WHY RAKIM IS THE GOD MC - FOUNDATION LESSON#13 BY JAYQUAN

[@djmaniack8583]

This is Dj Maniack...Rakim and I created The Melowdy in my livingroom when he cut school one morning. We went on to make another version of The Melowdy in a Jazz format for his High School Talent Show. My house was the place to be when it came down to Djing music practicing and recording ideas. Rakim gives me an ever so brief shout out on the album The Master."Big up to Dj Maniack" JAYQUAN here has really done an exelent job with his analysis of the influence of Rakim and his skill set also Rakims EFFECT on the entire GAME. Brother JAYQUAN allow me to thank you for your well researched and documented excerpt of this Hip Hop History and accuracy of my good friend and little brother RAKIM

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

Wow respect bro and thanks for looking. A jazz version...dope.

[@victorcreed9824]

The Foundation i love Rakim not only as a rapper but he introduced hidden knowledge into his art. He introduced me to the "triple states of darkness" and the black man as GOD

[@kcire-tv3wy]

I saw the documentary a while ago. RESPECT Maniack!

[@franklynmcgradycalderon977]

you had a MC name?

[@reggiemunch]

He shouted you on the LONG ISLAND cut.

[@RTDavis0503]

FINALLY! someone broke it down why Rakim is the Best. he changed the game. NO ONE was rhyming on that level BEFORE him. everyone after him is a descendant of his style..even Jay Z

[@tonybarnes6565]

Rodney Davis Man please, Jay Z no comparing to RAKIM. Period!

[@Sativa989]

@@tonybarnes6565 well he is not wrong there many artist that are descendant of his style.Though yeah..nas would have sounded alot nicer in that sentence than Jay z.

[@nightbot7183]

@@Sativa989 dont disresprct nas like that😣

[@Sativa989]

@@nightbot7183 I would consider that a honor, Big pun for instance was influenced heavily of kool g rap style ,and took it to next level.Just hearing his flow and his subject matter you can hear it. Big pun kissed G raps ring in reverence that's how much respect & strongly he felt for that man.I may be possibly? wrong being a descendant of the God Mc style a disrespect I don't see how .Regardless w.e you were influenced/descendant from your still your own artist and style.

[@mistahmst]

@@tonybarnes6565 Jay is definitely comparable to Rakim as far as discography. He took the influence of earlier MC's like Rakim, BDK, Kool G Rap, etc. and updated it as well as making it unique to him. He would not have lasted in the game for 20+ years if he weren't doing something right.

[@DoubleMM70]

Rakim should be in the Rock & Roll hall of fame before 2pac. He changed the game for a generation to come. His Impact on future generations were big.

[@ii9714]

DoubleMM70 Rakim does not get enough respect I agree

[@mostmost1]

Rakim is greatly respected. In Hip Hop

[@POTSOJ]

We are going to have make our own hall of fame.

[@donaldcox8644]

Man you can't even compare Rakim popularity to Tupac. Tupac is way more popular Rakim Tupac dead and they still playing his music Rakim is alive and they don't know play his shit on the radio

Truth even though Pac highly influenced me

[@JiveGray]

A rappers rapper, is called an M.C. An M.C's M.C., is called Lyricist. So what do you call a Lyricist's Lyricist? ..."Rakim". The first one to ascend from M.C. to Lyricist, and still the greatest

[@columbusohio72]

Moe Dee was a lyricist son

[@killbreastali3228]

Chuurrch..

[@davidreeves2596]

Kool Moe Dee Kool G Rap

[@soroushfayazpour6297]

a Rakim's Rakim is me😂❤

[@meanyomama]

@@davidreeves2596 big daddy kane

[@AfroWasiu]

The Greatest of All Time

[@ii9714]

Wasiu Best comment

[@will_cashgrow2294]

Period

[@gullybop1695]

Agreed!!

[@mre8928]

no doubt fam

[@ThothTheAtlanteanK]

TRUTH!!!!

[@MrROUBAIX72]

He also said .."every show "you see me in"..deep concentration Cuz I'm no "comedian "..4 words ..rhyme with one..this dude was incredible

[@thecratorcreatorrapper]

Damnnn sick

[@robjordan204]

Not only that, When he said "Steppin' to 007, better make it snappy, No time to do ya' hair, Baby....Brothers are bustin' at me".... Any below average MC woulda' rhymed that with "Nappy"...He told you in his rhyme, I ain't got time to do ya' hair...lol This dude is unbelievably creative in lyrical construction!! 🫡

[@MrROUBAIX72]

@@robjordan204 💯👍🏾

[@elivelasquez9517]

Nas has always been my favorite MC, but I never doubted Rakim was the best lyricist of all time.

