âEven if itâs jazz or the quiet storm/ I hook a beat up, convert it into hip-hop form.â
Paid in Full
âThinkinâ of a master plan/ âCause ainât nothinâ but sweat inside my hand.â
Paid in Full
âPull out my weapon and start to squeeze/ A magnum as a microphone murderinâ MCs.â
ââFollow the Leaderâ (Follow the Leader, 1988)
âIâm the arsenal/ I got artillery, lyrics of ammo/ Rounds of rhythm/ Then Iâm âa give âem piano.â
ââLet the Rhythm Hit âEmâ (Let the Rhythm Hit âEm, 1990)
âI grew up on the sidewalk/ Where I learned street talk/ And then taught to hawk New York.â
ââJuice (Know the Ledge)â (Donât Sweat the Technique, 1992)
SEE IT: Rakim plays DanteâsD, 350 W Burnside St., with Sleep, Cool Nutz, Serge Severe, Half Man Half, Destro and L-Pro, on Thursday, Feb. 28. 9 pm. $18. 21+.
WWeek 2015