Customer Reviews

Master

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(14)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

First of all, I would probably give this album a 4.5. One of the other reviewers made some excellent comments. If you like Jay-Z, DMX, Lox, Biggee, etc., this CD probably is not for you (although I do like all of those artists). I've been listening to hip-hop since the early 80's and this is one of the best Rakim CD's ever! Yes the beats may not be the best, but his lyrical skills are still there and the rhymes takes the album to another level. This CD is a classic HIP-HOP CD. Once you listen to the rhymes, you forget the beats. For those of you who remember, this is the man who said 'I take 7 mc's put 'em in a line/and add 7 more brothers who think they can rhyme/well it'll take 7 more before I go for mine and that's 21 mc's ate up at the same time' (Ref. 'Check out my Melody from Paid in Full). Welcome back Ra. It's refreshing to hear lyrics about what hip-hop was about. Not about Rolex's, drivin Bentleys, crime, or diamonds. This CD is definitely for the old heads and people who value good lyrics. It's good to hear hip-hop like this. And he is definitely one of the best rappers ever (I would say the best, but many may disagree). Rah has been doin this since the mid 80's. How many rappers besides LL have been around that long? Give him his props.

If you love Ra, pick it up. If you think he's washed up, and you'd rather hear MA$E or DMX, go on ahead and grab them.

unstoppable lyrics, tight subject matter, positive overall feel while still letting you know how dismal things can be. You know the deal with the God Rakim.

The Ra is definitely BACK....if you are late to the hip hop game and not a true aficionado of the rap genre DO NOT purchase this album. If you are not aware of the contributions of Spoonie G, Kurtis Blow, Jimmy Spicer(Super Rhymes), Sonnie Cheba, Grandmaster Flash, The Funky Four or the Fearless Four and your ONLY frame of reference is Li'l Kim, DMX, Jay-Z or Biggie for that matter DO NOT(I repeat), DO NOT purchase this album. If you pass the above test, then PLEASE purchase this album. Just as in the BeBop period of the 50s with stellar giants such as Miles and Dizzy you have Rakim. The production is tight as well as the lyrical content. DO NOT expect to hear Crystal, platinum or tired designer clothing references. If you are concerned about the current state of hip hop.....you know what to do. PS-especially check for the cut featuring Rahzel.

Dont get me wrong. I love Rakim and have all of his albums. Paid In Full, Follow The Leader, Let the Rhythm Hit Em and even the album you dont mention Dont Sweat The Technique are all classics. The 18th Letter was short of a classic but even it was better than this. The main problem of this album is that Rakim and the production dont mesh well together. Rakim is an MC that if you give him the right production, he gives you his full potential. Not to say that this album doesnt have its moments. Flow Forever and the DJ Premier-produced When I B On Tha Mic are great tracks. All Night Long sounds forced but Rakim was actually able to pull it off and Real S*** and How I Get Down vaguely remind you of the Rakim Allah that we are all fond of. Finest Ones with Clark Kent sounds forced and is awful. After the State Of Hip Hop interlude, three of the most bland tracks of Rakim's illustrious career follow. Uplift, I Know and Its The R are dull as hell and should be classified as skip material. I'll Be There with Nneka Morton is just a tepid as those three tracks. Strong Island takes the number two spot as the worst track on the album. Its A Must feat Rahzel is suspect. Not because of the neat production provided by Jaz-O but because of incredibly weak rhymes from Rakim. Rahzel was not bad on the hook though. Waiting For The World goes in the dishonorable mention category. Bottom Line: While The Master is not a terrible album, its the closest thing to a weak album that Rakim has ever made. Rakim doesnt have that fire that he had on his previous albums. On this one he just sounds uninspired and the uninspired beats match his uninspired raps. If you are a born-again hip hop head dont let this album be the first album you heard from Rakim because it gives you an unfair judgement of him. Pick up the albums I mentioned earlier and cop this one as a companion piece. Im not one of these reviewers who have no respect for the pioneers of hip hop (like this snooty a** reviewer who is screen-named after a well-publicized mule!). I love Rakim but I know that he is capable of much better work. Standout Tracks: FLOW FOREVER, WHEN I B ON THA MIC, ALL NIGHT LONG, REAL S*** and HOW I GET DOWN.

I really dug this album. This is much better than his last effort simply because everyone came correct on the beats. Although the package doesn't reflect the quality on the disk, this is going to be heralded as a true classic. Albums like these renew my faith in hip hop.

Rakim blesses the m-i-c! He shows that he still got mad skillz! Puffy can't hang wit' dis!

...this album should've and could've been better! When I purchased this CD I wasn't expecting some of the mesmorizing material that Rakim produced along with Eric B. but I was expecting a solid album from start to finish. This album falls short of that though. It's better than "The 18th Letter" and is more indicative of a 'come back' because Ra's lyrics are more sharper and there seems to be more hunger in his flow and voice. As an emcee, Rakim is still brilliant and hasn't lost anything although his lyrics tend to seem watered down when he rhymes about weak subject matter. His flow, voice, and lyrics are still second to none so in that sense he's stiil "The Master". On the other hand this album really doesn't show any musical mastery from the producers. Ra's former partner Eric B. had a knowledge of music, he knew where to put the instrumentals ie. the flute on "Paid In Full" and "Know The Ledge". Rakim is now working with producers who lack vision and musical understanding. These beats are too formulated, even the Primo tracks aren't too incredible. I just hope that Rakim has it in him to make another album and not make the same mistake again. He needs to find ONE producer who has a musical understanding like a Large Professor. Rakim Allah is still the only sacred entity within hip-hop and this album doesn't take away from that.

Just 2 years since Rakim resurfaced he comes back with a pretty good album (maybe 3.5 stars). The title definitely fits as he was a pioneer in the new rapping style that all the rappers looked up to in the mid to late 80's when he changed hip hop's rapping form. Not his best work but after being in the game for about 13 years and taking a while off it's nice to hear from one of raps greats again. Packed with 14 songs, 1 is almost a classic, 5 are good and the other 8 are ok to decent. Guests, as usual on his albums, are minimal (only doing the hook on 4 sogns) so you get a good deal of Rakim here. Production is pretty good. Clark Kent does 3 songs, DJ PRemier, Ron "Amen Ra" Lawrence each do 2 songs. Punch, Nick Wiz, TR Love, Naughty Shorts, Jaz O, Rakim, the 45 King all do 1 song. A good album to have for fans of Rakim or for someone who wants to hear a hip hop legend.

#2 - 8
#3 - 9.5 (great beat -- best song on here)
#4 - 8.5 (f/ Clark Kent)
#5 - 7.5
#7 - 7.5
#8 - 7
#9 - 7
#10 - 7 (f/ Nneka)
#11 - 6.5 (f/ rahzel)
#12 - 7.5
#13 - 6.5
#15 - 8.5
#16 - 8
#17 - 8.5 (f/ Connie McKendrick)

William Griffin Jr. -- b. 1/28/68 -- Long Island, NY
Check all my reviews

Classic material!If love lyrics must buy.If you want to ever become a emcee buy and study.

Rakim is still the king of the mic no doubt about that point.but the beats and the music weigh down the genius.with that outlook this makes the disc pretty-good but not good.it's missing hooks.MC's are still playing catch up to his flow and he deserves better material.