvin Toney. You were highly influential. From Eric B Rakim to EPMD to Craig Mack. Always in our hearts

HANDS DOWN RAKIM IS THE G.O.A.T......THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME.....Can i get a witness

He is our Michael Jordan of hip hop rap especially with the lyricism

“ I’ll run a brain scan to check out his game plan, when I’m finished he won’t be the same man” Rakim in 1987. Shouldn’t be no argument about who’s the god MC.

Even as a Kid when I first heard Rakim, He wasn't well known yet but I knew he was something special. He was so futuristic compared to everyone else at the time. I KNEW he would be considered a Legend by the time I was an "old head". Damn if it ain't play out just like I saw it. Its cool to still be alive and see it.

the best emcee of all time...peace to the god...

YESSSSSSSSS!!!! Give him his flowers while he can smell them. Rakim is the Father of Modern lyricism in Hip-Hop. Along with Big Daddy Kane.PERIOD.

Some cats were just born to inspire others.

Rakim is a Lyrical Genius the dude had you clinging to every word that came out his mouth.

"I took a kid and cut off his eyelids Killed him slow so he can see what I did And if he don't understand what I said I'm pushin' his eyeballs WAAAAAY to the back of his head So he can see what he's gettin' in to A part of the mind that he's never been through..." That verse, that verse right there from Rakim's cut, 'The Punisher', is my favorite metaphorical verse of ALL TIME out of ANY song of ANY genre! That chit is just straight-up raw!

When i first heard Rakim as a youth back in 1988 down south in the hood, my interest in knowledge of self began. 30yrs later and scores of books, rituals and spiritual practices i find myself educating those around me often. Thank you Rakim.

The greatest in my opinion - Rakim

Rakim is the king yet to be conquered. That voice, that delivery, that flow, THAT PERFECTION!! GOAT!!

Rakim is the GOAT!! He has always been my favorite of all time. Sit back and listen to his lyrics, you'll see.

I'm from London I'm 23 I was turned on to rakim when I was 12 13 years old through microphone fiend he definitely sounded ahead of his time most of his records like lyrics of fury mahogany and follow the leader that had come out 4 and 5 years before I was born have really stood the test of time to this day nobody on a artist and break out level has overtaken rakim on a level of content flow delivery and stage persona he's still on top "Compition is none" "ill take a phrase that's rarely heard flip it now its a daily word" "it ain't where your from its where your at" "ill take 7 mc's put em in a line Add 7 more brothers who think they can rhyme It'll take 7 more before I go for mine Now that's 21 mc's ate up at the same time" " ladies and gentlemen your about to see a pastime hobby about to be taken to the maximum" Just a few iconic moments and career starters to some of your favourite mc's Such as Nas Az Busta rhymes Lord finesse Jeru the damaja Mobb deep Capone and nore Black star Souls of mischief Hieroglyphs Jurassic 5 Uk hip hop artists Such as roots manuva Black twang Fallacy Foreign beggers Lowkey Akala Rakim influence has filtered into every type of evolved intelligent hip hop I was always a nas mobb deep wu tang fan But I have a new found appreciation for rakim he's the original Peace

He wrote a verse that states "his rhymes like oxygen"...you can't breathe without Oxygen...that's deep

"I don't believe in writer's block. So, when I get to the point where I'm gettin' slow in the ink, I just put the pen down and go out in the world and live. I'm not rhymin. I'm just thinking. So, I got more life to put down." Let that sink in. Rakim Alar, the God MC. The greatest of all time.

16 dislikes???They must like this era of hip hop...if you can call it that.

Rakim was the only rapper who never got dissed he was nasty👈🏾💯💯

I have a tape with Rakim when he went by Kid Wizard when he was down with the Love Brothers. I won't play it because It is so old I am scared its gonna snap.

Listening to these lyrics...these rappers now a days can't fuck wit him now!!