[@immaculateprince]

And that is why i call him the lyrical architect of hip-hop because til this very day i personally feel that there's been no one who has ever done it greater

[@paconice5294]

That’s a really good way of putting it! We all got our top ten innovators and pioneers, but without a doubt he’s the chief architect of hip hop lyricism.

[@mojowasabi8823]

The 5 elements if emceeing to me are 1. lyricism -how well they get their point across, poetically, structure, punchlines 2. Wordplay- use of metaphores, homophones, and other literary devices 3. Rhyme sceme- use of rhyming, complexity of rhymes, placement of rhymes, ect 4. Flow- The rythem and tempo of the vocal proformance with the beat 5 delivery- annunciation and voice, how well they sound, an important difrentiation of rapping and "talking in rythem" is this element

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

hmmm interesting. Cant argue with you...

[@stewartdaniels9078]

@Matthew Wolanski Great criteria, I have a few of my own. 1. At the end of the rhyme...was there a point? Did you just waste my time? 2. Do you rhyme with, over, or hide behind the beat? These new cats are hiding behind the beat with weak verses and think I don't see 'em. 3. Do you even need a beat? The basic deal with rap is...your lyrics shall be poetry. No matter what the content. Have you literally read what these new dudes write?

[@kahleefel-amin5790]

The Foundation so what is nas cause he’s better to me do everything better

[@kahleefel-amin5790]

Helen Ksenia facts nas is a rakim kool g rap slick rich all in one meaning i agree with you but nas better then all his big homies times to an rap cloned granddaddy IU

[@kahleefel-amin5790]

Helen Ksenia granddaddy i u was the nigga rakim an Kane got they style from someone who wrote a lot of niggas song an nas said def jam said he sounds like g rap an rakim said nas is the best cause he did a lot of shit he couldn’t

[@ashtonjackfanny]

rakim used 5 percenter slang with that supreme hood slang that's the thing that had never been done before. since he did that the whole conscious era of rap was born like X clan but rakim was both conscious and gangsta at the same time. rakim is the jordan of hip hop easily ,the one who brought new school hip hop into existence

[@gregoryrankin4728]

No argument, no debate without question, Rakim is one of best in several categories.

[@ceelocee8328]

Definitely on point! Rakim to me is the greatest ever, PERIOD!

[@dashielbradley8106]

ceelo cee hands down

[@KingIzKash]

ceelo cee Word, without a doubt whatsoever!!!

[@will_cashgrow2294]

Ur 1,000,000 percent right

[@TheLetterK81]

Rakim Is Good MC no doubt But why does he always get credit, there were others Like Big Daddy Kane, Kool G Rap, Bone Thugs and Tupac they worked harder, Rakim only made 2 albums solo career in the 90s while others made around 6 or more so how is he the god mc.

[@awesometech841]

💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯💯

[@WillEFresh]

U WAS on point My Brother, Ra is The God. He took Hip Hop to the next level. Emcee's started getting all lyrical after Rakim, everyone knows that. That's why He's The Greatest Of All Time.

[@thebrownfilmshow]

check out Rakim's lyric breakdown to "I ain't no Joke" kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJiWqZaQo9-Vedk

[@marvin469]

He said getting all lyrical lol 👍

[@indigenouscoppercoloredabo7410]

Rakim has an impeccable style like none other. He's the intelligent lyrical scientist of rap.

[@sherrythompson9338]

Rakim was atleast ten years ahead of his time compared to anybody else that was out at that time, you know gangsta rap had just emerged and clearly where Rakim still out shined those guys were in his lyrics and pretty much garnered his own lane that his style was so unmistakably genuine it just shook the foundation of hip-hop, they got certain dance rappers that they tried to compare to Rakim but it was a joke that trend ended in 89 with gangsta rap help pushing it on out the door, but on the flip side Rakim still step into the 90s being recognized as one of the best as his record sells were still formidable and relevant.

[@gordonrichardson9720]

I have been trying to explain this to people for years. You can have your favorites, but you must respect and acknowledge where the complex rhymes and multi-syllabic patterns came from. Thank you for brilliantly breaking it down!!!

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

Gordon Richardson thank you for looking and understanding!!

[@tonymaury2006]

Man ... Rakim's catalogue still gives me chills! Not very many who consider themselves "artists" do this for me nowadays. It's one thing to rhyme, another to be commercially successful, but to be an artist requires creativity, thought, diligence, and being totally immersed in your craft whether it be for fun, spirituality, educational, or therapeutic reasons. This separates them from all the rest. Long live Rakim, the God MC! Last but not least ... Jayquan many thanks for providing insight to what delights!

