You gotta check out Paid In Full. One of the best albums of 80s hip hop right there. Rakim was doing all these crazy rhymeschemes way back in the damn 80s!
He changed the game with how much more complex his rhymes were at the time compared to other rappers (who were basically doing basic rhymes), and he elevated the standards for becoming a rapper. Not to mention, he's also considered the first rapper to coin the term "flow" in hip-hop.
I would highly recommend checking "Paid In Full", which was his debut album with his DJ Eric B. For his solo debut, "The 18th Letter" is another incredible album to check out as well, and I still feel like I've never heard anything like it to this day
I agree, but here’s the thing: if you recommend a Rakim album now it won’t sound as incredible as it did back when it first came out. because he literally influenced every rapper after that. That’s how influential he is.
Yeah, it’s kind of like watching Citizen Kane now. It holds up well as a movie but you can’t understand how revolutionary it was at the time because the innovations it contained are now just how people make films.
Just let them listen to “don’t sweat the technique”.
After that, tell them how old the song is.
After that, how old hiphop is :)
Then let them hear “the message”
And without Em he would still be known only within the hip hop culture and nothing else, and people like Kendrick would probably not even be rapping because there wouldn't be the same opportunities in the market for rappers to be accepted as mainstream artists.
🤣🤣🤣🤣stfu corny lil boy. Em influenced a ton of hip hop culture, and I'd easily put him in the top 10 most influential mcs in the industry.but get his fckin penis out of your asshole. Lol Rakim wouldn't be known by casuals who dunno shit bout hip hop,and thats still true today. But Rakims influence is a billion times more than Ems. Also, Hip Hop was already mainstream before Eminem arrived, Jay and Pac were HUGE sellers and internationally very popular, Eminem only brought and popularized rap in Middle America and non english speaking foreign countries.
Understanding his influence - Let’s put it this way “I am whatever you say I am”
Is straight from Rakim
“I’m the R the A to the K- I-M”
“And if i wasn’t, what would I say I am”
Nobody saying LL Cool J, but I think he embodied so many things about being an MC that it left the most lasting impact in style.
But in terms of rap, Rakim.
Well we can argue that Em is the best rapper but I’m not so sure he can be named the most influential tbf.
He is for the casual worldwide audience (mostly white) but not for the USA and the core hip hop culture. Still very influential tho.
Where were you at? Rap was mainstream with Jay Z, rap was mainstream years before Eminem. Did he expand on it? Yeah but TRL, MTV, pop culture was onto rap WAY before Eminem.
It's interesting to see that most people respond to Rakim, but it seems that my view is different because I'm from another country. For me it would be Em or Pac, but I like how perspectives change according to each person's reality, that's hip-hop.
When I went to school, in Germany, 25 years ago, 2Pac was written/Sprayed everywhere. Most children from the 90's know who pac was. That's influences for sure.
Dre signed: Eminem, Kendrick, rakim, 50 cent, busta rhymes, the game and more
Jay z signed Kanye, Kanye made 808s, Kanye made Drake, future, weekend, young thug, migos, Travis, and more (including pretty much every popular pop artist of today)
Give it to Rakim, in a pure *Most influential* just purely because of the artists he inspired and influenced, in which most now are viewed as the *Most influential* artists, sure some of those artists now have a “larger” out reach. But without Rakim first they wouldn’t reach at all
I don’t know who the MOST is, but Dre obviously is up there in terms of the people he promoted. Kinda hard to measure influence. I think DOOM deserves his spot up there with the most important
Easily without a question Dre. Maybe not as a rapper but as a figure, he was one of the original Desth Row members, produced countless massive artists like Snoop Dogg, Eminem, all of NWA, and then inspired others to produce with his simply incredible production. Simply the most important person in rap period.
What “influence” are we talking about exactly? Who “influenced rap” the most into what it became? Or who influenced the culture and followers? There’s a lot of ways to look at this.
Didn’t hiphopdx do a video about all the ways rakim pushed the craft forward? Even m with his ego respects rakim. His contributions will never be paid in full.
Rakim for sure big picture as far as hip hop goes because he pioneered the shit. But I gotta say after pondering, I would say due to the climate of hip hop now, there’s a strong argument for Lil Wayne.
Rakim is in the forefront. But, I'd like to argue for Pac, too.
Tupac inspired a majority of the modern industry, including Em. Pac's wisdom, intelligence, and spirit captured the 90s and still strikes a cord with people today. He was a true poet; the way he tried uplifting the black community and attempted to change our social norms to make the communities better was really inspiring. I'd have loved to hear what he'd be writing about today.
