Eric B. & Rakim - Casualties Of War

Music video by Eric B. & Rakim performing Casualties Of War. (C) 1992 Geffen Records

[@bigdukepod]

No profanity, no calling women Bitches, No calling each other Nigga - Nothing but wisdom! The greatest Rapper of ALL TIME bar none! RAKIM.................

[@meismtheism1527]

he don't dance, he don't swear, and he don't say nigga..... and yet he's been training rappers for 30 years. they still have soooo much to learn.

[@devonsaunders8763]

Meism Theism--He acutally does say the work nigga. Just not over the top with it. Listen to the Juice soundtrack (Know The Ledge) "knocking nigga's off knockin nigga's out"

[@meismtheism1527]

Devon Saunders ah, i didnt look it up but ill take ya word for it, good point. i wonder if those lyrics were wrote for him or if he wrote 'em. but still, he said em

[@devonsaunders8763]

He has never had anyone write lyrics for him... He has done writing for others though.

[@TheTruth-jd6wo]

He said nigga multiple times in Juice. Research and listen kid.

[@rafaelleon115]

He also says niggaz in his song "When i be on the mic"

[@breakfreak3181]

Back in 2024! Forgot to say....this is one of the few hiphop riddims of the time dealing with these topics (futility of war, army recruitment, military industrial complex, 'blue on blue' war crimes (aka fraggin') and military PTSD). Back in '93 as well! Way ahead if it's time! Edit: And demobbing back into civilian life. All with Rakim's stone cold delivery and Eric B's soulful, but cold beat. What a track

[@knucklegame5050]

It's RHYTHMS, NOT RIDDIMS.

[@pchab1966]

💯

[@dermottmorris6425]

​@@knucklegame5050wow thats all you got from his comments😮😢

[@plug4502]

ты чертовски прав товарищ

[@virgilwimberly2071]

Rakim was incredibly intellectual and so far ahead of his time it's crazy. His lyrical level was insane and unfair to other rappers.

[@LordNuDTru141]

The microphone fein

[@AMOKIAN]

Amen

[@BigBadJohnDiesel]

Legendary for sure!

[@demetrisqwashington8814]

11:11. No doubt !!! Heat.....2022 !!!

[@quentinparker7404]

This song and "Straight Outta Compton" display the Amen breakbeat beautifully.

[@OMEGAxWARRIOR]

On this record Rakim even raps with the exact tone of aggression you’d expect to hear from a veteran with PTSD, almost as if he’s screaming out for help. Genius!

[@ambehak4758]

Love that summarisation ✊

[@oktoberwolfe2726]

thats what made it so genius...at least I though so

[@DonaldkMitchell-rb1vk]

Thanks you for your service from one vet to another

[@ericscott-iv5qv]

​eye fie an eye

[@supernatural2693]

You actually swear he went to desert storm and giving first hand account on his experience there....I START LETTING OFF SHOTS IN EVERY DIRECTION "ALLAH" IS MY ONLY PROTECTION .....lyrics is bonkers

[@gykes88]

Arguably one of the best rap songs of all time, so honest and vivid.

[@c.loreto6990]

Eric B is always standing quietly still in the background with a serious face 😂😂 I never seen him smile before.

[@darrismorrison3058]

Rakim and Chuck D is my favorite rappers.

[@KoolMoeKeem]

Darris Morrison they both dope

[@Bensonsan]

They sure are!

[@pind507]

You forgot Guru or Gangstarr as well as Krs One

[@miketthomas3995]

Rakim,KRS,Scarface,MC Shan,Jay Z!!!

[@miketthomas3995]

Rakim,KRS,MC Shan,Scarface!!!

[@odemata87]

prophetic.....he called it in 92!

[@kevinwoods2602]

"I run for cover when a plane is over me, Remember Pearl Harbor? New York will be over G."

[@karonbarwick541]

On the strength

[@bitchpuhleese]

I had the cassette - he was one of my favorite rap artists back in tha day.

[@BJCulpepper]

As a military person, this is a disturbingly cool song that came out too early. Eric B/ Rakim, thank you...

[@lj7780]

it is timeless

[@PainterVierax]

as LJ said, there were anti-war songs for every war since Vietnam.

[@DonaldkMitchell-rb1vk]

Salute Solider US Recon Special forces Marines

[@robhall2891]

My theme song after I returned from Desert Storm/Desert Shield! Perfect timing!

[@reggiemunch]

Talking to Rakim last weekend after a show when he mentioned this song... I said to him I used to wonder if he was human and he laughed. True story💯

[@TheConscienceOne]

That's dope man. We thank Allah for giving us Rakim.

