Lord Jamar on Why Rakim Isn't Viewed the Same as Nas

[Mike the Executioner]

He couldn’t name a single off Life is Good either.

Called it "Accident Murder"

 

[UpAndComing]

That time off from his last album he did with Eric B (1992) and his first solo album (1997), was like 5 to 6 years time off.

That time off plus the changing of a generation during that time off, to me ruined his career


Which is why Kool G Rap and KRS One were able to transition to a different era way more seamlessly

 

[Kogami]

Rakim made the mistake of taking time off right when Hip Hop was transitioning and gaining popularity with new fans...he legit missed a whole era in his absence and by the time he came out with an album in 97....kids in high school were like ...who?

Wasn't there a contract situation where he couldn't release a solo album until 97?

 

[Slystallion]

Wasn't there a contract situation where he couldn't release a solo album until 97?

I have no idea I just know he wasn't around where he could have made an impact and influence...at least LL was present and had hits from 93-97 and was able to survive longer.

It sucks it may not have been his fault but it's hard to explain but hip hops sound went through a drastic change sound wise from the peak of his era during the time he was gone ...he missed a whole wave of possible new fans cuz it also happened to really explode in popularity

In a small way I guess it's how young kids now will say something like 21 savage is better than Jay Z and Nas...they weren't around to understand their impact...its kind of like high school kids from 97 and up weren't around for Rakim and were more influenced by Big, Nas, Wu, Snoop, Dre

 

[DrexlersFade]

18th letter is a personal classic.

That intro

 

[Surreal]

Rakim got Nas on Streetz Of NY and Nas was great on that

 

[JustCKing]

Technically Ra does only have three albums (18th Letter, The Master, and Seventh Seal). It is not to count the albuns with Eric B., but it seems like he was only counting the ones without Eric B. I need to view the video for context.

 

[Threnody]

yeah that had me trippin. i would expect that nonsense from vlad not the god lord jamar

Odd as it sounds a lot of emcees don't really listen to rap like that.....I know one emcee personally who I'm not gonna name...nikkas would be shocked to know he was NEVER a Hip-Hop head he was just naturally good at it and wanted to get paid all he listen to is Branford Marsalis and shyt like that.

 

[Rigby.]

Reminds me of when Lupe fukked up the Tribe lyrics and then was like "I wasn't even a fan of them as a kid"


Not gonna click the vid since I been on that "fukk Vlad" wave. Rakim gets plenty of props...but it's just a fact that hip hop was more popular in the 90s than the 80s, which has helped Pac/Big/Nas/Jay become what they are. You ask the average 30-40yo dude who's into hip hop who his favorite MCs are and he's going to name those four plus some others (Big Pun, Big L, etc). 90s dominates rap talk for that generation in the same way the 60s-70s dominate rock talk for baby boomers.

Eh some students of hip hop have nikkas they dont like. Its the same way that some actors may be type casted like other actors but never even watch their material

I guess for Lu its particularly weird cause ATCQ helped create his lane of hip hop (more so DLS, but you feel me)

 

[Project Pooch]

Rakim is better than nas

 

[KravenMorehead™]

Let's not confuse Lord Jamar's words with DJ Vlad's video titles

 

[Lord Mecca]

Vlad wants to have sex with Nas it's obvious.

Question for the coli. Who Stan who more Trump with Obama or Vlad with Nas?

Notice the similarities

wtf just burst out laughing b it's 1am

 

[⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐]

Generational commercialization

 

[Ineedmoney504]

Rakim is the king of hip hop before the bubble burst into the mainstream. Nas was one of the Kings of the new generation when it burst and he adapted to the next wave.

Same reason why BDK ain’t viewed like Hov

 

[cornercommission2k12]

I agree that Nas benefited from a huge spike in hip hop marketability.

But Nas just did more. He had a song that was a huge commercial success, when I ruled the world, he had a movie , he dropped a undeniable solo classic, with illmatic, he had a major public beef with another major rapper, he continued to have some commercial success as well as develop a cult following. He has countless features.

From what I have read and watched in videos , rakim is a little hard to work with.