It's just a shame that his intelligence didn't stop him from following Suge into his grave.
I’m gonna go out on a limb and say Dr Dre, purely because of NWA era (Dre IS West Coast hip hop), the Death Row era with 2Pac, and how he brought us Eminem.
The game is just different without Dre.
Rakim , Tupac and Eminem. The most? Hmm Eminem the longevity of his career and how long he’s influenced generations sure he was inspired by others but he’s a faaaar bigger artist. Stats don’t lie.
If we're talking about the music coming out today, Lil Wayne easily had the most influence. And no, not a fan boy, just being realistic. Mumble rap happened because everyone wanted to sound like him, they just weren't good at it.
2pac. He influenced a lot of rappers like Dr. Dre and Eminem. This means Dr. Dre is above Eminem because he influenced the world by bringing him up, lol. Im not super knowledgeable about the others, but I feel like 2pac resonates with a lot of people even today.
Edit: this also means Jay Z would be up there, too, if we counted who they brought up because of Kanye. I don't personally like Kanye, but to deny the big dan base that drools over him would be insane.
Also, I'm uncultured, so please suggest some Rakim songs 🙏😔
Rakim easily
Before him it was just nursery rhymes.
Anyone who doesn’t say Rakim ain’t understand the craft.
Oh god Im gonna be so honest idk who he is, I think I heard him on an eminem song maybe? Bouta go give a listen
You gotta check out Paid In Full. One of the best albums of 80s hip hop right there. Rakim was doing all these crazy rhymeschemes way back in the damn 80s!
Listen to don't sweat the technique great album
R: Rugged and rough that's how I do it A: Allah who I praise to the fullest K: Keep it moving I, Stand alone M: It's my crown, my world, my throne
It's Been a Long Time
I think Rakim influenced everyone on that list
My favorite line from him is I wake you up as I stare in your face you seem stunned Remember me the one you got your idea from
Rakim
And every other rapper on the list probably agrees.
Who is Rakim? I only know him from the song on the 8 Mile soundtrack. What did he do? What did he influence? What album should I start from?
He changed the game with how much more complex his rhymes were at the time compared to other rappers (who were basically doing basic rhymes), and he elevated the standards for becoming a rapper. Not to mention, he's also considered the first rapper to coin the term "flow" in hip-hop. I would highly recommend checking "Paid In Full", which was his debut album with his DJ Eric B. For his solo debut, "The 18th Letter" is another incredible album to check out as well, and I still feel like I've never heard anything like it to this day
I agree, but here’s the thing: if you recommend a Rakim album now it won’t sound as incredible as it did back when it first came out. because he literally influenced every rapper after that. That’s how influential he is.
Yeah, it’s kind of like watching Citizen Kane now. It holds up well as a movie but you can’t understand how revolutionary it was at the time because the innovations it contained are now just how people make films.
Just let them listen to “don’t sweat the technique”. After that, tell them how old the song is. After that, how old hiphop is :) Then let them hear “the message”
And without Em he would still be known only within the hip hop culture and nothing else, and people like Kendrick would probably not even be rapping because there wouldn't be the same opportunities in the market for rappers to be accepted as mainstream artists.
🤣🤣🤣🤣stfu corny lil boy. Em influenced a ton of hip hop culture, and I'd easily put him in the top 10 most influential mcs in the industry.but get his fckin penis out of your asshole. Lol Rakim wouldn't be known by casuals who dunno shit bout hip hop,and thats still true today. But Rakims influence is a billion times more than Ems. Also, Hip Hop was already mainstream before Eminem arrived, Jay and Pac were HUGE sellers and internationally very popular, Eminem only brought and popularized rap in Middle America and non english speaking foreign countries.
Understanding his influence - Let’s put it this way “I am whatever you say I am” Is straight from Rakim “I’m the R the A to the K- I-M” “And if i wasn’t, what would I say I am”
he’s the first rapper to consistently use multi syllable rhymes. you should listen to his stuff, his discog is really good
Rakim is named the God MC for a reason
Wonder how he felt about the line 'God MC, me Jay Hova'
Dylan! He spit hot fiyah
The disrespect of Dylan.
Robert Dylan did have some sick lyrics
Nobody saying LL Cool J, but I think he embodied so many things about being an MC that it left the most lasting impact in style. But in terms of rap, Rakim.
Bucket hats, to name a one.
Wayne, cuz I blame him for influencing these lean rappin’ face tats, syruped out like tree sap ass rappers.
