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When you've been named the best rapper ever in countless readers' and critics' polls, it must be easy to get a bit complacent. And as a veteran who's been on the mic since 1985 (yes, there are several rappers who weren't even on the earth back then), it also must be easy to make a few concessions to all the rappers and delivery styles that have come since Kangols were all the rage -- the first time, that is. Thankfully, Rakim's second solo album shows hip-hop's best rapper outdoing himself yet again, and not conceding a whit to '90s rap. Rakim has always been known for his laid-back flow and, accordingly, he never pushes himself here; his flow is smooth as syrup, and will undoubtedly make hip-hop fans realize just what rhythm is after merely a few tracks. He plays with internal rhymes (one of his trademarks) and constructs the most dense lyrics heard in hip-hop for years. The Master also benefits from its stellar cast of producers -- Clark Kent, DJ Premier, Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence, the 45 King, and even Rakim himself. The productions are tough and catchy (no strings here, thankfully), but they never outshine the rhymes. Rakim praises himself on quite a few tracks ("Flow Forever," "When I B on the Mic," "I Know," "It's the R"), but after a listen or two, listeners will likely agree with every boast he makes. After one album (The 18th Letter) to get back into things, Rakim is arguably doing the best work of his career.
© John Bush /TiVo
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William Griffin, ComposerLyricist - Rakim, Producer, MainArtist - Dino Delvaille, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1999 Universal Motown Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
William Griffin, ComposerLyricist - DJ Clark Kent, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Rakim, MainArtist - Rodolfo Antonio Franklin, ComposerLyricist - R. Davis Jr., ComposerLyricist
℗ 1999 Universal Motown Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
William Griffin, ComposerLyricist - Chris Martin, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Sancho, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - DJ Premier, Producer - Rakim, MainArtist - Dexter Thibou, Mixer, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1999 Universal Motown Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
William Griffin, ComposerLyricist - DJ Clark Kent, Producer, Mixer, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - CLARK KENT, FeaturedArtist - Rakim, MainArtist - Y. Davis, ComposerLyricist - Rodolfo Antonio Franklin, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1999 Universal Motown Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Tony Prendatt, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - William Griffin, ComposerLyricist - Michael Harper, ComposerLyricist - Rakim, MainArtist - Punch, Producer - Tony Prenndat, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1999 Universal Motown Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Rakim, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Dino Delvaille, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1999 Universal Motown Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence, Producer - Ron Lawrence, Producer, ComposerLyricist - William Griffin, ComposerLyricist - George Karras, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Victor Padilla, ComposerLyricist - Rakim, MainArtist - "The Mighty" V.I.C., Producer
℗ 1999 Universal Motown Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Benny Latimore, ComposerLyricist - William Griffin, ComposerLyricist - T. Randolph, ComposerLyricist - D. Hinds, ComposerLyricist - Joe Quinde, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Rakim, MainArtist - Tr Love, Producer
℗ 1999 Universal Motown Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
E. Barrier, ComposerLyricist - Jason Hunter, ComposerLyricist - William Griffin, ComposerLyricist - Eric Barrier, ComposerLyricist - Pete Rock, ComposerLyricist - JAMES BROWN, ComposerLyricist - Curtis Mayfield, ComposerLyricist - DJ Clark Kent, Producer, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Bobby Byrd, ComposerLyricist - Peter Phillips, ComposerLyricist - Chuck Brown, ComposerLyricist - Charles Fred A. Bobbit, ComposerLyricist - Ricardo Brown, Jr., ComposerLyricist - Rakim, MainArtist - Rodolfo Antonio Franklin, ComposerLyricist - Jason S. Hunter, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1999 Universal Motown Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Grover Washington, Jr., ComposerLyricist - C. Biggs, ComposerLyricist - Nneka Morton, FeaturedArtist - William Griffin, ComposerLyricist - Dexter Wansel, ComposerLyricist - Joe Quinde, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Rakim, MainArtist - Joseph D. Davis, ComposerLyricist - Naughty Shorts, Producer
℗ 1999 Universal Motown Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
William Griffin, ComposerLyricist - RAHZEL, Participant, FeaturedArtist - Joe Quinde, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Rakim, MainArtist - Rozell Brown, ComposerLyricist - Jonathan Burkes, ComposerLyricist - Big Jaz, Producer - R. Manley, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1999 Universal Motown Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence, Producer - Ron Lawrence, Producer, ComposerLyricist - William Griffin, ComposerLyricist - Victor Padilla, ComposerLyricist - Rakim, MainArtist - Ken "Supa Engineer" Duro, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - "The Mighty" V.I.C., Producer - The Mighty, Producer
℗ 1999 Universal Motown Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
William Griffin, ComposerLyricist - Mark James, ComposerLyricist - Carlisle Young, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Rakim, MainArtist - B. OLSEN, ComposerLyricist - Nick Wiz, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - The 45 King, Producer - DJ Mark the 45 King, Producer
℗ 1999 Universal Motown Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
William Griffin, ComposerLyricist - Rakim, Producer, MainArtist - Dino Delvaille, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1999 Universal Motown Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
William Griffin, ComposerLyricist - Eric Barrier, ComposerLyricist - Rakim, Producer, MainArtist - Andy Katz, Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1999 Universal Motown Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
William Griffin, ComposerLyricist - Eric Barrier, ComposerLyricist - Chris Martin, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Sancho, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - DJ Premier, Producer - Rakim, MainArtist - Dexter Thibou, Mixer, Assistant Mixer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1999 Universal Motown Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Connie McKendrick, FeaturedArtist - Sylvia Robinson, ComposerLyricist - William Griffin, ComposerLyricist - Joe Quinde, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Rakim, MainArtist - Nicholas Loizides, ComposerLyricist - Nick Wiz, Producer
℗ 1999 Universal Motown Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
Album review
When you've been named the best rapper ever in countless readers' and critics' polls, it must be easy to get a bit complacent. And as a veteran who's been on the mic since 1985 (yes, there are several rappers who weren't even on the earth back then), it also must be easy to make a few concessions to all the rappers and delivery styles that have come since Kangols were all the rage -- the first time, that is. Thankfully, Rakim's second solo album shows hip-hop's best rapper outdoing himself yet again, and not conceding a whit to '90s rap. Rakim has always been known for his laid-back flow and, accordingly, he never pushes himself here; his flow is smooth as syrup, and will undoubtedly make hip-hop fans realize just what rhythm is after merely a few tracks. He plays with internal rhymes (one of his trademarks) and constructs the most dense lyrics heard in hip-hop for years. The Master also benefits from its stellar cast of producers -- Clark Kent, DJ Premier, Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence, the 45 King, and even Rakim himself. The productions are tough and catchy (no strings here, thankfully), but they never outshine the rhymes. Rakim praises himself on quite a few tracks ("Flow Forever," "When I B on the Mic," "I Know," "It's the R"), but after a listen or two, listeners will likely agree with every boast he makes. After one album (The 18th Letter) to get back into things, Rakim is arguably doing the best work of his career.
© John Bush /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 17 track(s)
- Total length: 01:01:54
- Main artists: Rakim
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Universal Records
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B R&B
© 1999 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc. ℗ 1999 Universal Records, a Division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
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