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It took Rakim five years to begin his solo career, but the wait was worth it -- The 18th Letter is one of the strongest records a veteran rapper released in the late '90s. Working with a variety of producers (Pete Rock, Clark Kent, Father Shaheed, DJ Premier), Rakim sounds sharp, focused, and strong, rapping with a force unheard of on his classic albums with Eric B. He still retains his knack for rolling, laid-back rhymes, but what's impressive is how he can switch between that style and a more aggressive technique. There are a few slow spots on the record, but in general, few latter-day albums by '80s rappers sound as powerful and vital as The 18th Letter.
© Leo Stanley /TiVo
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Unknown, Author - Rakim, MainArtist
℗ 1997 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
S. Phillips, ComposerLyricist - William Griffin, ComposerLyricist - Isaac Hayes, ComposerLyricist - Scott Phillips, ComposerLyricist - Rakim, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Father Shah, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Unknown, Author - Rakim, MainArtist
℗ 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc.
William Griffin, ComposerLyricist - Eric Barrier, ComposerLyricist - Eric B., ComposerLyricist - JAMES BROWN, ComposerLyricist - Chris Martin, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Sancho, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - DJ Premier, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Bobby Byrd, ComposerLyricist - Charles Fred A. Bobbit, ComposerLyricist - Rakim, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Fred Babbitt, ComposerLyricist - Father Shah, Producer
℗ 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Kenny Greene, ComposerLyricist - Lana Moorer, ComposerLyricist - William Griffin, ComposerLyricist - Bruce Smith, ComposerLyricist - DJ Clark Kent, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - David Hall, ComposerLyricist - YIANNI PAPADOPOULOS, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rakim, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Donald Hepburn, ComposerLyricist - Freddy Bird, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Marlon Williams, ComposerLyricist - Antonio Hardy, ComposerLyricist - William Griffin, ComposerLyricist - Eric Barrier, ComposerLyricist - Pete Rock, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Peter Phillips, ComposerLyricist - Rakim, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Rod Hui, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Unknown, Author - Rakim, MainArtist
℗ 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Carlton Ridenhour, ComposerLyricist - Eric Sadler, ComposerLyricist - Kenny Ortiz, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - William Griffin, ComposerLyricist - Eric Barrier, ComposerLyricist - Eric B., ComposerLyricist - DJ Clark Kent, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Hank Shocklee, ComposerLyricist - YIANNI PAPADOPOULOS, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rakim, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - James Henry Boxley III, ComposerLyricist - Rodolfo Antonio Franklin, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Steve Nichol, ComposerLyricist - Carl McIntosh, ComposerLyricist - Kenny Ortiz, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - William Griffin, ComposerLyricist - DJ Clark Kent, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Nneka, Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer - Jane Eugene, ComposerLyricist - Rakim, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Steve Nichols, ComposerLyricist - Jane Sendall-Peters, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc.
D. Parker, ComposerLyricist - William Griffin, ComposerLyricist - Chris Martin, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Sancho, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - DJ Premier, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Rakim, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Berry Devoryn, ComposerLyricist - Body Chandler, ComposerLyricist - Leslie Ward Chandler, ComposerLyricist - F. Brathwaite, ComposerLyricist - Barry De Vorzon, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc.
J. Knight, ComposerLyricist - Jack Knight, ComposerLyricist - William Griffin, ComposerLyricist - Hubert Barclay Eaves III, ComposerLyricist - YIANNI PAPADOPOULOS, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Rakim, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Nick Loizides, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - Nicholas Loizides, ComposerLyricist - Nick Wiz, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Unknown, Author - Rakim, MainArtist
℗ 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc.
William Griffin, ComposerLyricist - Ervin Drake, ComposerLyricist - Dave Kennedy, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - DAN FISHER, ComposerLyricist - Mark Davis, ComposerLyricist - Irene Higginbotham, ComposerLyricist - Rakim, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Joe Davis, ComposerLyricist - Naughty Shorts, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Bill Blass, Producer, Co-Producer
℗ 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Marlon Williams, ComposerLyricist - Antonio Hardy, ComposerLyricist - William Griffin, ComposerLyricist - Pete Rock, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel, ComposerLyricist - JOHNNY MANDEL, ComposerLyricist - Paul Francis Webster, ComposerLyricist - Tony Smalios, Mix Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Peter Phillips, ComposerLyricist - Rakim, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Tristan Jones, ComposerLyricist - William Griffin, ComposerLyricist - Rakim, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Tony Draper, ComposerLyricist - Crazy C, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Mo-Suave-A Productions Inc., Producer
℗ 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Carlton Ridenhour, ComposerLyricist - Eric Sadler, ComposerLyricist - William Griffin, ComposerLyricist - Eric B., ComposerLyricist - Barry White, ComposerLyricist - HERBIE HANCOCK, ComposerLyricist - BOB JAMES, ComposerLyricist - DJ Clark Kent, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Rakim, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - James Henry Boxley III, ComposerLyricist - Rodolfo Antonio Franklin, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Unknown, Author - Rakim, MainArtist
℗ 1997 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
It took Rakim five years to begin his solo career, but the wait was worth it -- The 18th Letter is one of the strongest records a veteran rapper released in the late '90s. Working with a variety of producers (Pete Rock, Clark Kent, Father Shaheed, DJ Premier), Rakim sounds sharp, focused, and strong, rapping with a force unheard of on his classic albums with Eric B. He still retains his knack for rolling, laid-back rhymes, but what's impressive is how he can switch between that style and a more aggressive technique. There are a few slow spots on the record, but in general, few latter-day albums by '80s rappers sound as powerful and vital as The 18th Letter.
© Leo Stanley /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 17 track(s)
- Total length: 00:53:55
- Main artists: Rakim
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Universal Records
- Genre: Hip-Hop/Rap
© 1997 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. ℗ 1997 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
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