I think people say Rakim and Nas are alike because Nas was so inspired by Rakim and you can hear it in Nas. That's Nas' idol. But they made different music, just the technical elements they used to make that music MC'in wise and lyrically in terms of format had some similarities, Nas is kind of rhyming off Rakim's blueprint in that sense.
Elite Eiht: Rakim vs. Nas
- Thread starter Wacky D
- Start date
There's a lot of downplaying on both sides though. Both sides seem to be riding for their eras. If I wasn't a fan of either artists and wasn't familiar with anything they did, I'd walk away from this thread thinking that neither of them were THAT great based on what's been posted.
Both of them are great. Both should be spoken of with a great deal of respect. They both have established their own respective legacies.
On another note, has "Streets of NY" or "Classic" been mentioned yet? Nas is my favorite rapper and Ra is one of my favorite rappers, but Ra got Nas on both songs. I'm not saying that that makes Rakim better by default, but if we're really going to downplay Ra here, those songs are evidence of he should never be downplayed in comparison to other greats.
With me it boils down to preference. I prefer Nas's style as an overall writer, while I see Rakim as a better pure MC. I listen to Nas's music more and he has more go-to material for me than any other rapper I listen to, so of course, I'd pick Nas.
JayBaldacci
All Star
For the record I prefer Nas to Rakim but picked Ra because he raps better.
JayBaldacci
All Star
But nas rhyme style goes against Ra's blueprint.
Possibly, not from me though. But the Rakim shyt just sounds outlandish. Again can only speak for myself, Rakim was before my time, even Nas came out when I was a child, I picked Nas strictly for body of work, Ra's long breaks (which were kind of forced apparently) hurt him body of work wise to me while Nas has been able to drop consistent dope projects. But Rakim more than put his work in before that.
I think Nas is a better rapper but Nas arguably has the better body of work because he consistently dropped material while Ra didn't.
I agree, I think Ra is a better rapper, if I'm gonna hear a 16 I wanna hear it from Ra. To be honest if I want to hear a new album right now I'd pick Ra. But overall what Nas has done I can't and wouldn't want to take away, God's Son, Illmatic, Stillmatic, Distant Relatives all classics to me, not to mention dope shyt with Lost Tapes, I Am, Hip Hop Is Dead, Untitled, can go on and on. Nas's discography is stella to me and that's why he's in my top 4 of all time, Rakim is probably 5th on my list.
Alexander Wiggin
All Star
first of all I also think ra is one of the greatest, I was making a comparaison only between ra and nas nothin else
so let me respond now
iww sold ONLY because of if I ruled the world which was not a mafioso record (and street dreams remix to an extend, not a mafioso record either)
you can think nas sold his soul, I just will say that through his discography he always released quality single to remain relevant afer iww and he maintained a solid and loyal fan base, so he's not a huge seller but a regular one
and lol at rakim not being an industry emcee, you really think rakim don't want to sell. he linked with dre for that reason and he realized the direction of the work was not for him and seventh seal was further proof
illmatic/iww/stillmatic/the lost tapes/god's son/life is good > paid in full/follow the leader/let the rhythm hit em/the 18th letter. I would say Ra's solos are I am level (so good albums, no more no less)
The nas list of producer through his career is even more long and impressive. but rakim's is great too
I was not talking about featurings on ra's album, he don't need it. but him on others albums. it's a shame he didn't verbally assault other rapper and outshine them on their own joints to prove we was the illest (even though we knew it)
Ra don't tour in a lot of huge avenue since eric b & rakim, and didn't tour at all in europe in the 2000's. Consequence of a lack of catalogue. But well, he's good live from what I saw
Paid in Full changed the course of Hip Hop and rhyming/yes...Illmatic did not/it did, but not only that, it change the way albums were produced (the all star producer way)
When I was talking about Nas is unpredictable I was talking about his topics and his lyrics, but Nas overall take risks, Rakim don't, so less likely to be critisized for taking risks.
nas was at the top during eras when beef were prevalent (east/west) then his beef with jay (which was personnal) change ethe game and everybody started dissing each other for promo. and you seem to forget that freddie foxxx went at Rakim
nas catalogue have misteps sure, but the number of good tracks outnumber the weak ones, that's why is catalogue is praised
stop fooling yourself, nas is qb most recognizable figure. qb = nas/mobb deep in most of people's eyes. And people still don't know where wyandanch is sorry (i don't even know how to pronounce it, Rakim didn't rep his town like that, all people know is "he's from long island..."
Rakim Allah
Superstar
I don't know if Nas literally sold his soul(I hope not)...I was being facetious. But his attempts at selling records and his image post Illmatic were mos def sell outish. I damn near gave up on Nas in the late 90s.
Run DMC/Da Youngstas/etc were already doing the all star producer thing before Nas. The ball was already rolling before Illmatic came out. The Source just gave it big push.
Ra just did a European Tour in 2011
Why did Fred wait 20 years to address his beef with Ra?? Could of gotten at Ra in the late 80s and 90s. He would of received a lot more attention then he did in 06
Taking risk or making bad songs or crappy cross over attempts. All depends on what you consider risks. Maybe you mean Nas is more versatile with subject matter. Maybe...but after his first 2 albums Ra was very versatile with his subject matter.
You're reaching with the Wyandanch/Queensbridge angle. What does that even have to do with being the bettter EMCEE? Queensbridge was already on the map damn near 10 years before Nas came out with Illmatic. No one knew about Wyandanch until Ra came out.
Look Nas is a legend but I just feel Rakim is the better EMCEE who made better music.
Other then all that, we'll just have to agree to disagree.
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Rakim Allah
Superstar
Both Rakim and Nas had unorthodox styles while being different when they came out. It set them apart from their peers of their respective eras.
UpAndComing
Veteran
most of them never really listened to Rakim besides Paid in Full. You can tell from the responses.
I have no problem with people thinking Nas is better, even though I disagree, but the hyperbole is downright
Sure
Rakim Allah
Superstar
Don't bold the rest of the sentence brehsSure
BulletProof
Just a B@stard Living in a Suit
Rakim (in my top ten) is only one aspect of Nas's (my number 1) DNA.
So is Kool G Rap, KRS, & Slick Rick at the very least.
He took what every genre's tradition is and combined all his influences into something greater than the sum of its parts.
So is Kool G Rap, KRS, & Slick Rick at the very least.
He took what every genre's tradition is and combined all his influences into something greater than the sum of its parts.
Rakim Allah
Superstar
I wouldn't say greater but he took the best from these legends...no doubt.
BulletProof
Just a B@stard Living in a Suit
We'll definitely disagree about greater but I don't think he consciously took away (as in stole) from the 80s greats.
Nas, is very much a legend himself and no one I listed would say otherwise.
Rakim Allah
Superstar
Nas is an entity within him/itself!!
daughters was on the radio.
and nas videos got good airplay. that album was very much well-promoted. he didnt do anything amazing.