Rakim The Seventh Seal

What you think?

I bought it blind and felt a little regret for taking the chance on a artist I have no history of really digging full lengths from. But when I played this last night all my worst fears were NOT confirmed, I could not stop bobbing my head and just listening. I do not want to over hype this yet but this may crack my top 10 '09 soon. I am not going to rate it yet either.

It's not in my top 10 for the year, but it's a dope album. I thought there a little too much singing on the hooks, but it wasn't a huge problem. Documentary Of A Gangsta was a banger. I loved the track with the No Doubt sample too. It's definitely worth the purchase. solid album from the god mc.

This shit is bangin!! As of right now I'd say that this is about 4.25 stars but that rating might increase later. It's easily Top 10 of '09. I co-sign Kev, I can't stop bumpin this album. While he does have a few too many R&Bish tracks on it, I have no problem with that because he sounds rejuvenated on the mic.

Easily his best effort since Don't Sweat The Technique, and this album may even have more replay value than that one.

no way this steaming pile of redundant 1988 swag is better than The 18th Letter

The Real Real Jeru wrote:

no way this steaming pile of redundant 1988 swag is better than The 18th Letter

This album SLAUGHTERS 18th Letter, spin it again dude!

18th Letter is dope as fuck...its like 4.5 in my book

i havnt picked this up yet but am later tonight

Slang Editorial wrote:

18th Letter is dope as fuck...its like 4.5 in my book

i havnt picked this up yet but am later tonight

Exactly... 18th Letter is super dope... get your mind correct KJ

Hmm, i'm not feeling this one quite as much as 18th letter, but there's not a huge difference one way or another.

The Real Real Jeru wrote:

Slang Editorial wrote:

18th Letter is dope as fuck...its like 4.5 in my book

i havnt picked this up yet but am later tonight

Exactly... 18th Letter is super dope... get your mind correct KJ

I think people overrate 18th Letter because of Guess Who's Back. That song is a straight banger and the album is dope but I can't see more than 4 stars for it. It's 3.5-3.75 for me.

The Seventh Seal is about 4-4.25. I've only spun it 3 times and I dig the hell out of it.

umm The 18th Letter (Always and Forever), Remember That, The Saga Begins, When im Flowin..need i go on?

Pete Rock slaughtered his beats on that album btw

KJ Styles wrote:

The Real Real Jeru wrote:

Slang Editorial wrote:

18th Letter is dope as fuck...its like 4.5 in my book

i havnt picked this up yet but am later tonight

Exactly... 18th Letter is super dope... get your mind correct KJ

I think people overrate 18th Letter because of Guess Who's Back. That song is a straight banger and the album is dope but I can't see more than 4 stars for it. It's 3.5-3.75 for me.

The Seventh Seal is about 4-4.25. I've only spun it 3 times and I dig the hell out of it.

that's way too low

T. Myers wrote:

KJ Styles wrote:

The Real Real Jeru wrote:

Slang Editorial wrote:

18th Letter is dope as fuck...its like 4.5 in my book

i havnt picked this up yet but am later tonight

Exactly... 18th Letter is super dope... get your mind correct KJ

I think people overrate 18th Letter because of Guess Who's Back. That song is a straight banger and the album is dope but I can't see more than 4 stars for it. It's 3.5-3.75 for me.

The Seventh Seal is about 4-4.25. I've only spun it 3 times and I dig the hell out of it.

that's way too low

Like I said above, I can objectively see 4 stars for The 18th Letter, but that's about it. The reason I rate it the way I do is because it hasn't aged well. It doesn't have the replay value of his first 4 albums. It's better than The Master but that's the only one of his albums I'd rate it over.

3.5. Considering this is 10 years coming, very disappointing. The production is just weak, and it doesn't fit Rakim, that sample on the last song is just embarrassing. Lyrically, it's pretty much what you'd expect from Rakim at this point. I guess my opinion on that is probably pretty blasphemous, but I think he's gotten really formulaic in the way he constructs his lyrics, and they're pretty devoid of creativity and cleverness. Superficially, they sound good, because he knows how to put the syllables in the right place, and construct a tight rhyme scheme, but it's pretty much cliches interspersed with metaphysical jargon. So his lyrics are good, and functional, but I can't say there's much great here.

I give this joint 4.25 easily. Rakim hasnt lost much dude is dope.

The Master is Ra's best album

Jason wrote:

I guess my opinion on that is probably pretty blasphemous

That's the only correct statement you made in your post.

it's not a correct or incorrect sort of thing, just an opinion

18th letter is damn near classic and the master was dope as well. 7th seal is dope, but its my second fav solo post eric b rakim album

just got back frm the store with this...spinning now

You're cool slang - let me know how this is... if you give it a 4.5 I might check it out.

Jason wrote:

3.5. Considering this is 10 years coming, very disappointing. The production is just weak, and it doesn't fit Rakim, that sample on the last song is just embarrassing. Lyrically, it's pretty much what you'd expect from Rakim at this point. I guess my opinion on that is probably pretty blasphemous, but I think he's gotten really formulaic in the way he constructs his lyrics, and they're pretty devoid of creativity and cleverness. Superficially, they sound good, because he knows how to put the syllables in the right place, and construct a tight rhyme scheme, but it's pretty much cliches interspersed with metaphysical jargon. So his lyrics are good, and functional, but I can't say there's much great here.

Jason PLEASE SHUT THE FUCK UP...this is hip-hop man not fuckin physics or medical science what the fuck are you talking about man??? "but it's pretty much cliches interspersed with metaphysical jargon" ...lol..now I know why you like Gift Of Gab so much man..it all makes complete sense right now!


WOW! stick too Silver Jews PLEASE! thanks man..

Anyway I just got this one today and have yet to spin it..but I'm expecting it to be a decent effort.....review to follow in a few days

Jason PLEASE SHUT THE FUCK UP...this is hip-hop man not fuckin physics or medical science what the fuck are you talking about man??? "but it's pretty much cliches interspersed with metaphysical jargon"

L O L

All that 5 percent nation influenced stuff that Rakim is always spitting is metaphysics, that's what I'm talking about. This is Hip-Hop, and what I'm talking about is the content of his lyrics, a very significant portion of his lyrics, so I don't see the issue, other than you want to bitch about Gift of Gab and the Silver Jews again.

Powell, you always have a problem with what I say, so you don't need to say it every time, I'll just assume it. So, just shut up unless you want to have a real discussion about the actually music and lyrics, that's why I'm even here.

I like this album a lot. The first song has a really sick beat.

4.25 easily. I can tell the time spent on the west coast with the doctor rubbed off on him some. He has learned to use betta hooks and more full sounding music. Rakim really updated his sound man something KRS, Too Short, and other ole schoolers can learn from.

Still haven't peeped it despite it being on my shopping list. smh

In my opinion, Rakim is one of the best ever. Without him raising the bar, maybe Gift of Gab grows up idolizing Too Short or something.

I'll have to d/l it to see if it warrants a purchase...