[@Chouf-TV]

I'm on the wrong side, so change the target Shooting at the general; and where's the sergeant? .... Half of my platoon came home in coffins Except the general, buried in the Storm In bits and pieces no need to look for em I played it slick and got away with it Rigged it up so they would think they did it Now I'm home on reserves and you can bet When THEY call, I'm going AWOL Cause it ain't no way I'm going back to war When I don't know who or what I'm fighting for Raw skills and moral genuineness. I banged this song today and other Rakim's songs driving 45 miles road. This one right here, could easily be 1 of the top 3 songs in hip hop history.

[@dannyreece9551]

I was on lock down in the big house .A GUY PLAYED THIS IN THE MUSIC ROOM ,NOT EVEN ONE MAN OR THE GUARDS MOVED .

[@dannyreece9551]

I AM FROM JAMAICA, AND WHEN JAMAICANS SAY WHEEL AND COME AGAIN ,THAT MEANS DA SANG DE BAD.

[@Gabriel-gv1mx]

Rakim is lyrical sharp shooter: always on point, making casualties of those who attempt to ambush his flow. The greatest MC to bless a mic with erudition and conscious Hip-Hop. Peace.

[@micheldonderwinkel3716]

i totaly agree with that

[@seankenneally3483]

AND THAT'S WORD!

[@Skillustrated]

1. Rakim 2. ? 3. ? Anyone after is debatable. Rakim is still Crazy 30 years later and he invented a whole genre of hiphop. Try and remember what was before Rakim. He also introduced too many phrases to the world like " caught'm out there, pump up the volume, sweat'n me, dead presidents, jet'n" ect . And he told you he was doing it "I could take a phrase that's rarely heard flip it now it's a daily word" He was the first with aliases like 007, solar controller, 18th letter, The R, ect. He was Prophetic on this song and many others, including his first single when he said "After this you'll call me your Majesty" 86. Now all call him the God MC!! Peace!!

[@rwarren4637]

2. Nas 3. kane 4. biggie

[@MyDbzfan9000]

DatDude Driot Kool G Rap and Kane

[@FlyingImmortal]

1-Kool More Dee 2-Melle Mel 3-Grandmaster Caz 4-Big Daddy Kane 5-Rakim The first 3 created this shit.......all others learned.

[@e2daz265]

FlyingImmortal Rakim revolutionized it

[@sonofaballer96]

Chief Keef basically invented drill rap and got people saying "thot" and had young niggas bangin, he got people tryna emulate him and a bunch of dudes tryna be like Chicago rappers. But he ain't no Rakim, not even close.

[@psgary6622]

I was stationed in Monterey when this literally blew up. It made me workout harder. We didn't know how prophetic it was. He predicted 9-11 11 years before it happened. This & pulp novels were how I knew NY & DC were prime targets.

[@marcoklinge3361]

I thought the same thing 2 days after 9/11....scary prophetic stuff..."I look for shelter when a plane flies over, remember Pearl Harbour, NY will be over "G"....Kamikaze"....

[@jdbankshot]

is this track from 1992? 2002? 2012? 2022? 3022? yes x 5.

[@unameit0000]

I LOVE Rakim but you cannot forget about the GENIUS Eric B This instrumental is Top Top Top

[@lith1156]

Rakim made the beats too, not Eric B

[@TheFilipi03]

​@@lith1156 oh serious?

[@lith1156]

@@TheFilipi03 yeah, have heard over the years and Ra himself said in an interview that he did most of the beats

[@lucasm3879]

Funky beats by Eric B and also deep lyrics. Rakim is a poet as much as a rapper.

[@northyorksimonkim]

I used to listen to this cassette in 1992, it is still incredible

[@jesuslind8978]

The best to ever pick up a microphone still no competition then and today the G-O-A-T Rakim

[@kasheem1747]

I concur

[@lewisjones4130]

IN THE WORDS OF MY MAN CHUCK D: GODDAMN RIGHT!

[@godscience7821]

Rakim man ridiculous on the mike and eric B with that gangster stare. Hip hop lives!!!

[@YoungRiaz]

Rakim is the greatest rapper of all time

[@ashtonjackfanny]

ps please notice that rakim has been interviewed many times since he's come back and not one fuckin interviewer has ever really asked him about this song. this song which is his most important song made and one of the most prophetic songs ever made. i guess i'll sum up the reason why they don't ask him by giving a quote from a song rakim made on his let the rhythm hit em album where he says " one thing i don't like is a spotlight...cuz i already got light"

[@waff1eirontmacsplat]

He predicted 9/11 like it was nothing of course nobody knew what he was talking about.