[@dogsandyoga1743]

Man. It's like you pulled every single thing out of my head, and presented in a clear, concise and well thought out and researched manner. Props...

[@JeromeKyng]

Dope break down of Rakim Allah! Much love from Toronto!

[@7Eightyone]

"As the rhyme goes on" is my fav Rakim song of all....so sick..

[@realnube]

Highly underrated song One of my favorites for sure - The drums are so Ill.

[@MichaelMuhammadTech]

Pump it up homeboy.

[@DBrown-zk5rz]

That's one of the best songs by Rakim period! ....pump it up homeboy!

[@davidrispress888]

7Eightyone when he said oxygen he shut it down. That should have been a clue for others.

[@kepan7391]

The Punisher or Lyrics of Fury

[@saljuarez2910]

ONe thing I always appreciated on Ra's rhyming level is that he wouldn't curse and let the words hit ya dome. Hes the reason I had dictionaries next to me lol everytime I listened to his songs.

[@bigrobj1]

Great discussion. When people mention the greatest at anything, they always fail to mention how it was before and after their presence.

[@sherrythompson9338]

The best rappers or emcees persay music is always on point and has the element of being a head of its time, Rakim was the epitome of that in hiphop.

[@THEREALGULLYTV]

Dope ass narrative homie love it

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

Thanks!

[@petierican6079]

GULLY TV gots to jump on that dope ass narrator plus great episode's on old school rappers who started this hip-hop game rakim the( God ) is on top of my list of my favorite rappers his style his lyrical game dude's straight F.I.R.E.!!🎼🎵🎤🎙🎶🎼🎵💣💣♨️♨️🌡🌡🔥🔥✊✊✌✌🎼🎶🎵🎼🎶🎵🎵🎶🎼 jayquan keep rocking it p-town Paterson nj loving this big bro!!!

[@selease]

GULLY TV Damn! You're right. I enjoyed it.

[@CJ_7519]

The Foundation, I got a question for ya: in your HONEST & UNBIASED opinion, who do you think would win if Kane FINALLY battled RAKIM?!

[@sherrythompson9338]

@@CJ_7519 Rakim all day long his style was hands down better than that dance rap stuff Big Daddy Kane did along with Kid n Play, it would be much better to compare them or Rob Base to Big Daddy Kane than Rakim in a battle or anything else.

[@ants8527]

Memories of my childhood at the age of 11 back in 1986'' I still remember how hard the song ''Eric B Is President'' was hittin In the summer of 86'' And this was before ''The Paid n Full'' Album was even out yet. 😎

[@katfi5h]

Rakim slays. . . One of the few I can put on today and it sounds just as good as it did then. Some of the most ferocious grooves and hooks on those beats too!

[@d-techneekzmusic331]

katfi5h Bro to Rakim is the Bruce Lee of hip hop straight up!!!

[@bodyworkandptbykraig7609]

Desmond Brown That should become an often repeated phrase when Rakim comes up. "The Bruce Lee of Hip Hop"! Lol

[@HRDK-SKLETRMUMMR-MEGTRN]

😱😨😱😨😱😨😱😨😱😨😱😨😱😨😱

[@The808Mixmaster]

@@d-techneekzmusic331 yoo that's a good anology

[@The808Mixmaster]

@@d-techneekzmusic331 canibus actually said that when he battled dizaster. He said gravity is a repulsion not an attraction when it comes to lyrics I use to be the living bruce lee in action

[@BrooklynsFinestOG]

Rakim is a creator that was way ahead of his time he put so many analogies together that you wouldn't imagine could be collaborated. This is my #1 MC of all time hands down.

[@thebrownfilmshow]

check out Rakim's lyric breakdown to "I ain't no Joke" kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJiWqZaQo9-Vedk

[@TheLobMob]

Awesome breakdown!!! I can't imagine non-emcees have a TRUE appreciation for this breakdown. Respect.

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

Respect, and thanks for looking

[@Ruffian71]

Your narrative is absolutely brilliant, truthful & insightful. It goes to show his level of maturity & wisdom at such a young age. Especially how Rakim embraced KMD’s acknowledgement & LL took it as an insult. I was a teenager during Rakim’s hay day. At that time I liked Hip-Hop didn’t necessarily understand its subtleties & nuances. I didn’t love it until Rakim came along. He was so different than anything up to that point. He is one of the true paradigm shifts in the culture of Hip-Hop & does not get the credit deserved. Kool Moe Dee in his own right is also a Hip-Hop paradigm shift. (The Battle-MC as we know it today) Lastly, Moe-Dee created the style... Rakim perfected it to no end...

[@onewaydreokay4080]

Good shit bro! I really miss the days of lyrisism. And Rakim is the GOAT!

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

Thank you for looking bro!

