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The Cellar
Released Aug 7, 2013
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Quick Facts
Born
1968
1968
From
United States of America
United States of America
Journey
William Michael Griffin Jr., known professionally as Rakim, is an American rapper and record producer recognized as one of the most influential MCs in hip-hop history. Alongside Eric B., he formed the celebrated duo Eric B. & Rakim, whose work helped define the golden age of hip-hop. Rakim's artistic reach spans hip-hop and jazz rap, genres he has engaged with both as a performer and as a creative force in the studio.
Before his recording career began, Rakim played the baritone saxophone in the band at Wyandanch High School. That background proved foundational; he approached writing rhymes with the same sensibility a saxophonist brings to phrasing and improvisation, drawing inspiration from the approach of John Coltrane. That musical framework set his lyrical style apart and contributed to the lasting critical respect his work commands.
As one half of Eric B. & Rakim, he produced a catalog that includes recordings in hip-hop. The duo's 1987 album "Paid in Full" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2026, cementing its place among the most significant records in American music. Rakim's individual standing has drawn parallel recognition; he received Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominations in both 2012 and 2024, reflecting continued acknowledgment from the music industry across different generations of consideration.
His 2013 output added further range to his discography. The collaborative single "Don't Call Me," produced by No Mystery Studios, brought together Rakim, DMX, and Shontelle on a project that bridged multiple voices within the hip-hop world.
Rakim's legacy is anchored not by a single moment but by the accumulated weight of recordings, collaborations, and recognitions that have followed his career across several decades. The Grammy Hall of Fame induction of Paid in Full and the repeated attention from the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominating committee reflect an artist whose work has moved well past trend and into the kind of sustained influence that reshapes what the craft can be. His foundation in jazz instrumentation, the precision of his lyrical construction, and the breadth of his collaborations, from Eric B. to DMX to Shontelle, trace a creative life defined by consistent artistic standards rather than commercial cycles.