My Take
Rakim is, without question, one of the most technically gifted MCs to ever pick up a microphone, and I say that with zero hesitation. Growing up in Long Island, New York, he teamed up with DJ Eric B. and basically rewrote what rap lyrics could be — Paid in Full in 1987 dropped like a bomb, and Follow the Leader a year later cemented the duo as untouchable. His internal rhyme schemes and measured, almost hypnotic delivery were so far ahead of the curve that rappers were still studying his blueprints decades later. They don't call him "The God MC" for nothing. If hip-hop has a patron saint of lyrical craft, it's Rakim — end of conversation.
Overview
William Michael Griffin Jr. (born January 28, 1968), better known by his stage name Rakim (), is an American rapper. He is one half of golden age hip-hop duo Eric B. & Rakim, with whom he released four albums: Paid in Full (1987), Follow the Leader (1988), Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em (1990), and Don't Sweat the Technique (1992).
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Rakim
- Name (Japanese)
- ラキム
- Reading
- らきむ
- Born
- January 28, 1968 (age 58)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aquarius / Monkey
- Origin
- New York City, New York, United States
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- rapper / songwriter / record producer / manufacturer / poet
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- Private
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
- Official sitehttp://www.rakim.com/
- Instagramhttps://www.instagram.com/thegodrakim/
- Xhttps://x.com/rakimgodmc
- Wikipedia (Japanese)https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%A9%E3%82%AD%E3%83%A0
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.