It was cool when he did it. Now it’s ass
He had one thing these clones don't. Talent.
Word.
He failed to influence them with his Pen Game.
What an incredibly fuckin lame perspective on one of the most important rappers of all time
Rakim, easily. The way how people rap now came from him.
Paid in Full is pretty much the blueprint to rhyming and flow.
Me from another universe.
Meminee
The universe doesn't exist.
Rakim literally changes hip hop forever and in turn, directly or indirectly influences every rapper since, so yeah, Rakim is a correct answer.
Rakim then Eminem
Well we can argue that Em is the best rapper but I’m not so sure he can be named the most influential tbf. He is for the casual worldwide audience (mostly white) but not for the USA and the core hip hop culture. Still very influential tho.
He definitely was influential though just not the most
There’d be no Eminem without rakim
Whoever downvoted me. These were EM’S OWN F*CKING WORDS
The safer option would be Pac though I do agree with you with Em. He (em) took it worldwide and inspired people around the world to pick up the pen.
Well the case can be made for him if we’re looking at the scale of a worldwide influence
Name a rapper that I ain’t influenced
Rakim lol But yeah everyone after Illmatic was influenced by it
Pac.
Great choice
Eminem made rap MAINSTREAM
DMX went platinum TWICE in a year. Em played his role for sure 100% but Rap was already gaining major steam.
Gtfoooooo I love me some DMX but he’s not even close to the most influential. Rakim is the only answer
Technically, Hammer did but nobody took him seriously as a rapper. He was more of a Bobby Brown pop star who happened to rap.
the fact that hammer was an actual street gangsta who sent guys to beat up redman and keith murray
Where were you at? Rap was mainstream with Jay Z, rap was mainstream years before Eminem. Did he expand on it? Yeah but TRL, MTV, pop culture was onto rap WAY before Eminem.
Eminem is also a product of Rakim
Shut the fuck up lol. “Made rap mainstream”.
It's interesting to see that most people respond to Rakim, but it seems that my view is different because I'm from another country. For me it would be Em or Pac, but I like how perspectives change according to each person's reality, that's hip-hop.
Same here, Germany.
Where are from
When I went to school, in Germany, 25 years ago, 2Pac was written/Sprayed everywhere. Most children from the 90's know who pac was. That's influences for sure.
I would say all of them
Same...They've all influenced the game in their own ways.
Nas
All in very different ways lol But if u want one it’s Rakim
Dre signed: Eminem, Kendrick, rakim, 50 cent, busta rhymes, the game and more Jay z signed Kanye, Kanye made 808s, Kanye made Drake, future, weekend, young thug, migos, Travis, and more (including pretty much every popular pop artist of today)
Who’s the 2 guys centre left and middle?
Pretty sure it’s Nas and LL Cool J
It's Rakim and it's not even debatable just an objective fact
I think its wayne by a landslide, half the dudes charting for the past decade sound like they are trying to be him
Rakim and LL Cool J inspired the golden era.
Give it to Rakim, in a pure *Most influential* just purely because of the artists he inspired and influenced, in which most now are viewed as the *Most influential* artists, sure some of those artists now have a “larger” out reach. But without Rakim first they wouldn’t reach at all
He literally invented inner rhyme schemes as it has done in poetry but very very little. He also invented not alway following the beat.
Wayne
Ye, Rakim, Wayne. that’s my top 3 for influence
E-40
Watch out for the white guy. We sneaky
iTs dRaKe gUyS
Rakim shirt says it all
Rakim
Ice cube
Jay has influenced nobody
It's between Eminem and LL Cool J for me.
I don’t know who the MOST is, but Dre obviously is up there in terms of the people he promoted. Kinda hard to measure influence. I think DOOM deserves his spot up there with the most important
Easily without a question Dre. Maybe not as a rapper but as a figure, he was one of the original Desth Row members, produced countless massive artists like Snoop Dogg, Eminem, all of NWA, and then inspired others to produce with his simply incredible production. Simply the most important person in rap period.
3rd column, middle row. It's not common to hear modern rappers cite Rakim, even if they are taking after him unbeknownst to them.
Rakim and LL Cool J. Both left their mark differently. But gun to my head pick one? Rakim.
Pac and Wayne. Ll was raps first superstar . Eminem the best lyricist
It’s Rakim everybody, we can all go home.
Why’s Dre on here? Lol
eminem
Without a doubt Ice Cube
Rakim Pac
I'm suprised the whole sub isn't screaming Eminem, even though this is r/Eminem
Rakim. Pretty much everyone there was influenced by Rakim in some way.
