Angie Martinez Plays The Role Of Hip-Hop Oprah Winfrey With A$AP Rocky & Rakim (Video)

HOT 97's Angie Martinez played the role of Hip-Hop Oprah Winfrey this week as she set up a surprise, on-air meet and greet between rappers A$AP Rocky and Rakim. A$AP shared the story of his mother getting Rakim, who A$AP is named after, to sign his autograph on a $5 dollar bill and some pampers. If this isn't a heart-warming, Hip-Hop story then I don't know what else is. See more...

J. Period ft. The Roots, John Legend & Rakim “In the Ghetto (Wake Up)” (Listen & Download)

Posted by Nathan S. on 02/17/11 | Filed under Downloads, The Roots, John Legend, Rakim, J. Period

I was thinking of making today's last post that surprisingly good new Snoop Dogg x Lex Luger x R. Kelly joint, or the incredibly confusing new Ron Artest x Nas record, but in the end I think I'm actually going to just post some really good music instead. I know, imagine that. Listen and download...

Swizz Beatz or Rakim? Which One is “King Tut”? (Listen & Download)

Posted by Nathan S. on 11/09/10 | Filed under Top Stories, Downloads, Swizz Beatz, Rakim

I have to be honest right off the bat. Swizz Beatz has been a primary source of mockery for me around these pages, mostly because he keeps insisting on ruining "Good Friday" tracks and making a slightly different version of the same beat for the past five years, but this new "King Tut" record? I'm not so sure. This might actually be pretty nice. Listen and download...

Classic Album: Eric B. and Rakim’s “Paid in Full” (Review & Video)

Posted by Matt Juss on 07/20/10 | Filed under Top Stories, Features, Classic Album, Rakim

When Eric B. and Rakim's first hooked up with famed producer Marley Mall to record their first single, "Eric B. Is President", I don't think either man knew what was about to come in regards to their music careers. After the single dropped, Eric B. and Rakim proved that they were just that, legends in the making, and their landmark album "Paid in Full" is one of the best of all time. Listen and download...

Classic Verse: Rakim and Eric B.‘s “Paid in Full” (Video & Lyrics)

Posted by Nathan S. on 07/13/10 | Filed under Top Stories, Features, Classic Verse, Rakim

That Rakim is one of the best rappers of all time, and that "Paid in Full" is a foundation hip-hop track, is one of those things that gets said so often and so easily it's ironically become almost meaningless. When's the last time you really listened to "Paid in Full"? I mean really listened? See more...

Classic Verse: Rakim’s “Paid in Full”

Posted by Nathan S. on 02/23/10 | Filed under Features, Classic Verse, Rakim

It's almost embarrassing that it's taken me this long to get to Erik B and Rakim's uber-classic track "Paid In Full". The title track to their seminal 1987 album of the same name, "Paid In Full" - and I'm not exaggerating here - redefined what a rap verse could be. There's a reason Rakim's flow on this track is probably the most often quoted verse in hip-hop history. All hail Rakim, the Rap God. See more...

New Rakim!: “Walk These Streets” (Download)

Posted by Nathan S. on 10/08/09 | Filed under Downloads, Rakim

When one of the greatest rappers of all time drops a new track, hip-hop fans are legally obligated to listen. I just got hit with Rakim's new single "Walk These Streets", off his upcoming "The Seventh Seal" album, and believe me, the man hasn't lost a lyrical step since his "Paid in Full" glory days. Check out more to download.