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nineteeneightysix , you are not stating facts in this thread. You're stating educated guesses based off your own opinions.
Now here's what happened:
Rakim was not a strictly sun/moon/stars rapper or whatever that silly shyt is you said. He may put references of that sort in his lyrics, but the subject matter in his songs are normally NOT of that variety. As far as him being one-dimensional, he has shown thru his career that he was capable of braggadocio lyrics, street shyt, and girl records. And seeing as how that's pretty much the make-up of most popular artists even to this day, how the fukk would that make him one-dimensional.
When it comes to him not being around during the "GOAT era", a great deal of that has to do with record label red tape that he was tied up in after he and Eric B parted ways. And of course, his sitting out during those five years set him back, no denying that. But it had nothing to do with him being scared to compete or keep up in that era. And apparently since those seem to be the only 5 years that so-called hip-hop heads seem to care about, that's the only reason you're saying he's overrated.
He was referred to as 'old school' in the mid-90s because unlike now when rap pretty much sounds the same way it did 5 years ago, hip-hop changed a lot and very often during that time. And so, a record from '89 could be regarded old school by '95 because hip-hop was always changing. It changed so much to the point where an artist who popped in '92 might not be able to get the same reaction in '94 because their sound/style had been phased out just that fast. And so with the constant changes that took place, a record like "Follow the Leader" seemed like long, long ago by the mid-90s even tho' it was only like 6 years. Most artists of the late-80s era were considered old school by then. But to say he was 'washed up' or anything to the effect by then, is nutso. Because most rappers who disappear for 5 years usually don't get welcomed back and highly anticipated the way he was in '97. If he was just a nikka nobody gave a shyt about anymore, his return would've not been touted the way it was.
Either way, if there was ever a time for Rakim to make a comeback, it was that time with Dre on Aftermath. The time to capitalize was when "Addictive" hit and he was starting to become visible again, but they didn't run with that ball, so there it went. I would've liked to see what could've come out of it, but it's whatever. Some ideas should just remain ideas.
...I did love that "After You Die" joint they did,but I wonder if Dres beats mighta been a little to big for a rapper of Rakims skill set....beats mighta overpowered em over the course of a whole album
what would u do(eazy's version)