[@prismspec]

"I ain't no joke", "follow the leader", paid in full". All classics, but its songs like this that make Rakim a legend. The lyrics, the flow, the construction, and the narrative. Amazing.

[@panopticonartist]

That time when Rakim predicted the future.

[@scOchie]

He didn't predict the future, he tried to remind us that history tends to repeat itself. Like usual nobody listens though....

[@SleepFan771]

panopticonartist Yeah, The World Trade Center was attacked the very next year in 1993, when that song came out in 1992. Crazy.

[@TheAmazingOtaku]

+Johnny Cached I thought he was talking about Desert Storm?

[@thirdshift47]

+TheAmazingOtaku He was talking about Desert Storm as well as the future implications of the invasion. The song is a paean to the genius that is Rakim.

[@jimbob3030]

+panopticonartist It's easy to predict predictable outcomes when their so consistently predictable.

[@SilentWintersKnight]

This here is what is Real Hip-hop...this song came out over 30yrs ago and it's still relevant to this day. Also the vivid story telling puts you in the choas and hysteria.

[@da7od]

Peace 2 the 7s and the earths. 1st let me say Happy Bornday 2 the 7 MC. Yo he was definitely ahead of his time back then. His rhymes were prophetic! The 7 Rakim and the 7 Knowledge Reign Supreme Over Nearly Everyone (KRS One for the 85ers) had a major role in spreading the truth thru music. Keep on 8ing Lord. Peace. ....

[@supernatural2693]

Power equal allah CEE equal ...*7)

[@frankmc3.537]

On another note check Rakim's killer lyrical skill on his track called " what's going on" very sad but so true about a large percent of our black culture... Peace to The GOAT RAKIM!!!!!

[@rrrb1sbrrr574]

Frank Mc3. You look white. Whiter than my last name

[@kashroyal9968]

Thank you to all of my VETS,GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!!!

[@louigim]

Rakim is incredible. They were so ahead of their time.

[@MrOmega300]

Everything he said on this song came true. From 911 to the shooting in Dallas by that army reserve that killed the police.

[@bennyhicks904]

kill or be killed,return fire when fire up on!

[@2020Viszion]

omar. JUST. morales They were all staged events.

[@carlossalas9292]

2 chuck d 3 krs one

[@kevinscott59]

Brian V What attack from the 70s?

[@aharonjones8287]

I got out of the Army when 9/11 happened, so I love this track

[@djkaneck1]

"I look for shelter when a plane is over me, remember Pearl Harbor? New York will be over g!" That's scary.

[@MaxMotivation247]

DJ KaNeck wow. Hadn't heard this in a while. Chills.

[@neuscelnewman2829]

Very prophetic

[@CaptainCock-Strong]

Well, I guess you can say Ra predicted 9/11.

[@alexbaum2204]

Remember putting this song on towards the end of that day - playing it for a couple of my college friends. Pricked the hair on the back of our necks.

[@Queenschris718]

Predicted 9-11 before it happened

[@cristinamarierosado10]

He is absolutely mesmerizing... I’m hypnotized by his eyes and lyrical skills that are like no other . And this beat is... yeaaaa crazy stupid yo ❤️❤️❤️ xo from Brooklyn New York

[@99alfailiwaqain51]

Peace To The Gods! Absolutely 💯 the God is lyrically imperial!

[@lesslycarthan956]

Did you know they banned this song from the military stations when it came out

[@samrez-5530]

what a classic and only 400.000 thousand views !???? Rakim Allah is the greatest!! selam aleykum to him

[@lom972]

Only shit now, only nicki minaj iggy azalea bieber and other crap

[@samrez-5530]

+Андрей Ломов you are right my friend we are still oldschool and stay it, fuck these new Mainstream lolipop galuboy Hip Hop!!

[@user-ml1tw6xx4r]

yo its forbidden to call anyone allah

[@clancylol5725]

Андрей Ломов so true

[@azizt6773]

Андрей Ломов I agree

[@holy3594]

Guys this song is just so incredibly good

[@SouthBronxBully718]

RAKIM FOR PRESIDENT !!!! -This Guy was a Lyrical Genius !!!!, Are yah paying attention to what he is saying in this song?? Smh My God !!!!!!!!!!

[@thatmanbolt6686]

daGod Emcee WAS???????????????IZZ🌍🎷🎧🎧🎧🎧✊

[@lewisjones8534]

daGod Emcee THE BEAT IS KILLA!