[@onyxtytanium964]

@@adriangrenazi2809 those rappers are whack

[@3rdKind2]

@@adriangrenazi2809 Earl and Lupe are better but they come at a time where niggas like Rakim have already changed the game and carved a path for the rest to follow. Earl is my favourite rapper of all time.

[@H_i_T_Z]

Ra raised the bar for those who really took the art form seriously, most shoot for commercial success, popularity and a host of other things that do not include garnering the repesct of trying to be the BEST at what you do. Anyone can make money but not everyone can be considered the top in their field. The pen game this brother laid down is to us Real Hip Hoppers, what the pyramids are to an egyptologist, intricate, timeless, massive and still being studied to this day. Best MC ever.

[@BrooklynPhenixRising]

This brother put this together 6 years ago, I just found it today. From then until now, no one has fully captured the the essence of the God MC like this. Thank you bruh! This brought me all the way back to '87 when I my brother recorded it off WBLS... So many songs was on but Eric B. For President was the one I kept rewinding! Rakim throw rap 10 years into the future and sat there to wait for all the rest of the genre to catch up!

[@keastonwright8191]

Dope!!! Rakim the 🐐

[@hughcipher66]

Man I would rewind Follow the Leader over & over & over. Ra most definitely made me like everyone else elivate my flow to the next level. I heard him describe how he wrote his ryhmes & was like dayum i write my ryhmes similar. Its like I absorbed that just through listening to Ra

[@smvgrv1624]

Great video. Noone can touch Rakim, to this day!

[@10eyestv]

Excellent documentary. Rakim's first four albums lyrically is still the greatest lyrical four albums of any in Hip Hop history period

[@thebrownfilmshow]

check out Rakim's lyric breakdown to "I ain't no Joke" kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJiWqZaQo9-Vedk

[@olschoolTonyCarter]

Kool Moe Dee, Rakim, and Jaz-O are the Originators of pure lyricism.

[@olschoolTonyCarter]

@AMCFTP7 Grandmaster Caz, Grandmaster Melly Mel, and Kool Moe Dee.

[@olschoolTonyCarter]

@AMCFTP7 and Rakim, Kane, Kool G Rap and Krs gave birth to rapers like Nas, Jay z, Big Punisher, AZ, etc.

[@domineeksanford8043]

On Point Video... Peace to the GOD MC RAKIM... THE G. O. A. T PERIOD.

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

Thank you for looking!

[@ii9714]

Domineek Sanford Rakim the only rap God he's the only one who deserves the title

[@yeshua4590]

"Some of yall been trying to write rhymes for years but weak ideas irritate my ears" Rakim Allah

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

Is this the best that you can make?

[@99alfailiwaqain51]

@@TheFoundationhiphop Cause if not you got more I’ll wait…

[@Cain_Abyss]

Thank you! Someone needed to do this. The way Rakim started incorporating mosaic multisyllabic rhyme patterns in his lyrics influenced pretty much everyone who approached the mic after he did.

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

Definitely. A regular part of rhyme structures today, but rare back then

[@Cain_Abyss]

@@TheFoundationhiphop Yeah! The video was really well made too. Great content! I subscribed.

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

ABHISHEK MUKHERJEE thank you!

[@jlpruden]

Foundation, appreciate your work Fam, I remember hearing Moe Dee say - "I go to work, Like a boxer, train the brain and aim, to out fox ya.... just sick for that time, i thought. Used to try to break it down to my boys and they didn't get it...

[@nathanosorio6831]

I was a sophomore in HS when Paid in Full came out. I lived in a small town called Hilo, Hawaii. The way we found out new music was when friends got to travel to the mainland for the summer and came home with new shit. This was one of them. I still play this album at least once a month. Rakim is the greatest. Thank you for your breakdown, this is awesome.

[@medusagorgon9]

This is great! 👑Rakim is king👑

[@marvin469]

JAYQUAN - bruh without u who's gonna tell these tales. I appreciate & respect the time u put into these videos

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

Respect bro. And thank you!!

[@Matoaka365]

Watching this just conjures up so many emotions. This is my childhood. This man is why I'm the wordsmith that I am from 11 years old to the present day. Hearing his lyrics broken down is a testament to why I couldn't put his music down. It took over me. Music isn't the same as it was but trust! The culture will never die. Thanks to artists like Rakim and the mark he left on too many of us to count. 💯

[@cosmichousesounds1514]

Great vid!! Rakim changed the game. He also did it with out being overly vulgar. He could paint a picture of pain and livin thru hard times with out makin ya grandma too upset listening to it. An interesting vid to make would be comparing rhyme styles and skills in hip hop with rock n roll guitar styles n skills. Foundations for the 2 biggest popular musical genres of modern human history.

