Avg Rating: 
3.5 ( 15 total votes )
Before Rakim there was no rap. Or more accurately, there was rap, but not in the form we know today. In the early ‘80s hip-hop was dominated by DJs, with emcees a distant second, but then Rakim and his partner Erik B. dropped the seminal album Paid in Full, almost single-handedly introducing the concepts of lyricism, metaphor, and flow that became the pillars of modern rap. It’s crazy to think that there was a time before rap, but there was, just like there was a time before cars, electricity or the internet. There’s a reason … ...Read the full album review
DJBooth Album Review
Before Rakim there was no rap. Or more accurately, there was rap, but not in the form we know today. In the early ‘80s hip-hop was dominated by DJs, with emcees a distant second, but then Rakim and his partner Erik B. dropped the seminal album Paid in Full, almost single-handedly introducing the concepts of lyricism, metaphor, and flow that became the pillars of modern rap. It’s crazy to think that there was a time before rap, but there was, just like there was a time before cars, electricity or the internet. There’s a reason Rakim is called the God emcee.
So how could Rakim’s new album The Seventh Seal be so average? As I’ve written before, unlike athletes there’s no inherent reason for a rapper to lose their flow as they age, so why is it that I’m so thoroughly unimpressed by The Seventh Seal? Rakim’s skills couldn’t have simply diminished, could they? Actually, no. In many ways Rakim is the same rapper he was more than 20 years ago, and that’s exactly the problem. Unlike other old school rappers like KRS-ONE who stayed active in the game, constantly tweaking their delivery as hip-hop evolved, Rakim has been almost completely absent, releasing only a meager three albums over the last 17 years. Think of it this way: in 1903 the Wright brothers flew the first functional airplane, an invention of almost unparalleled magnitude. But now, more than 100 years later, the Wright brother’s early aircraft simply couldn’t keep up with the modern jet. Does that diminish their genius or accomplishment? No, not at all, but the field they created inevitably surpassed their original vision. Now substitute the Wright brothers for Rakim, and airplanes for rap.
Back to the lesson at hand. To clarify, The Seventh Seal is only average by Rakim’s lofty standards, and in fact it contains more than a couple tracks that, while not instant classics, sound like the work of a legendary rapper, starting with Documentary of a Gangster, a cinematic track featuring Rakim at the peak of his storytelling powers. While a piano-laced beat courtesy of Y-Not bumps in the background, Rakim tells the tale of a young and reckless gangster with carefully crafted lyricism and a deceptively complex delivery. To put it bluntly, do not f**k with Rakim on Documentary of a Gangster. While some would prefer for Rakim to leave his religious views at home, I’d also throw Holy Are You into this group (his fearless rhymes more than makes up for the track’s shaky production), along with the celebratory Satisfaction Guaranteed, a pacing cut featuring Rakim flowing over the shaking production with ease. The man’s still got his fastball, even if he doesn’t throw often.
Unfortunately, moments like Documentary are the exception, not the rule, on Seventh Seal. The average Seventh Seal title track could be described as sub-par production paired with good but not great vocals and rhymes from Rakim that, while impressive, certainly don’t feel like the work of a hip-hop deity. Just take Won’t Be Long, a track whose beat sounds unfinished, a shaky sonic backdrop that Rakim uses to complain about the current state of hip-hop without any real creativity. On the same tip is the failed love song Psychic Love and the mismatched You & I, a track that swings but never connects. I’d actually put Walk These Streets among the best of this disappointing group. Now a lot of purists have decried Maino’s appearance on the track – no disrespect, but Rakim has one guest rapper on his album and he goes with Maino? Really? – but Maino does fine, but more importantly, on Walk These Streets Rakim sounds almost like he’s intentionally dumbing down his flow, making his anti-hater proclamations sound like a dad who tries to copy his kids’ slang. And yes, it almost hurts me to write about Rakim like this.
To keep the analogy orgy going, when Jordan came back to play for the Wizards he was still an above-average NBA player, but the distance between “greatest ever” and “above-average” is enormous, and it was painfully evident to anyone who watched Jordan that year that he was a shadow of his former self. This is by no means the final chapter for Rakim, he could easily become an elite rapper again, but for now he’s more of a living piece of hip-hop history than a current contributor to the culture. Take it or leave it, but that’s the truth. All praise due.
Listen to More: Rakim Written by Nathan S.
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Member Reviews and Ratings
Average Member Rating: Total Ratings: 15
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 1231 |
Well you really went in on him here.
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| Posted on Nov 25, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 189 |
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Not bad at all, but I feel that Rakim could have done better.
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| Posted on Nov 25, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 242 |
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Almost everybody this year in mainstream rap disappointed me starting with jigga, em, ghostface and up to rakim, of course i won't talk about underground they've been hot since forever, other than that only Fif, and Rae delivered this year in mainstream rap.
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| Posted on Nov 25, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 433 |
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First off Dj Something, did you listen to "Relapse" at all. Do me a favor and go back and listen to it again. Besides Rick Ross' album, Eminem's was the best this year so for you to be dissapointed in it almost makes me wonder if you have any idea what your talking about. Heck you probably didn't even listen to this album. Nathan is spot on as usual. This was an okay album and DOAG was the best track on here.
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| Posted on Nov 25, 2009 |
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| Posted on Nov 26, 2009 |
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It's a good album but i expected to be a legendary album! So it is a bit a disappointing
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| Posted on Nov 26, 2009 |
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| Posted on Nov 26, 2009 |
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Tastemaker Total Ratings: 242 |
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@DJ Baer
go see my review on relapse, of course i listened to it, i'm not the who talks out of his mouth without listening to an album. I gave relapse a 5, but after later listens that album disappointed me. |
| Posted on Nov 26, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Crew  Total Ratings: 2476 |
Just to jump in, the only thing I'd differ with DJ Something on is Ghost. That album's disappointed you? In what way? It wasn't a classic but I was def digging it.
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| Posted on Dec 01, 2009 |
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Tastemaker  Total Ratings: 2949 |
Still Gonna check this album out, really loved 'Holy are you' and 'walk these streets' not gonna rate coz aint heard it all yet
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| Posted on Dec 02, 2009 |
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| Posted on Dec 03, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member |
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It's not bad, becase Rakim didn't deliver to his potential.
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| Posted on Dec 08, 2009 |
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Tastemaker Total Ratings: 242 |
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@Nathan S.
What i didn't like about Ghost's album is that, R&B is something not suited for ghost, i mean compare his content on that ghost dini album to his content on Rae's album, i mean Ghost could've done better, i hope Wu breaks this incosistency though lol, and will deliver on that Rae-Ghost-Meth album. |
| Posted on Dec 09, 2009 |
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DJ Booth Member  Total Ratings: 69 |
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shit i liked it, but as far as his music comes i wish he'd do a conceptual album
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| Posted on Dec 16, 2009 |
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Can not wait until the next album!
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| Posted on Dec 22, 2009 |
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| Posted on Jan 03, 2010 |
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| Posted on Feb 12, 2010 |
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DJ Booth Member Total Ratings: 189 |
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One of the most dissapointing albums i have ever listened to. Yes i was expecting a classic, and this is only good.
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| Posted on Apr 12, 2010 |
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| Posted on May 27, 2010 |
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| Posted on May 27, 2010 |
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| Posted on Jul 03, 2012 |
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