[@1cplpat]

BEST OF ALL TIME !!!!!! HANDS DOWN NO DISCUSSION !!!!!!

[@mena-jc1jq]

NO.. This is too much good

[@kidnpigtogether]

It's like when I listen to old Malcolm X speeches, he didn't know just how relevant his words then would directly identify today's situations but they are so on point that it's scarry.

[@xBlaac]

%100 Because it's true like rakim do and public enemy and x clan and krs one it's a movment

[@nathanshabazz6300]

anthony dyson Have you seen his Mike Wallace interview? mind blowing.the police shootings and protests he saw it coming decades ahead that it would go city to city and that reform was necessary to remove the conditions that allowed the powder keg exist let alone erupt

[@louiswilliamson5937]

@@bloedblarre no he wasn't. You speaking nonsense

[@Kmakmizzle]

It just doesn't get better than this!

[@philliphessel6788]

A truly amazing duo of MC and DJ! Necessary education for anyone looking to advance the state of the art, all these years later.

[@kwamegray5656]

RAKIM & KRS1 was something serious back!!

[@jonjrambo3546]

When they call I’m going Awall Cuz there ain’t no way I’m going back to war When I don’t know who or what I’m fighting for. Unless you rap, u don’t understand how COMPLEX and PERFECT and and the QUALITY those bars are. “Ain’t no way” rhymes with Awall. And it also rhymes with “back to war”. To the non rapper ear or writer of rhymes , you don’t know that. That’s why Rakim is a wordsmith. I can’t explain it. When I FIRST heard that i remember and I got motivated to write even more and harder for intense complex lyricism and world play

[@jonjrambo3546]

My comment will live forever. Weather my point gets across or not to listener. Or if another rapper reads it. Either way. It’s the truth

[@jeromegarcia1669]

There is no question in my mind who the greatest rapper to ever live is. Rakim is light-years away from the rest of the pack.

[@mjdghost]

this is still relevant in 2016... Classic

[@rrrb1sbrrr574]

No this is still relevant in 3018

[@justincharles6585]

2019

[@ESDAce]

@@rrrb1sbrrr574 no this is still relevant in 8790

[@ferraseratif2852]

Rakim Allah=Impeccably lyrical the rhymes are visual

[@spenceralexander3939]

RA KIM = SUN GOD

[@bernardtyler526]

It's on, rakim is the master

[@Teboho-RSA]

This goes back years, as a young South African I loved this song, it was a mission to get our hands on hip hop back then... This was in the last days of Apartheid South Africa... So grateful of this song, hip hop was itself a resistance ... Sadly i don't hear the same for Palestine...

[@someguy6212]

Rakim the king!!!!

[@charliemalloy1023]

Talk about a song that is timeless. It would hit today as it did then.

[@emilygoddard7651]

This song means everything in 2024 😟❤

[@vanix9268]

Rakim even raps with the exact tone of aggression you'd expect to hear from a veteran suffering from PTSD on this track, almost as if he's pleading for help.

[@ScudAttack]

The look R gives the camera after 3:41, powerful

[@robertcanceljr4400]

Rakim always groove to t Erik b and rakim

[@nunomiguelcaeiro150]

Happy B-Day The Master Rakim!!!

[@antoniogambardella785]

Timeless A classic 💣🔥👊🎤🔝🎙

[@ashtonjackfanny]

Imma get back to New York in one piece but I'm bent in the sands that is hot as the City streets. Nobody in hip hop history paints pictures better than rakim. Those couple of bars created many styles in the 90s and 2000s

[@joeimanolmelchor]

Rakim = Legend

[@The-Vision]

The soldier with the bag over his head pushing the burning stroller at 3:25 ..... I miss godly Hip-Hop

[@McRemmyBaby]

Lol

[@mechtech220]

dude I was thinking about that. that visual is REAL ill. not only the look but what it symbolizes. the children in body bags with the newspaper and war on it laid over them. the visuals are perfectly paired with the lyrics/track/theme. it's a perfect blend.

[@tariqscientificallah3723]

Rakimz been schoolin me since 87 P.E.A.C.E. to the G.O.D. and real Hip-Hop.

[@lookitsapanther]

"Now i'm home on reserves, and you can bet when they call, i'm going AWOL, Cause it ain't no way i'm going back to war, when I don't know who or what i'm fighting for."

[@PopO51968]

I've always wished that Eric B & Rakim could have done about 8 albums. The did give us 4 Fire album though 🔥 🔥 🔥

[@markicarki9771]

Casulties of war Death is the penalty and those rhymes are killing

[@arthurleon1387]

Damn this song is even more relevant now than it was when it came out. His rhymes were ahead of his time like Tupac.

