Rakim sold 12,000 copies first week

I'm surprised actually. I know R has his legendary status, but I was expecting around 3-5K. I didn't think he would sell over 10k though. Good for him though. If the album was a bit more cohesive (in regards to production), I think he would have sold more.

I'll be picking this up on Friday morning... along with millions of other albums

I am one of the proud owners of this album and I luv the production on this cd. On the real it actually over powers Ra sometimes where i'm more focused on the sound than what he's saying. Lyrically he is average to above average on this album but the beats and nice hooks make up the difference to me.

Rakim is better than average on this album IMO, sure his flow is slowed down but hes speaking on real shit and shit he cares about. The bragging is still there but its not the focal point, and he's not bitching about how hip hop isnt real nowadays and dissing wack mc's like most other MC's from his generation are doing in 2009. Dope album but it has its missteps, but the songs i like, i like A LOT

Slang Editorial wrote:

Rakim is better than average on this album IMO, sure his flow is slowed down but hes speaking on real shit and shit he cares about. The bragging is still there but its not the focal point, and he's not bitching about how hip hop isnt real nowadays and dissing wack mc's like most other MC's from his generation are doing in 2009. Dope album but it has its missteps, but the songs i like, i like A LOT

Co-Sign 100% I give it 4.25 stars. I love Documentary Of A Gangster, Holy Are You, and Walk These Streets

^ Satisfaction Guaranteed is among my top songs of this year

Holy are You and Working For You are my other favorites

I expected 10-20k, so that's no surprise. No promotion, but he does still have a higher profile than the average underground rapper. I think the production is average, and it does overpower him at times, which is another negative. Lyrically, I agree with Kev, average to above average.

people expect way too much out of Rakim, hes not tryin to make I Aint no Joke Part 2 or any shit....he's speakin on real shit on this album, he speaks to the common man a lot in this album, and his love for the music is shown throughout

and this album was NOT 10 years in the making, the other shit he recorded before was never meant for this and all of these tracks at least to my knowledge were not "10 years in the making" smh

i was mad at first that he wasnt getting the usual NY boom bap producers on this, but after hearing it he clearly took the album in his own direction and it worked out

Maybe if they had it at Best Buy, I would have bought this sooner. I plan to though...

Alan wrote:

Maybe if they had it at Best Buy, I would have bought this sooner. I plan to though...

damn they didnt have it??? did u check the new releases section? the best buy i went to didnt have anything under Rakim's name but in the new releases section they had like 15 copies

I don't want "I Ain't No Joke Pt. 2" at all, that's not it. He can do this rhyme scheme formula stuff in his sleep, but once you look past the rhymes fitting together nicely, he may be talking about "real shit", but it's pretty mundane. I want more from the words he's putting together in terms of creativity, imagery, metaphor, and so on. I was glad there seemed to be less tired braggadocio, but he doesn't take that departure anywhere interesting. He's certainly earned the right to coast, it's not like his legacy or love for Hip-Hop could be in question, but I'm gonna call it what I think it is.

How does it rank in comparison to previous efforts.

TheHazardous wrote:

How does it rank in comparison to previous efforts.

It's definitely better than the Master, and I'd say it's at leaat on-par with The 18th Letter (personally I like it better than the 18th Letter but most here disagree, but nobody could convince me that it's not at least on-par).

Alan wrote:

Maybe if they had it at Best Buy, I would have bought this sooner. I plan to though...

When I went to Best Buy this past Friday, they had it but I copped the last copy they had LOL!

They might have it for Black Friday though, check again.

Slang Editorial wrote:

Alan wrote:

Maybe if they had it at Best Buy, I would have bought this sooner. I plan to though...

damn they didnt have it??? did u check the new releases section? the best buy i went to didnt have anything under Rakim's name but in the new releases section they had like 15 copies

KJ Styles wrote:

Alan wrote:

Maybe if they had it at Best Buy, I would have bought this sooner. I plan to though...

When I went to Best Buy this past Friday, they had it but I copped the last copy they had LOL!

They might have it for Black Friday though, check again.

I checked the availability on their web site. Minnesota Best Buys (at least about the 10 around the metro area) will not be getting the Rakim album in stores at all. Funny enough though, they all have the new Felt 3 album...

Alan wrote:

Slang Editorial wrote:

Alan wrote:

Maybe if they had it at Best Buy, I would have bought this sooner. I plan to though...

damn they didnt have it??? did u check the new releases section? the best buy i went to didnt have anything under Rakim's name but in the new releases section they had like 15 copies

KJ Styles wrote:

Alan wrote:

Maybe if they had it at Best Buy, I would have bought this sooner. I plan to though...

When I went to Best Buy this past Friday, they had it but I copped the last copy they had LOL!

They might have it for Black Friday though, check again.

I checked the availability on their web site. Minnesota Best Buys (at least about the 10 around the metro area) will not be getting the Rakim album in stores at all. Funny enough though, they all have the new Felt 3 album...

That sucks. Do you have an FYE in your area? If so, go there. They have a much better hip-hop selection than Best Buy.

Despite the fact that Murs is boo boo in my book, I'd be inclined to peep Felt 3. I don't remember what 1 sounds
like, but I do remember liking 2. Who does the beats on 3?

Congrats to Ra also. Glad to see him do alright. Not sure how he's underground, though. Any hip hop head worth their salt knows who he is. Anyway, if this album is on par with 18th letter, I'll be coppin' it when I get to Roanoke in a few hours...

Kopasetick wrote:

Despite the fact that Murs is boo boo in my book, I'd be inclined to peep Felt 3. I don't remember what 1 sounds
like, but I do remember liking 2. Who does the beats on 3?

Aesop Rock

Hmmmm....

See, outside of None Shall Pass, his is typically one of those names I try my best to avoid. Does he have any sureshot production out there that I can sample? Any tracks that are guaranteed dope?

I think most of the Felt 3 album is up on YouTube, so you can sample whole songs from it.

Good call with those tracks Jason. Bass For Your Truck, Deathmurdermayhem, and Ghost Dance Deluxe are among my favorites from the album.