[@twoonesixer9501]

It's the reason he's called the godfather of hip-hop!

[@michaelmckee8424]

Lyrically smooth

[@Tony_Miller]

GERALD WOODARD III DJ Kool Herc is called The Godfather of Hip-Hop

[@twoonesixer9501]

@Angel Rosario You don't call him the godfather of hip-hop but, many do including other rappers like KRS ONE. Keep your two cents I have a piggie bank.

[@twoonesixer9501]

@Angel Rosario You re so ignorant you didn't even get it. Regardless keep your two cents.

[@rasheemthebestfirstone3274]

God MC u mean

[@marthalong8690]

I'm not all technical with the craft like that, but I do know what I love. The slick talk means more to me than all other things. Rakim in my humble opinion is the greatest slick talker ever. I'm not a rapper I'm a writer, but I can rap better than most write. Rakim inspired my style of writing as far as the slickness because I follow my own lead. Lyrics mean more to me than a beat, because a beat isn't elevating my consciousness. I'm a wordsmith, love the wordplay and no one does it better than the R.

[@paulgreene6899]

I'm an "OG" fan of Tha' Brothah' fo 30 yrs. From his Old Til' Now, His lyrics withstood the test of Time, And then some. He still carries His Magnum is Tha' Microphone Still murdering Emcees.

[@TheOldSchool1975]

We can have him #1, #5, or #46 ... or whatever. the bottom line is - there are two eras - BEFORE RAKIM & AFTER RAKIM. Caz and Moe Dee may have been better, Biggie and Nas may have been better. But its all irrelevant. The fact is there are emcees B.R. and A.R. - thats how serious Rakim was to emceeing.

[@gangstarr5730]

Your Comment Is Pretty Irrelevant

[@michaelbratton5513]

Nicholas Smith nine of those men you named were better

[@dealingthereal6922]

Nicholas Smith NO ONE has been better than Rakim, since Rakim. Caz and in particular Kool Moe Dee MAY BE considered better than Rakim because they more or less gave birth to his style. Outside of them 2 and MAYBE Mel, “NOBODY Beats The R”.

[@sirjer73]

Great point I view Rakim like he is the Hip Hop equivalent to Be Bop. It raised the bar from a skill standpoint that its pre Be Bop and Post Be Bop. Same thing with Rakim!!!!

[@emergematic9048]

Caz was no where near rakim level close he was the prototype

[@jacongr]

the BEST Rakim break down I have ever heard. I have to use this when I prove my best MC point

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

Thank you for looking!

[@ROMEODICE257]

I feel like I just went to hip hop university, and graduated with an master’s in Mc ing. Fam u broke it down like it supposed to be done ✅

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

Respect

[@esotericguru7111]

He embodies the essence of incorporating knowledge of self in music. Music carries a frequency and Rakim overstood that. He never sold his soul to make destructive frequencies.

[@djfritz]

Yes Rakim --i agree with all the points in the video. ! But He also gets my vote for GodMC simply for the fact that A- he was the hardest MC to rap without ever having to use curse words or the "N"word. and B- he made hard and conscious songs you could-- (wait for it) DANCE to! Something most rappers today cant do.

[@dabaryammalak884]

dj FRiTZo you haven't heard the original version of check out my melody i assume. pull out your money, pull out your cut pull up a chair, and ima tear shit up you can't tell me you don't hear the word shit on this original version of check out my melody. hold up there's anorher line!

[@dabaryammalak884]

dj FRiTZo here is another one: i wouldn't come to say my name and run the same weak shit putting blurs and slurs that don't fit in a rhyme. so no he didn't use the word nigga but he cursed but wasn't his whole make up like majority of rappers Rakim Allah gave another definition to the word raw, but wasn't a mc hammer alright?! i just said that becuz hammer didn't curse. Rakim was tasteful with his words, even his rough language, which seperates him from many emcees whose whole make up is on how foul their language is, Rakim is about skills. at the time there was a battle between Rakim. BDK, K SOLO BUT I FORGOT THE OTHER. RAKIM IS THE ONE THAT HELPED ME FIND MY OWN STYLE AND POTENTIAL. OF COURSE I WILL NEVER BE A RAKIM BUT FINDING MYSELF WAS MOST IMPORTANT TO ME!

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

Yeah on his first 3 lps he barely cursed. And when he did say shit twice on My Melody he almost whispered it.

[@eddieandalyssa]

dj FRiTZo agree!