Rakim still looks like he's in 87' it's like The GOD MC has a time machine

Top MC of all time Period we all bit his style one way or another

I’m in my 50s now. To this day I marvel at the impact Rakim had in my life. ... he made it to my top 5 list of Impact at key stages of Life... Childhood: Jackson Five Teens: Rick James, Parliament/Funkadelic Late Teens:Prince, Stevie Wonder, Pink Floyd Twenties: Rakim, KRS-ONE, PE Thirties- present... added classic jazz to repertoire... certain classical. Listening 👂🏽 for the Soul in any genre. There were certain albums that were meditations... like if I put it on I’d have to listen to the entire piece... Songs in the Key of Life Funkentelechy vs. the Placebo Syndrome The Wall Dark Side of the Moon Equinox: Coltrane So What: Myles Davis Inner Visions: Stevie... And I have to say Rakims ‘Let The Rhythm Hit’em ‘was in that space for years... One of the few in the HipHop category for me... Public Enemy’s “ It Takes A Nation of Millions was up there too.

Hands DOWN RAKIM is the Best to ever do it Period! #1 MC EVER! True Hip Hop forever

Your favorite MC’s favorite MC! Rakim Allah. Peace to the God MC.

@ :13 That pic right there! That is late 80's Rakim, that pic shows the physical aura and essence of the MC that captivated a generation. The jewelry, the clothes, the swag, the aggressive, MASCULINE delivery of his rhymes. His music's energy at the time was amazing.

"I run a brain scan to locate his game plan"....I had to stop the video there because that's all I could handle in one setting.

The thing I learned from and about Rakim that made him so special even back in the 87 to 90s era he was so unbelievably ahead of his time almost like light years ahead of anyone or anything that was out at the time he took it to a whole nother dimesion of ryhme almost and no disrespect to KRS1 who was also a brilliant emcee or the next best emcee at that time but the distance between the two was truly overwhelming far as the skill set Rakim took it or set the bar to heights unimaginable at that time, a true a God bless talent for the ages in hiphop.

13:33 straight fire from 1987 is better than anything out right now!! FACTS! Thank you 4 this video.....one

THIS MAN IS THE ALLAH OF HIP-HOP! I GET CHILLS EVERY-TIME I HEAR HIS WORDS, TONE, RHYTHM GYMNASTICS.... HE IS THE TOP 5 GREATEST OF ALL TIME!

LOVE THE DOCUMENTARY. RAKIM IS A VERY POWERFUL INFLUENCE IN MY LIFE. INFINITE GRATITUDE FOR THIS.

if your from Uptown, Brooklyn- bound, The Bronx, Queens, or Long Island Sound, Even other states come right and exact, It ain't where you're from, it's where you're at Since you came here, you have to show and prove And do that dance until it don't move 'Cause all you need is soul self-esteem will release, The rest is up to you, Rakim 'll say peace

One of my favorite emcees the God rakim one of the all time greats rakim still nice til this day I use to date,a girl from wyandanch my cousin from wyandanch

why is everyone speaking of Rakim in the past tense...he "was" this , he "was" that...Rakim is and always will be.

Rakim is my all time favorite MC EVER POINT BLANK PERIOD

Greatest Of All Time.

hands down the king

Rakim definitely the best that ever did it, in every body top emcees list

Lyrically... Da Goat!

"Rakim put it together, smooth like suede n leather"

A true lyricist!! A true emcee!!! Absolute wordsmith...lyrical architect The 18th Letter....Rakim Allah Knowledge be Born.....as far as I'm concerned he is the Greatest Emcee!!!

Peace to the god of rap, Rakim.

The 18th letter was transformative for me

They need a VH1 movie 🎥 for Eric B & Rakim

My Melody was such a cold record. All of his rhymes were top shelf... but My Melody was that left hook you didn’t see coming for yo chin!

