Overview
Rakim, born William Michael Griffin Jr. on January 28, 1968, is widely regarded as one of the greatest lyricists in hip-hop history. He rose to prominence in the late 1980s as part of the duo Eric B. & Rakim, releasing seminal albums like [[paid-in-full|Paid in Full]] and [[follow-the-leader|Follow the Leader]]. His intricate wordplay, complex rhyme schemes, and philosophical lyrics set a new standard for MCs and have influenced countless artists across genres.