[@scinnyc]

Rakim is a grandmaster when it comes to hip hop but I personally don't think he's touchin Big Daddy Kane lyrically. Rakim has a better flow, voice and presence on the mic though. I got a song i'll put up in a week or so that was inspired by listening to BDK's "Set It Off" song. Kane was the Eminem of the 90s

[@oldskoolb39]

I grew up on these lyricist and man just makes me want to go back and listen again, keep up the great work

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

Thanks

[@coolpeople4287]

Rakim is certainly one of the best if not THE greatest, judging by the criteria set forth on your great video man. My criteria is does the rapper make chills go down my spine? Rakim has from day one. The thing about giving MCs handles and blowing em out. . . bought tears to my eyes. And still does.

[@sanjayd7]

These videos are so important. As a hip-hop fan I've done my due diligence and of course know about Rakim even though being only 25. But it's always more insightful when a person who lived through that period talks about it especially in this manner. Thanks

[@rodmills737]

Great video, that's why i say RAKIM is and will always be the best ever, Rakim is on a planet by himself, a song he forgot to mention where Rakim just went in was COMPETITION IS NONE, his delivery was sick on that song, great video overall

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

competition is none/I remain at the top like the sun

[@nicholasballard6026]

No competition is the song

[@alexklaskaris]

An incredible walk through history, thank you.

[@mayorofduckburg5189]

"I look for shelter when a plane is over me Remember Pearl Harbor? New York could be over, G "Nobody was listening to Casualties of War close enough...I get a damn chill every time I hear that song

[@user-og8fd3es9p]

Chad Krueger pre 911🤔. Yeah Dope

[@missayawk]

I like to listen to your podcast while I'm driving with NOBODY in the car. You are one of the most thorough rap/ hip hop historians. I've been down since Day One. Remember breakers in '76. Rap in '77. Grew up in the Bronx on 216th between Laconia and Paulding Aves. DJ Breakout used to be on my block cause he was good friends with a guy named Richie. But you KILLED it with this foundation lesson. Kool Moe Dee was a surgeon with his rap style and him and Caz ( maybe another). For years I've been saying KMD changed how the flow of lyrics were expressed. " Turn It Up" exemplifies that. I remember when Rakim hit the scene in '86 and he was someone different. His cadence and word play had EVERYONE wanting to repeat and say his rhymes. I'm sure other rappers wanted to have his style, but back then the worse thing you could be was a " BITER". That's why EPMD have a rhyme that says " they said we sound like The R, and our music was wack". I was my car just screaming agreeing with every point you made. Spot on my dude. Excellent job.

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

Respect. Thank you!

[@thomass6365]

"I'm the intelligent wise,on the Mic I will rise right in,front of ya eyes cuz I am a surprise" heard this in sixth grade on move the crowd,thought it was so smooth, used to say it all day....lol

[@Pygoman12]

Best breakdown of Rakim's lyrical genius I have seen. Thanks. Rakim = GOAT!

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

Thanks for looking! Peace & Respect.

[@MIXPRO68]

JAY QUAN-TY FOR THIS-YOU ARE A TRUE HIP HOP HEAD-SALUTE MY BROTHER.

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

Thanks for looking my man!

[@thebrownfilmshow]

check out Rakim's lyric breakdown to "I ain't no Joke" kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJiWqZaQo9-Vedk

[@itagbbnnews247]

i could listen to a break down of ALL of Rakim's lyrics ALL DAY!!! Thanks JayQuan.....Great explanation of what we lived through!!! 5 Stars!!

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

Salute Bro! And thanks for looking...

[@glenmontpiankhi]

Dude your deep dive into the history of our important hip hop culture, just the best I've heard! And now RAKIM the God MC, who is my fav. Great representing and you are truly objectively, with transparency showing simply facts and tellling the story tied to the facts

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

Respect, and thank you for listening!

[@liondread777]

The fact that you're an MC yourself is why this is such an authentic analysis bro! As an MC myself, you took me to another place and time.I thank you for that truly! Keep it up....imma sub! Bless

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

Thank you for the kind words, and for listening!!

[@matthewmead2374]

Nice analysis of rakim's style. He elevated the art form in the same way Miles or Coltrane elevated jazz. Every mc who followed r is inevitably influenced by him, he basically invented modern flow. It was informative to learn about some of his influences and these early pioneers in flow. When I hear that basic rhyme pattern with mc's rhyming the last word yelling into the mike exactly on beat it sounds so primitive and constrained and aggressive. Rakim kills it without breaking a sweat. It's like when miles went modal and changed the whole game

[@bolder2009]

Well modal was a reaction to the virtuosity of Bee Bop, where as Ra brought virtuosity to the art of emceeing, but I get your point. He is Rap's equivalent of Miles.

[@anthonymiller283]

More like Bird

[@multigrotesque]

u broke it down so precisely. thanks. and SALUTE!