When Ra dropped it was a wrap... every rapper thought about what they were going to say and some where in there mind they were thinking about something the Ra said.... that goes for every rapper who was out before and after ...The best part about what i just said is 99 percent of rappers/emcees will admit it

I'm 44 years old,when I was a boy I really didn't know what I liked until I heard the song Paid in Full. It was a wrap after that(no pun intended). I copped the album I knew and still know every word of the entire album to this day!!!!! Rakim changed everything about me. From the way I looked at and treated myself as well as other people. I don't know the lyrics to any other music or album but I still flow along with all of Rakims shit!!! The BEST ON EVERY LEVEL!!! PEACE TO THE R

This title should be the name of the official Eric B & Rakim Movie!

Strong Island🎤💪🏿

Most Impactful Wordsmith Most Innovative Lyricist Rakim!

Strong Island we been here 11798 Peace To The God MC..

Roosevelt, Amityville, Brentwood and Wyandanch changed hip hop forever.

the great Rakim

Top 5 dead or alive

Big Ups to Rakim, Straight Fiiiiiiiiire, A Lyrical Giant hands down or up.... Definitely a GOD Emcee 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

That freestyle he said back then will kill today's artist still..

I. S. 201. YMCA and PAL on 123rd Street were the hot pockets for Early days of HIp Hop in Harlem. I wish I was there when Rakim broke ground in Harlem that night. There was mention of many Heads in attendance, Eamon( did Beatbox), Rob Base, Doug E Fresh, all Harlem Cats. I missed It! I didnt miss the night, SALT n PEPPA did Showstoppa at 201. We were hyped because we swore Doug and Slick Rick were gonna come there. The crowd kept saying there go Doug and Salt N Peppa would pause. LMAO. Early days were fantastic. A job well done on this!!!!!!

✌🏿✌🏿King!! Great Doc.......Give Us Public Enemy, JVC Force......Strong Island!!

Rakim is still high on opinion list of the greatest emcees ever. Most others like Melle Mel who was the first emcee writing rhymes down and doing routines along with his brother. Very lyrical since the 70s also.

The foundation of hip hop fundamentals begins with Rakim. The 18th letter. Follow the leader.....that song, to this day STILL sets the bar high! “The stage is a cage....the mic is the third rail”.........one of the hardest verses EVER!!!!

All I can say is ,I'm thankful for the musical foundation because of these brothers. "Peace"

The god mc....... The Imperial Sun God Rakim. Peace be unto him

PEACE, POWER, EQUALITY ALLAH CEE EVERYTHING!!!

Yes The "R" in my book is the illest and Untouchable by any other Human... Period...

This is a Dipe documentary on the GOAT MC

Nobody is even close!

What s crazy back during the late 80 s and 90 s the 5 Boros slept on Long island and some even frowned upon Long Island like we were just a bunch of soft rich kids frm the suburbs. But groups like Rakim EPMD Public Enemy Keith Murray Freddie Foxx Method Man Biz Markie Dela Soul Craig Mack Leaders of New School Grand Daddy I.U Buster Rhymes and Prodigy frm Moob Deep K Solo Roc Marciano MR Doom JVC Force Prince Paul frm Stesasonic Soul for Real Groove B Chill Ashanti Mairah Carey RA the Rugged Man A Plus Doctor Dre frm Yo MTV Raps let the 5 Boros and the world know we were just as hood and just as deeply embedded in this real NY Hip Hop that was created in the Boogie Down Bronx and spread to Crooklyn Q Boro Shaloin Harlem World and Money making Manhattan and to Long Island and upstate NY. Rakim EPMD and Public Enemy showed the world the only Island we was on was the Strong One. Honestly Strong Island Mc s had the rap game on lock for minute during the Golden Era of Hip and thats facts with alll of them ledengenry acts that Long Island spit our. I honestly feel Strong Island and Queens spit out the most talent during the Golden Era of Hip Hop. Thats just my opinion. Them small wild suburban hoods like New Cassel Hempstead Wyndanch Freeport AmityVille Roosevelt Brentwood Central Islip Bellport Babaloyn Hunington Long Beach Glen Cove Rockville Center River Head Coram Central Islip LakeView Elmont spit out alot official suburban talant gangsters and official tissue. We may have not been in the concrete jungles of the 5 Boros but we were deftintly on our L.I. shit and on the streets and behind tbe G wall Strong Island was ringing bells. Dam your favorite rappers favorite rapper was a smooth ass Long Island Cat that was respected and loved by Crooklyn cats and all over NY and the world. You cant never front on Strong Island impact om this thing we grew uo on and love called Hip Hop. Strong Island in the building. We were and have always been suburban hood gangster smooth because like Ra said the only Island we was on was the Strong One. New Cassel Westbury L.I to Wyndanch Long Island stand up.

