
The 18th Letter is a Hip-Hop album by Rakim, originally released in 1997. On Gatefold: 28 pressings tracked, owned by 6 collectors.
Sound DNA
- Hip-Hop
- East Coast
- gritty
- swaggering
- urban
About
Nineteen ninety-seven was the perfect time for Rakim to return to the hip-hop scene. The current crop of New York street rappers — Nas, Notorious B.I.G., JAŸ-Z — had all followed the trail blazed by Rakim. While other ‘80s pioneers had flows that weren’t adaptable to modern beats, <i>The 18th Letter</i> proves that Rakim’s style was perfectly suited to the era’s preeminent producers. Whether he’s working with the no-nonsense cuts of DJ Premier (“It’s Been a Long Time”) or Pete Rock’s smoky, stealthy jazz loops (“The Saga Begins,” “When I’m Flowin’”) Rakim’s voice is the hanger on which these beats are draped. He remains a commanding presence without resorting to swearing or sensationalistic crime tales. The listener believes in him because his words exude experience and wisdom. He explains his mission in “It’s Been a Long Time”: “I broke the code of silence with overloads of talents / My only challenge is not to explode in violence … In ghetto apparel, mind of a Egyptian Pharaoh / Far from shallow, thoughts travel like an arrow.” Ever the ascetic, Rakim practices hip-hop as if it were an ancient art form.
via Apple Music
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Tracklist
- 1Intro0:12
- 2The 18th Letter (Always And Forever)3:01
- 3Skit0:24
- 4It's Been A Long Time3:58
- 5Remember That4:40
- 6The Saga Begins4:22
- 7Skit0:19
- 8Guess Who's Back4:11
- 9Stay A While4:25
- 10New York (Ya Out There)4:04
- 11Show Me Love4:19
- 12Skit0:19
- 13The Mystery (Who Is God?)5:20
- 14When I'm Flowin5:04
- 15It's Been A Long Time (Suave House Mix)3:59
- 16Guess Who's Back (Alternative Mix)4:11
- 17Outro1:20
Credits
Performers
- Father ShaheedPROGRAMMED BY
- DJ PremierPROGRAMMED BY
- Clark KentPROGRAMMED BY
- Pete RockPROGRAMMED BY PIANO
- Nneka MortonVOCALS
- Nick WizPROGRAMMED BY
- Robyn SmallVOCALS
6 collectors on Gatefold own this · 28 pressings tracked on Gatefold
