Rakim is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest rappers of all time. In terms of how he delivers his lyrics -- most of which assert his skills, wisdom, and Islamic faith -- the Long Island native is virtually unparalleled. His flow is smooth and liquid, imposing yet conversational, inflected with jazz rhythms and an air of effortless cool. As one-half of Eric B. and Rakim in the '80s and early '90s, Rakim raised the bar for MC technique and helped to pioneer the use of internal rhyme schemes. Where many contemporaries developed their approach through improvisational battles, Rakim was among the first to demonstrate the possibilities of intricately crafted lyrics packed with clever word choices and metaphors. The four albums Rakim recorded with Eric B., highlighted by the platinum debut Paid in Full (1987) and two subsequent gold sellers, still sound fresh and exceptionally powerful. Rakim's infrequent solo recordings since then, starting with the Top Ten full-length The 18th Letter (1997), and continuing through the typically lean and hard-hitting G.O.Ds Network - Reb7rth (2024), have only added to his legend.