Rakim responded to the criticism of his 2009 album, The Seventh Seal, with unabashed, blatant and refreshing truth. He was criticized for making a record not friendly for the radio and, judging from his response, he doesn’t care.
Here’s what he said:
“You care about it, but you don’t let it do nothing to you. It’s rap, it’s an album, some people will like it, some people won’t. Hip Hop is so diverse and mixed right now, you have a lot of fans who like radio-friendly Hip Hop. I don’t do that. You have a lot of fans who like pop Hip Hop. I don’t do that. You got a lot of fans that like different styles. I’m from my era, I’m known for doing a certain kind of music. I don’t want to switch off and do what Lil Wayne is doing. That ain’t Rakim. I can’t switch off and do what Wiz Khalifa’s doing. That’s not Rakim. It’s hard trying to keep up with what’s going on and still keep your integrity and keep your logo and your brand of who you are with these times. I made a statement. Definitely wanted to bring about that awareness with a conscious album.
“I wanted to do a conscious album. There’s zero conscious in the hood right now, zero conscious in Hip Hop right now. But as far as Rakim, I had to do what I felt people expected from me, made a big statement. It’s good that I got that off my chest. Now, I can get back in the studio and have a little fun and not worry about having so many responsibilities and weight on my back.”
Well said.
via [HipHopBlog]
Sean
Bull shit Ra! The album was wick-wick-wack! Dont matter conscious , friendly or hard core. It was garbage. Im from your “era” and we expected better from you. And more. You fell off Ra. Krs still ROCKS and has many styles and is very entertaining. Kool g rap still ROCKS and has many styles and is very entertaining. Jay z ROCKS and has many styles and is very entertaining. BUSTA RHYMES ROCKS has many styles and is very entertaining . So don’t try to pull that shit. Wack album is a wack album. 1986 or 2013…. now thats Honesty. And i was a big fan.. still a fan of the old stuff. Eric b and rakim. Post Eric b stuff is totally lackluster. And anybody who thinks different is just stupid or too ashamed faced to tell Ra. But thats not helping Ra or hiphop.