Legendary rapper Rakim had a chance to talk about his upcoming album, “The Seventh Seal” with the NY Post. As he prepares for his show this Thursday (Aug. 13) at Highline Ballroon in NYC, as well as, for Funk Flex’s birthday bash Aug. 21, he discusses LP details (Busta Rhymes feature), his view on the state of Hip Hop and why Eric B. is not on his album.
How about guest spots? I heard Jay-Z and Nas were on board.
“I’m trying to keep everything a secret. I want people to be surprised. I will give you one name, though: Busta Rhymes. He’s an amazing NY artist who I really wanted to work with. I’m laid-back and he’s all over the place, wild and very colorful. It’s a great mix.
Click the jump for full interview
RAKIM is coming out of hip-hop hibernation. The legendary emcee will be previewing a slew of fresh material from “The Seventh Seal” — his first full-length album in a decade — Thursday evening at the Highline Ballroom. The Long Island native will also be performing a short set of tunes — which he promises will include his hypnotic new single, “Holy Are You” — as part of Funkmaster Flex’s birthday bash at B.B. King’s on Aug. 21.
Rakim’s comeback album, slated for a fall release, has overcome several obstacles, including production issues with Dr. Dre (the album the two were working on came to naught) and longtime partner Eric B. But for Rakim, it’s not about focusing on what’s missing from his new project, but rather how to crystallize it and jump back into the spotlight of a genre he helped revolutionize.
Fans were expecting a masterpiece like “Paid in Full” or “Follow the Leader” when they heard you and Dr. Dre were collaborating. What went wrong?
“Too many creative differences. [Dre] wanted to go in one direction, and I wanted to go in another. I really wish we could’ve gotten on the same page, and an album would’ve come out like four years ago. There weren’t any bridges burned, though, so hopefully we can work together again. One good thing that did come out of living in California for a few years was it opened me up to some West Coast sounds that I didn’t know existed.”
Eric B is missing, too. Who handled the production?
“I used a bunch of hungry, talented guys — Needlz, Nottz and my best-kept secret, Nick Wiz, who I’ve been working with for years. I spoke with Eric B before I started recording, and we both decided it was in our best interest not to collaborate. We’re still real cool . . . he’s doing his own thing, and I’m doing mine.”
How about guest spots? I heard Jay-Z and Nas were on board.
“I’m trying to keep everything a secret. I want people to be surprised. I will give you one name, though: Busta Rhymes. He’s an amazing NY artist who I really wanted to work with. I’m laid-back and he’s all over the place, wild and very colorful. It’s a great mix.
The album and single title bear religious significance. Have you been reading the Good Book?
“I have seven different versions of the Bible. The seventh seal is in the Book of Revelations, which talks about the apocalypse — something very relevant to what we are experiencing right now with all the wars, disease and problems people are facing. But I don’t see it as the end of the world, just the end of the old and the beginning of the new. I’m using that idea metaphorically in my music. I’m hoping to kill the old state of hip-hop and start with the new.”
How unhappy are you with the genre today?
“I think it’s lost its integrity. Hip-hop is all over the place. I feel artists had more pride in the past . . . more appreciation to the craft. I’m dissatisfied with the content. Too many people are following others, ya know, jumping on the bandwagon of what’s popular. There aren’t enough abstract artists anymore.”
Spotted @ RR [via NY Post]
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