Rakim & Special Guest at Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club

About

In the history of the Hip-Hop, few artists have had as great an impact on the development and progression of the art forms lyrical style as New Yorks own William Michael Griffinknown to world as Rakim Allah.  Universally referenced as one of the Masters of the Microphone and an influence and inspiration to his peers and followers alike, Rakim first exploded onto the scene with the release of iconic Eric B. is President in 1986 with long time collaborator Eric B.  The single marked a turning point in the Rap world raising the bar for future emcees and revolutionizing the way rhymes are delivered to this day.  No serious discussion of the musics greatest performers is held without a deferential accounting of his achievements, and no serious rap artist grips a microphone without channeling some of his legend.Rakims intricately intellectual lyrics draw their force from his worldly experience, inner faith and progressive contemplation; his liquid and seemingly effortless delivery often imitated but still unrivaled from a fire fueled by a deep understanding of not just Hip-Hop, but also the Jazz and R&B influences that have surrounded his family since his youth.  His recordings including the all-time classics Paid In Full, Follow the Leader and The 18th Letter - have sold in the multi-millions worldwide.  Billboard, Rolling Stone, MTV and a host of others consistently refer to Paid in Full as the greatest Hip-Hop album of all time a claim that often repeated in audience polls.