[@gizmod22]

Crazy how it feels like the Gulf War in the early 90's is kind of forgotten. Gotta remember there's consequences to starting wars, especially with Asia.

[@lordgodspeed1539]

One of my All time favorites Classics

[@terencealexander4520]

this is one hard hittin song! Glad I found it again!

[@LW7333LW]

Rakim is the s****!! Eric B ..wut up!!

[@dannyreece9551]

THE MAN WAS PURE ACID HIS WORDS BURN DEEP.

[@EyeTunz]

"I'm on the wrong side, so change the target, shootin at the general, and where's the sergeant?"

[@TFCooking]

such an important and relevant song

[@nadirelzain]

one of the best, if nit the best,rap lyrics

[@danvaughn1584]

GOD Bless All The Soldiers AT WAR!!!!💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽💪🏽🤴🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽🙌🏽🙌🏽👍🏽✊🏽👊🏽More POWER Too You

[@boxingswarriorspirit]

this song had a strong message. it showed you what a shellshocked, psychologically damaged veteran may experience.

[@breakfreak3181]

The whole album was 🔥, and this is another amazing cut off it! Pure storytelling talent. Top echelon shizzle right here....

[@nevvaworry5451]

This is Sooooo Relevant Still 30 years Later in 2021 🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆

[@blacksuperman6116]

The God Emcee.

[@jami4418]

"When I hear truck back fire I fire back" 🔥🔥

[@Damon_Fall-Guy_Mitchell]

King . Pawn self, But Baby God , Gonna Getcha ! He likes war too.

[@clb24]

"My game is tight but I'll never reach the heights that Rakim got to in this thing. He is the lyricist we all have to be compared to." -Notorious B.I.G., Source Magazine, June 1993

[@bigdukepod]

Word Life.

[@silversurfer8935]

You are watching a master in his prime

[@chucktaylor1726]

When Rakim put the mic down the room was filled with casualties.

[@PopO51968]

Another gem by the GOAT 🐐!!!

[@BROOKLYN1977]

Psalm 137:8-9 O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us. Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.

[@austinedwards3559]

The Micro Fiend Rakim real hip hop Forever

[@michaeljackson7481]

LEGEND

[@TheSstretch68]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE LEGENDARY GOD EMCEE!!!!!

[@alwaysbeautiful7395]

WOW!!! A very under rated track!!

[@snackkgod]

Hip hop at the peak...this is a good as it gets😮

[@akinayodele3055]

Young brothers, Rakim is the MC that YOUR favorite MC wish they could be.

[@skip1lp]

Damn....DID HE PREDICT 9/11 IN 92??IJS!!

[@thirdshift47]

+skip1lp Yep. And now you know why he's the god!

[@adrianlopez7241]

what part did he predict that?

[@davekeays]

thanks for the history lesson. What I noticed in the lyrics looks real from what little research I've done today: :40 connection between President Bush, Desert Storm, and Saddam; 2:00 Saddam [then our ally] would cause mass hysteria and dead bodies on the ground; 2:50 "just waiting for terrorists to attack"' 3:00 "I look for shelter when planes are over me remember New York, Pearl Harbor, and Herosheme [Hiroshima?]." His reference to NY, I assume was about the German terrorist cell in NYC in WWI or www.start.umd.edu/sites/default/files/files/announcements/2010May01_NYC_Terrorism%20v2.pdf

[@kidnpigtogether]

+Dave Keays Good research and analysis. I appreciate that.

[@forgetfulfunctor1]

+Adrian Lopez "Remember pearl Harbor new yorkll be over g"

[@Tdoe]

Still listening in 2017

[@illel-zorro9527]

Certified classic by the god MC!

[@sonylaude79]

Peak Rakim Styles peak the jazz

[@nativesun9865]

Str8 from The Under, that real rap 'MuSick'.

[@stevenramirezmistersmokes6379]

OG ERIC B. & RAKIM#1

[@c.o.ecapitalizeoneverythin6457]

" No peace in the east they want revenge for saddam " Amazing🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@ambehak4758]

Many Arabs in the muslim nations don't necessarily want revenge for Saddam. He has mixed feelings across the Arab world, but many Arabs want revenge for the simple fact of the imperialists hanging him on a religious holiday which was a serious insult.

[@DMC.101]

GOD MC FLOW TIGHT

[@theworldofanimalsdogsandbi2475]

king of hip hop

[@axelzola]

Eric B and THAT stare

[@jking5772]

Real rap