[@heavysoulbrutha]

Good stuff! I wore out the rewind button on the cassette deck in my '71 LTD in the summer of '87 obsessing over Rakim's rhymes.

[@thebrownfilmshow]

check out Rakim's lyric breakdown to "I ain't no Joke" kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJiWqZaQo9-Vedk

[@elliottroseberry4444]

That's the best breakdown of The Great Rakim as it pertains to his massive contribution to Hip Hop culture, specifically the art of witty lyricism. The R is my favorite lyricist of all time period. Salute brother, I share your sentiments wholeheartedly

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

Thanks for looking!

[@blubastud]

"I start to think and then I sink/ into the paper like i was ink/ when I'm rapping I'm trapped in between the lines/ i escape when i finish the rhyme." Greatest line in the history of hip hop, that line captures the eternal struggle of the emcee.

[@cwvos]

I have to give this Bro. JQ major props on Rap/Hip/Hop's Rhyme and flow origination! I don't think it can be explained much better. He really gives the earlier artists their due, and respectfully pays homage to those deserving; "The MC's of the 80's"! Something else I appreciate about this Vid is that this is another potent example of something created by young intelligent African Americans. The sad part about the evolvement of it is what it's become today! I don't get it! From fun an wholesome, edgy inner city hood issues, to drug, gangsters and violence, to demeaning of women as nothing more but sexual objects, to mumbling in expressions that you can't even understand. How has it deteriorated to this????? In 2040 or 2050, "If we're still here", are we going to be talking about any of these young guys as pioneers? If so, pioneers of what? Gifted, talented, intellectual minds, full of creativity and promise 35 to 40 years ago starting a cultural movement from nothing! That's what's Truely amazing, and what I'll always admire about "The Artist's That Started It All" from back in the day! But this stuff that's out here now; It's an embarrassment to all that's been achieved in years past. Honestly, think about that for a moment! It Really Is!!!!! And the irony is, this worthless stuff that's on the airwaves today that doesn't express anything other than mumbling and sexing or beating a woman down and degrading her sexuality; Those that are producing this stuff, Just what will their children coming up through elementary, grade school and high school produce? Wow, what a Scary Thought.....

[@thebrownfilmshow]

check out Rakim's lyric breakdown to "I ain't no Joke" kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJiWqZaQo9-Vedk

[@kevinmoore4237]

This is one of the best videos I've found for breaking down the way the rhymes work - and the way you show the lyrics with bold and italic as you explain makes is super clear. You should do a whole series of these breaking down the various stages of development.

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

In the works brother! Thank you for looking. Respect

[@mrscratchhook]

great breakdown of lyrical superiority!!!!

[@larrymcmorris8731]

Because he modernized rap. Hell Melly Mel should be viewed in the same light. Extremely underrated

[@Sirmustardpack]

Dude, your 24 minute analysis is better than Ice T’s full length Art Of Rap feature documentary💯

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

Wow. thank you for looking.

[@walibashir102]

My favorite rapper of alltime & I heard Mellie Kool Moe etc. Barz, Flow, Lyrical Content, Metaphors, Subject what else can you do but FOLLOW THE LEADER! Peace be upon you Rakim my brother.

[@greghampton5214]

I knew Rakim was one of the greatest when I heard (No Compotention) off the the Follow the Leader lp. I love to recite some verses to those who ain't heard it see they reaction, and say it was mine, just pure poetry and genius, respect to the fullest!

[@kcire-tv3wy]

That song is crazy and people forget about that song. He dropped jewels in that one.

[@Cashmere.Kufi_88]

The whole Follow the Leader album was lyrically ahead of its time thats why it can still go head to head with cds/album here in 2018

[@chelskichamp11]

I'm watching all your videos brother!! love it when we document our culture in our voices. Hiphop needs this. Rap music as an element of the culture deserves this! Thank you my brother!

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

Thank you for looking bro!

[@muhlaluz4641]

One of the greatest video on KZbin, keep it up brother.... can you make one on Nas ?

[@barryo9359]

Let’s not sleep on the fact that Jayquan is the greatest Rap analyst/Hip Hop historian of all time!

[@wheelerwon]

Another great piece of art by The Foundation!! JayQuan the master !! 👏🏿

[@djbigchuckx]

Raakim: internal rhyming; multi-syllabic rhyming; and going outside the bar (4/4). "...I made it easy to dance to this, [but can you 'ditect' (sic) what's coming next from the flex of the] wrist, say indeed and I'll proceed ['cause my man (made-a-mix)], if it bleed it won't need no bandaid to fix...cause he's kickin it, cause it ain't no half-stepping, the party is live the rhyme can't be [kept in] Side, it needs erupting just like a volcano, it ain't the everyday style or the same old rhyme, cause I'm better than the rest of them, Eric B is on the cut, and my name is Raakim." !!! The most intricate rhyme scheme in 1986!!!

