Posts about Rakim

In this interview with HardKnockTV Rakim tells fans why he doesn’t have any production from DJ Premier, Clark Kent or Pete Rock on his upcoming album The Seventh Seal. Ra also talks about why he’s chosen to only work with NY artists on the album.

Rakim reflects on his days signed to Dr. Dre’s Aftermath.

Apparently Rakim feels “funny” about Nas’s “Unauthorized Biography of Rakim” off of his Streets Disciple album.

Mr Magic, real name John Rivas, has died today of a heart attack. He was an important figure in the rap game. It was confirmed by DJ Premier this morning. He hosted an on-air radio show called Rap Attack. It was the first rap radio show to air. He was New York resident and worked along side artists such as Rakim, Nas, Tupac, Notorious B.I.G and the list goes on.He also had a rivalry with Kool DJ Red Alert. From all of us here at Street Hop, rest in peace Magic.

Here’s what DJ Premier had to say:

I WANT TO SEND OUT THE UTMOST RESPECT AND CONDOLENCES TO THE MEMORY OF JOHN RIVAS—-aka MR. MAGIC

HE PASSED AWAY THIS MORNING OF A HEART ATTACK…..

TRUE HIP HOP HEADS KNOW THAT HIS HISTORY IS SO LONG
DUE TO HIM BEING THE FIRST RAP MIXSHOW TO EVER BE ON COMMERCIAL RADIO ON NEW YORK’S WBLS–(107.5) WITH MARLEY MARL AND FLY TY IN 1982-1984…….THEN WENT ON TO WHBI IN OCTOBER OF 1984 AND THEN
BACK TO WBLS in 1985 and WDAS in Philly SIMULTANEOUSLY

HE PAVED THE WAY FOR ALL RADIO STATIONS THAT EVER DID MIXSHOWS AND ALSO SPARKED THE CAREER OF BOOGIE DOWN PRODUCTIONS DUE TO THE DISS HE SHOWED WHEN THEY CAME TO SHOP THEIR DEMO TO HIM AND WAS TURNED AWAY WHICH THEN SPARKED “SOUTH BRONX” AND “THE BRIDGE IS OVER”…….

HE WAS KNOWN FOR HIS DIRECT AND SARCASTIC ATTITUDE ON THE AIR AND EVERY ARTIST WANTED HIS APPROVAL WHEN IT CAME TO BREAKING NEW RECORDS……..HE EVEN HAD SONGS DEDICATED TO HIM BY THE LEGENDARY WHODINI–(”MR. MAGIC’S WAND”) WHICH WAS SURPRISINGLY PRODUCED BY ONE OF MY FAVORITE ARTISTS THOMAS DOLBY…….

SHOUTS OUT TO MARLEY MARL AND FLY TY FOR THE CORRECT INFORMATION ON THIS……

REST IN PEACE MR. MAGIC………….DJ PREMIER

Before you get too excited there are three things you should know about this latest leak from Rakim’s upcoming The Seventh Seal album:

1. It is tagged.
2. It isn’t finished, Styles P and Busta Rhymes are set to feature on the finished version. Rakim may also redo his verse, which may be good considering;
3. This is far from Ra’s best.

DOWNLOAD: Rakim feat. Jadakis – Euphoria (Tagged)

Joe Budden leaves the female drama behind to drop a JoeBuddenTV episode featuring DJ Premier debating everything from Mayweather and boxing to Rakim, Hip-Hop and schooling young rappers like Bow Wow and Soulja Boy.

Here is the high quality MP3 of Rakim’s new single, “Holy Are You” from his upcoming The 7th Seal album.

DOWNLOAD: Rakim – Holy Are You

I posted a video of Rakim performing the song earlier today, click here to see that.

Rakim performed his new track “Holy Are You” last night and here is the footage. I’ll post up the MP3 for the song later today.