Rakim the greatest

D.O.P.E. ✊🏿

PEACE TO THE GODS AND EARTHS ALLAH'S 5% NATION

To live NYC or Brooklyn at this TIME you couldn't understand beautiful experience

THE GOAT!! No doubt.

This is GOLD! Thanks for posting.

He's the greatest

They call him the god m.c.

RAKIM: A MERCIFUL PERSON, ONE WHO SHOWS MERCY. This is the meaning of RAKIM. This meaning is fitting for a human being such as Mr. Griffin. GOD WALKS with RA. He is truly a special being and truly the BEST at what he does. Don’t throw it away, just think about it!!!!!!!!!!!

Rakim and Eric B....from all Hip-hop heads from late 70's onwards...Mad love From London England via Jamaica...God Bless the King of RAP...DADDY U ROYYYYYY..... kapppish 🇬🇧🇯🇲🇨🇺🇺🇲🇧🇴❤️💯

the God mc understanding right there peace!

Everyone on this Earth was born with a Gift it just we to our know our Gift and Use it to our full potential and you will surely reap the Benefits.

we need a Jadakiss and rakim joint asap

Omg he’s one of the best looking Brothas I’ve ever seen. He’s just fine as heaven and the greatest MC to date. 2023

Full Moon 🌕 I was sittin’ outside smokin’ a spliff, bingin’ Rakim, when Biz seZ, “I’m THE G.O.A.T.🐐” #Ancestors #NoLie 💯😳👑🐐🎶 Also, this is a masterpiece tribute… Mahalo 🌺

Rakim is The God for Sure he is Blessed By God GOD'S Creation just to show ya how powerful and Mysterious God is Really is..MUCH Respect to Rakim his intelligence is Extraordinary ..

My guy DJ Maniak...LONG ISLAND HOME OF THE GREATS....Big ups Rakim n KRAZE...KOC🔥💨🛸

The Greatest. RAKIM

The GOAT

@ 7:47 when DJ Maniak is mentioning the real life story about Rakim as a shorty, I wonder if that was Ra's inspiration for his verse on Microphone Fiend, "'Cause I grabbed the mic and try to say, "yes, y'all" They tried to take it, and say that I'm too small Cool, 'cause I don't get upset I kick a hole in the speaker, pull the plug, then I jet..."

it make sense now great story one of my favorite mcs

THE GOD M.C! G.O.A.T

Legendary innovation

I'm 46. DEAD SMACK in the birth of the hip hop movement as a youth. For me, I've ALWAYS struggles between Rakim and KRS. 30 plus year later, I still struggle (with myself) with whom I consider the greatest. Some days it's Rakim for me, other days it's KRS. I will say this as well. As far as style of where hip hop went in the future, you ha e to throw Kool G rap in there. His style was ahead of his time as well.

RIP to late Biz Markie huge part of the hip hop culture

No one ever mention that Rakims albums had NO PROFANITY IN EM. No fuck you, no niggas, no bitches. I dont think any other artist can say this. My mom told me at 11 that this music was all GARBAGE and she challenged me by saying that "all of it is bitches and hoes. It took me a minute but sure nuff, not one cuss word. Thats awesome

The looks/lyrics/presence/swagger. This was Rakim, he changed how niggas approached the Beats lyrically. Hands down, the greatest emcee ever.🎤🎧

THE GOD...most definitely inspired EMCEES in the south...For myself my Knowledge of SELF ..was kindled and ignited through RAKIM Words...as an EMCEE my standard is still to the standard THE GOD SET.. PEACE TO THE GOD NOVA SUPREME