Rap Ratz created a tribute to one of the greatest to ever touch the microphone, Rakim.
The History and Biography of Rakim
– Rakim was born William Griffin, Jr. in 1968 in Long Island New York
– His mother sang opera and jazz and his aunt, Ruth Brown, was a well-known actress and R&B singer.
– He grew up wanting to be a professional football player, and played quarterback in high school
– Rakim met DJ and Producer Eric. B in 1986
– Played the baritone saxophone for the school band. He also was an active member of a number of new rap groups at school, including ‘The Love Brothers’ and the ‘Almighty 5 MCs’
– In 1986, he converted to Islam, adopting the name Rakim Allah and joined the The Nation of Gods and Earths also known as the “Five Percent Nation ” movement.
– The first song Eric B and Rakim recorded together was “Eric B. Is President”—which was released as a single on the independent Zakia Records in 1986
– After Def Jam Recordings founder Russell Simmons heard the single, the duo were signed to Island Records and began working on their debut album in 1987
– The duo released their debut album, Paid in Full, on the Island-subsidiary label 4th & B’way Records on On July 7, 1987
– The album peaked at #58 on the Billboard 200 chart and produced five singles: “Eric B. Is President”, “I Ain’t No Joke”, “I Know You Got Soul”, “Move the Crowd”, and “Paid in Full”.
– Rakim and Eric B. released their second album, ‘Follow the Leader’ on July 26, 1988 and peaked at #22 on the U.S. Billboard Pop Albums chart.
– Follow the Leader’ sold more than 500,000 copies in the United States and was certified gold.
– In 1992, ‘MCA’ Eric B and Rakim released their fourth and final album, ‘Don’t Sweat the Technique’.