[@Knick_Fury]

This just showed up on my TL...looks like 2 yrs late but, still gotta acknowledge the work put in here! Peace brother Jayquan, glad to see you still lifting up the culture. Respect......Eye (EGR)

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

Respect

[@robjordan204]

Bruh, i am 50 yrs old and STILL saying ain't no other rapper or "emcee" out there can touch Rakim.... That Brother is God Emcee...hands down!! His debut in '86 is still knocking off rappers in 2023... Saute to the Brother 🫡 Thank you, for the lyrical format you've introduced to us all....Love your music, Man Peace 🫡

[@armyone90]

I'm at that age where rap isn't in my rotation much but I must say I have found a renewed appreciation for listening to Rakim. Especially tracks that wasn't as radio friendly back then.

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

Thanks for looking!

[@alexanderscott9001]

This is a real nice documentary man. That's why the community has to have it's own information stream. Cause i guarantee you wouldn't get this most anywhere else. Good work..Rakim along with PE and others were a movement and influence that still lives today

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

Respect

[@asiaali4281]

Rakim is a true poet. His rhymes are a dissertation to be reviewed to disprove.

[@RysePostUp]

This was dope and on point👍👍🎧🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤

[@bbey7246]

Definitely ultimate respect🙏🏾 to your insight and meticulous research of the Great Rakim... This was food for the young black youth... the flow and pattern drop laced w knowledge of self mathematics was the foundation of moving thoroughly ☝🏾

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

Respect, and thanks for looking!

[@TheOmegaone007]

I'm impressed at your knowledge. You clearly have studied and researched the artist and the industry. Excellent job.

[@eld8494]

Rhymes evoke 3 Dimensional thoughts ... I GOT when I 1st heard um years ago!

[@meekmozart5216]

Love your breakdown…..been tryna explain this to folks for years..RAH is immortal tier 💪🏾🗣️🔥🎙️

[@alvaroorellana9386]

Very educational and descriptive much respect to how you laid it down and shows how old school mcs' are still the shit. Younger generation needs to watch this and learn from it.

[@superdopehiphop]

Dope dope channel documenting Hip Hop history! As a fellow Hip Hop head since late 80s (and especially 1990/91 as early 80s baby able to understand it more early 90s) I really appreciate fellow heads! 🫡🫡 At least on Wax Rakim G-Rap Kane are the holy trinity of more complex multisyllabic emcees who birthed everyone safety them. KRS & Chuck D as well though they’re not as technical. Lord Finesse, Pharoahe Monch, Treach, Masta Ace, Nas as well 89-91 or so. PS Silver Fox was big for lyricism who isn’t talked about much, but Kool G Rap, Rakim, Kane, LL etc all talk about him being influence.

[@DavidSmith-vv4iw]

Excellent analysis. It was thoughtful to not accredit any poetical origination of any of the catagorized assessments of Rakim as being accredited to Rakim himself. His whole rhyming style, frantic brass-based intramental, chaotic samples he used to take you out of your own skin by using your imagination, makes him super superb and supreme.

[@robertstotts1209]

all top lists start at #2 Rakim 1 always and forever

[@bejitah]

I seen a list on KZbin. I was waiting to see who where dude had Rakim. He got to one. Still had no Ra. He had him ranked at 0😂 kzbin.info/www/bejne/kF7YlmWMoqaWb9U

[@utampa327]

You put in to words the thoughts of those that appreciate the greatness of Rakim. Well done. Your ending summarizes the brilliance of The "R". He didn't have to tell you he was better....that he would beat you in a battle. He wove verses that made any MC realize they weren't on his level.

[@TheFoundationhiphop]

Yes indeed he did. Crazy! Thanks for looking!

[@AMOKIAN]

I truly enjoy the series. I have seen a few episodes over the years. The breakdown on lyricism and styles on this one was incredible. I walked the walk and live this life of evolution in lyrics. Congrats! My wife was recently watching this one. I may have commented on this one years ago?

[@sherrellelawrence408]

I agree! The BEST of the BEST!!!

[@MotivationWithMarcus]

You let the people have it on this great video and evidence. I use My Melody, As The Rhymes Goes On, and Follow The Leader to make points against any MC. Like when he says, rhymes are poetically kept and alphabetically stepped, put in the order to proceed with the momentum except, I say one rhyme out of order a longer rhyme shorter, a pause. Then he says R A stands for ra switch it around it still comes out R (AR)

[@kcire-tv3wy]

My Melody had me stuck when I first heard it. Then to find out he was 5%??? That made me proud to be 5%.