One of hip-hop's most pioneering and influential MCs, Rakim made his name
alongside his partner DJ Eric B in the 1980s with landmark albums 'Paid in Full'
and 'Follow the Leader', acclaimed and recognised for his elegant, instrumental
flow and sense of spirituality and social history in his rhymes.
Born in Long Island, New York, his mother was a jazz singer and his aunt was R&B
star Ruth Brown. Young William Michael Griffin originally performed under the
name Kid Wizard but converted to Islam at the age of 16, changed his name to
Rakim and teamed up with Eric B for their first...