Customer Reviews

The Seventh Seal [Vinyl]

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Finally!!! After waiting a long time, the Great One Rakim returns. Let me say that this album seems more true to hip hop than his last release. If you know Rakim, you know the lyrics are gonna be tight. But like me, you may be skeptical about the production. I will say that I am very pleased with the beats that support Ra's lyrics. That is important because it makes me feel Rakim was more in tuned with the tracks, like it was more feeling into the lyrics.

This is one of those,in my opinion, that you can put on, and let it play. There isn't any nonsense on this album. No fake bravado, no filler tracks. Straight up Hip Hop. If you are looking at buying this product, you already know how great Rakim is. If someone suggested it to you that knows hip hop and wants you to know what real hip hop is, (not ringtone hip hop), go get this album, order this album and get it shipped to you, or whatever you have to do to get your ears on this album. Instant satisfaction!!!!

No this isn't the Rakim I first heard when I was 17, but then I'm 40 so I'd expect dude to grow up also. I've been a Rakim fan since "My Melody," and I've bought a couple of his recent albums that I skipped a lot of the tracks, but this one is a banger from front to back. This is definitely a album worth buying if for no other reason than to inspire more artist to follow the true leader. Yes there is more singing on this album than other Rakim releases, but the singing adds to the song quality and doesn't distract from the lyrics. Rakim will broaden his appeal with this album without turning off his core fan base. The truth is unless an artist makes money he or she gets marginalized and we get the garbage that gets played on the radio. Talent is not saying Ni**a in every other line or talking about what you have in every rhyme, but that's whats making money right now and getting labeled as real hip-hop. The 7th Seal is true hardcore hip-hop without the ni**ga's and bit'hs or the fake beefs, glorifying drug dealing, gang banging and diss tracks. This is an album that only adds to Rakim's status as the best ever in the game. Unlike many artist returning from a long absence who get the hot for the moment producer, fill the album with famous guest appearances, and jump on the latest trend, Rakim stays true to himself and hip-hop while sounding as fresh as he did in 1986. Next time around maybe he'll get a couple DJ Premiere tracks, but he proved he didn't need Dre to put out a great album!

Stand out tracks:
-Walk these Streets
-Documentary of a Gangsta
-You and I
-Man Above
-Holy are U
-Satisfaction Garanteed
-Psychic Love
-Still in Love (with hip-hop)
-Dedicated (This joint has radio all over it, but listen to the lyrics)
-Actually all the tracks are better than the average, professionally produced and have something to like about them.

I've been hyped over this album for a while now and I'm happy to say that it didn't disappoint me. Rakim is one my all time favorite hip hop artist and this album is easily one of the best hip hop albums of the year. Now like the title of my review said it's not perfect. To me this is probably his second best solo album next to The 18th letter (I wasn't really feeling "The Master") and let's keep in mind that 20+ years in the hip hop world is almost an eternity. I know that a lot of fans will probably criticize this album because of the singing on a most of the tracks but for me it's just a different light to hear Rakim in. Another thing that will probably be criticized is it being too beat heavy. If you actually take a little time to listen to the lyrical content in the music you will find that the messages in the songs are some of the deepest Ra has touched on. Bottom line: If you're looking for the "Follow The Leader" microphone fiend return you're dreaming but if you would like to see a legendary emcee in a new light than I highly recommend this album!

Like the one dude who is 40 I have been a fan of Rakim since Paid in Full. I am 34 now and consider myself an old school hip hop head. Rakim paved the way for many artist these days that stay true to the form, artists like Mos Def, Talib Kweli, Nas, Common, just to name a few. Hip Hop is has its trends like any other form of media or art. Right now it is in this garbage mode where everything that comes out is just that...GARBAGE!!! I dont even listen to radio FM or Satellite anymore, everything is redundant if you know what I mean. So, thank God, or Allah for Rakim. Thanks for brining us back to where Hip Hop should be, this album delivers both Lyrically, Musically, Spiritually. Artists in any Genre have an obligation to transcend their art form. Rakim has done that, for those that consider themselves to be Artists. Listen to Rakim or KRS-ONE or MOS DEF or Kweli, then listen to your garbage.....HEAR THA DIFFERNCE

Honestly, Rakim IS The God MC. The whole tone of the album puts goosebumps on my skin. This is REAL hip hop. The history of Rakim and Hip Hop are one in the same. Rakim IS Hip Hop. This album is no different. The production is top notch and of course the lyrics are some of the best. One could tell that this is a album of a very mature and wise legend. I love this album.

Rakim and epmd brought me to hip hop and this album gives me that feeling I used to always get when I would hear them. Good luck with your label and thanks for the joints!