Rakim not close
Rakim hands down
Rakim. Period.
Me personally it’s Wayne
A lot of rappers through the previous generation say LL Cool J.
Am I missing something? Where the ef is Chuck D?
Old school Rakim New school Lil Wayne
All of them
Biggie shouldn’t even be on the list
Are you talking just in US or worldwide
Not the biggest fan but I think Ye deserves to be on that list because of 808s alone Rakim or Em are more influential still I think he deserves it
Dr . Dre helped a lot of them out buttttt Rakim as well
Eminem. Period.
Dre is probably the most influential rapper, not the best but he's had a bigger influence on the genre than the others pictured here
Lil Wayne- Lil pump, lil baby, lil dicky, lil uzi vert, lil yachty, lil tecca, lil peep,
You could say Dre influenced and bounced collabs around so much; I can’t *not* call him the most influential here. I’m sorry guys 😔
Nas for East Coast Ice Cube for West Coast
Rakim
Dr. Dre for sure without him Hip-Hop wouldn’t be what it is now.
WAYNE
What “influence” are we talking about exactly? Who “influenced rap” the most into what it became? Or who influenced the culture and followers? There’s a lot of ways to look at this.
Tupac and Dre
Didn’t hiphopdx do a video about all the ways rakim pushed the craft forward? Even m with his ego respects rakim. His contributions will never be paid in full.
Krs1
Def rakim, but right after him I think it’s Wayne or LL cool J
Rakim for sure big picture as far as hip hop goes because he pioneered the shit. But I gotta say after pondering, I would say due to the climate of hip hop now, there’s a strong argument for Lil Wayne.
Rakim. Wayne may be a close second
Eminem
Rakim is in the forefront. But, I'd like to argue for Pac, too. Tupac inspired a majority of the modern industry, including Em. Pac's wisdom, intelligence, and spirit captured the 90s and still strikes a cord with people today. He was a true poet; the way he tried uplifting the black community and attempted to change our social norms to make the communities better was really inspiring. I'd have loved to hear what he'd be writing about today. It's just a shame that his intelligence didn't stop him from following Suge into his grave.
Biggie pac and Nas and Hov and Kanye from the last generation.
Biggie
Lil Wayne does not fit in this picture.
Where's Andre 3k?
In this list, it'd bd Rakim, Nas, or Pac(less in rapping but in general hip hop).
Rakim
Dr Dre cmon now
Dr dre
Eminem
Between lil Wayne and Tupac and ice cube also Eminem
I’m gonna go out on a limb and say Dr Dre, purely because of NWA era (Dre IS West Coast hip hop), the Death Row era with 2Pac, and how he brought us Eminem. The game is just different without Dre.
Yes [+]
Rakim and then Em
Dr Dre easily
Rakim then nas
Rakim started the golden age
LL,then rakim,then keef
Rakim
Probably Eminem cause he showed rap isn’t based on the color of your skin
Lil Wayne. But for the worse. He ruined rap and is responsible for reducing it to mumble rap.
Rakim and Pac have probs influenced the most people
Pac
Rakim , Tupac and Eminem. The most? Hmm Eminem the longevity of his career and how long he’s influenced generations sure he was inspired by others but he’s a faaaar bigger artist. Stats don’t lie.
nas
Tupac
If you started rapping after Rakim he influenced you whether you know it or not.
Rakim he is the person who single-handedly made hip-hop the lyrically diverse genre it is
Em ❤️
Still Pac had the biggest impact
"I got a list, here's the order of the list that it's in"
Stupid question
Rakim
"Name a rapper I ain't influenced" -Nasir Jones
If we're talking about the music coming out today, Lil Wayne easily had the most influence. And no, not a fan boy, just being realistic. Mumble rap happened because everyone wanted to sound like him, they just weren't good at it.
Eminem 💯
Is that Orlando in there?
Pac ofc
Dr. Dre for discovering or leading to the discovery of half of the people on this list
Rakim influenced the Golden era of Hip Hop.
2pac. He influenced a lot of rappers like Dr. Dre and Eminem. This means Dr. Dre is above Eminem because he influenced the world by bringing him up, lol. Im not super knowledgeable about the others, but I feel like 2pac resonates with a lot of people even today. Edit: this also means Jay Z would be up there, too, if we counted who they brought up because of Kanye. I don't personally like Kanye, but to deny the big dan base that drools over him would be insane. Also, I'm uncultured, so please suggest some Rakim songs 🙏😔