Rakim Quotes & Sayings

Take 7 emcees put em in a line
And add 7 more brothers who think they can rhyme
It'll take 7 more before I go for mine
And that's 21 emcees ate up at the same time. — Rakim

I ain't no joke, I used to let the mic smoke,
Now I slam it when I'm done and make sure it's broke. — Rakim

I always wanted to kind of make the listener feel like it was them that I was talking about, or to the point that I could say the rhyme, and feel like it's them saying it. — Rakim

What was once easy became confused and hard, which brings us back to the mystic question, who is God? — Rakim

Some of you been trying to write rhymes for years,
But weak ideas irritate my ears.
Is this the best that you can make?
Cause if not, and you got more ... I'll wait. — Rakim

So all hail the honorable, microphone phenomenal
Persona is unbombable? Trust me son,
I continue like a saga do, bringin' you the drama to
allow you that the chronicle has just begun. — Rakim

Back in the day, music imitated life. Now it's the opposite way around: life is imitating music. It's like whatever the rappers say, people think that that's how we're supposed to be; but back then, we kind of looked at the streets, and we made music for that. — Rakim

Self-esteem makes me super, superb and supreme — Rakim

Tried to put shame in my game to make a name,
I'mma put it on a bullet ... put it in your brain. — Rakim

And I'll break, when I'm through breakin,
I'll leave you broke,
Drop the mic when I'm finished, and watch it smoke — Rakim

I wake you up and as I stare in your face, you seem stunned.
Remember me? The one you got your idea from? — Rakim

I'm everlastin, I can go on for days and days
With rhyme displays that engrave deep as X-rays
I can take a phrase that's rarely heard, FLIP IT
Now it's a daily word — Rakim

It's been a long time ... I shouldn't have left you
Without a strong rhyme to step to. — Rakim

Stay wise and the mind is untouchable. — Rakim

A lot of times when people listen to music it's because they feel down, and that's when serious hip-hop comes into play. When times is hard, people can hear a rapper that inspires them to do what they [are] supposed to do. — Rakim

I go to Queens for queens to get the crew from Brooklyn,
Make money in Manhattan and never been tooken.
Go Uptown and the Bronx to boogie down,
Get strong on the Island, recoup, and lay around. — Rakim

Thinkin' of a master plan
Cause ain't nothin' but sweat inside my hand. — Rakim

I love listening to old records to keep nostalgic feeling; it allows me to not lose the love for hip-hop. — Rakim

I start to think, and then I sink
Into the paper like I was ink
When I'm writing, I'm trapped in between the lines
I escape when I finish the rhyme. — Rakim

I used to roll up: this is a hold up, ain't nuthin funny.
Stop smiling, be still, don't nuthin move but the money. — Rakim

Let's travel at magnificent speeds around the universe
What could you say as the Earth gets further and further away
Planets are small as balls of clay
Astray into the Milky Way, world's outasight
Far as the eye can see, not even a satellite
Now stop and turn around and look
As you stare in the darkness, your knowledge is took!
So keep starin' soon you suddenly see a star
You better follow it, cause it's the R. — Rakim

I'm just an addict, addicted to music
Maybe it's a habit ... I gotta use it. — Rakim

I don't accept that the new generation is looking for anything different than what we've always been looking for. Depending on the moment, they want bangers that make them crack their neck, they want tracks that put them in a zone where they can sit back and chill. — Rakim

I came in the door, I said it before
I never let the mic magnetize me no more.
But it's biting me, fighting me, inviting me to rhyme,
I can't hold it back ... I'm looking for the line.
Taking off my coat, clearing my throat,
My rhyme will be kicking until I hit my last note. — Rakim

Feed me hip-hop and I start tremblin' — Rakim

I've always tried to insert consciousness and spirituality in my records, interpreting the writings of all cultures and religions and how they apply to life in modern times. — Rakim

Teach the youth to speak the truth, show them what peace can do — Rakim

Timeless, so age don't count in the booth
When your flow stay submerged in the fountain of youth — Rakim

I get a craving like I fiend for nicotine.
But I don't need a cigarette, know what I mean? — Rakim

So I start my mission- leave my residence
Thinkin how could I get some dead presidents — Rakim

You can hear the seven sins
Blowin' through the ghetto wind ... — Rakim