I have been a huge fan of Rakim since the single "I Ain't No Joke." I have purchased all of Rakim's solo joints. This solo effort like his last two albums is lyrically tight. I love tat he can go hard without cursing, he can't be street and drop knowledge. Very few emcee's can do that. (Nas and Common come to mind) Every time Ra comes out I want him to do well. I just think it's the production that has let Ra down on this album. I respect the fact that he doesn't use the same producers everybody does to have the same sound as all of the other rapper. I just wish he would use some of the olsder producers in the game like Pete Rock or DJ Premeire who's beats would compliment Ra's lyrics. My problem with this album is that it seems like every track has singing on it. I just want to hear Ra spit. For example, my favorite track on the album is "Still in Love" I think this track is the closest we hear to vintage Rakim spitting fire over a tight beat and clever sample. I hate the way that song ended abruptly. They should have let the beat ride out after his spit the last verse. It just seems with a talent like Rakim, the lyrics, the voice, he is just a few dope beats away from setting the game on its ears. I hope he does at least another album. Maybe the next one will have less singing and more of those tight lyrics from the God MC. -- Sed in Cleveland

Rakim's long awaited highly anticipated cd is here.I have waited patiently for this release and it was worth the wait.Ra is pinpoint with his lyrics,but yo we talking bout Rakim.This is not the Rakim of old this a more polished street wise version of the eemcee that hip hop heads have long admired.I refuse to judge my man based on his past projects,the beats are solid,damn i'm glad he took his time and came strong this is much better than his two previous joints 18th Letter and The Master This is definitely a statement album his best solo project to date.
I gave this project 4 stars because the track Dedicated which features the hook from No Doubt's Don't Speak not feeling it the hook stifiles the momentum of Ra's flow second the beat on Psyhcic Love ain't keeping step with Ra's lyrics still both are decent cuts other than that I would have rated it 5.I believe Workin For You,Documentary Of A Gangsta,Holy Are You, It Won't Be Long are the album's strongest tracks followed by ,Satisfaction,Put It All To Music,Walk These Streets all are very good tracks.The cd is tight Rakim's flow is more universal he's has tracks that appeal to his fan base and Hip Hop fans worldwide, happy to see a true eemcee from back in da day besides my man KRS rep Hip Hop thanks to Rakim for staying true to the game Peace

Earlier this year (September 8th), Raekwon released his greatly-anticipated Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...Pt. 2. This release, more than any other in recent memory, showed the ever-increasing divide between the two distinct rap camps of today. The "then" camp, comprised of the surviving, albeit aging fathers of rap (which includes Raekwon and, of course, Rakim himself, both at age 41) and the "now" camp, which includes the commercially-savvy and pop-conscious. The "now" crowd includes both the old, those who have evolved their styles in order to conform to the ever-evolving commercial landscape (Jay-Z being the most glaring example of this) and the young (Akon, T-Pain, Kanye, etc.).

With the release of The Seventh Seal, Rakim has done his co-fathers a great service, clinging to his pure-rap roots and further increasing the rap-divide between substance and style. There is no fluff here. Rakim raps what he's feeling, whether it's commercially relevant or not. Because of this, each cut comes across as being entirely honest and purposeful. And even when he does rap about commercial staples, such as sex, it doesn't come across as being gimmicky and forced. It's soulful and sexy, not superficial and skanky.

Rakim's delivery is solid and highly disciplined, and this serves to cement the honesty of his lyrics. He may not have the greatest flow or rhymes (although there are moments of brilliance here), but he is undeniably consistent. The production is old-school through and through, producing a wonderfully nostalgic atmosphere, and although not highly flashy or dynamic, perfectly fits what Rakim spits. Steady, satisfying, head-bobbing gangtsa beats are complimented by rather minimalistic, unimposing synths; neither of which ever feel overdone and are highly effective in the way they keep each track clipping along.

In a nutshell, Rakim (in his Seventh Seal form) is to the rap world what Tim Duncan is to the NBA. He may not be doing anything revolutionary or flashy, but he's the most-seasoned of veterans and, goddammit, he gets the job done. Period. Rakim knows himself, his strengths and weaknesses, his limitations, and brings a solid performance because of it.

Album rating: (Eric) B

I'm listening to the CD as I type and the Cuts: 1. How To MC, 3. Documentary of a Gangsta, 4. Man Above 7. HOLY Are U (which should've opened the CD, its one of his alltime best Raps to me and I have #amn near all of them), also cut 10. Message In The Song, another one his best raps in ages. Satisfaction, 11-14.... there isn't a BAD Cut on here. And that fricken 7. Holy Are U is an instant classic to me with Message In The Song a close 2nd.

However, I concede the production isn't up to par with his lyrics, though more than adequate, matter of fact it's quite good and I too don't prefer a Rap CD to be Hook Heavy but it went with most of the cuts this time, I typically want beats and Lyrical FEATs:):):) but I digress.

This is an Excellent Rap CD, I have nothing against the modern-day style of confrontation, #itches, bling,... but I've always appreciated the Style when a Rapper is actually saying something beyond the Literal, the Hood, and Superficial, even if its about a spiritual belief I don't quite worship, which in this case The NOI. I agree on a lot of their agenda and methods, just not a fanatic:)

Sorry folks that expected 1984, 1985, or 1986 or more than Genius, Spirituality, Poverty, Metaphysical, Metaphorical,.. he may be showing he's evolved or attempting to put another Stamp on our Game/HipHop/Culture, I say he scored.

The Lyrics, Style, Subject Matter, Rhymes,... 5+
However Production, beats...3.5

Overall 4+.