The 18th Letter/The Book of Life

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Back in hip-hop heaven, once Lateef and Lyrics Born got finished kicking Puff Daddy's ass they'd send him to Rakim's cloud, where Rakim would have him write, "I am very sorry for impersonating a rapper" one billion times on the chalkboard. In a rap scene where it's hard enough to stick around and nearly impossible to comeback, hip-hop's most legendary MC has returned eleven years since his brilliant debut (and five years he split from partner Eric B.). Amazingly, he's lost none of his skill and even gained wisdom with maturity. Even more amazing, 1997's 18th Letter, a double CD that's half new and half retrospective, looks like a measured commercial success. --Roni Sarig

The 18th Letter/The Book of Life,Rakim,Universal,East Coast Rap,Golden Age,Hip-Hop,Pop,Rap,Rap & Hip-Hop

Tracks:

Intro
The 18th Letter (Always And Forever)
Skit
It's Been A Long Time
Remember That
The Saga Begins
Skit
Guess Who's Back
Stay A While
New York (Ya Out There)
Show Me Love
Skit
The Mystery (Who Is God?)
When I'm Flowin
It's Been A Long Time (Suave House Mix)
Guess Who's Back (Alternative Mix)
Outro

Tracks:

I Know You Got Soul
Follow The Leader
Eric B. Is President
Microphone Fiend
I Ain't No Joke
Lyrics Of Fury
My Melody
Know The Ledge
Move The Crowd
Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em
Mahogany
In The Ghetto
Casualities Of War
The Punisher
Paid In Full

Amazon.com

Back in hip-hop heaven, once Lateef and Lyrics Born got finished kicking Puff Daddy's ass they'd send him to Rakim's cloud, where Rakim would have him write, "I am very sorry for impersonating a rapper" one billion times on the chalkboard. In a rap scene where it's hard enough to stick around and nearly impossible to comeback, hip-hop's most legendary MC has returned eleven years since his brilliant debut (and five years he split from partner Eric B.). Amazingly, he's lost none of his skill and even gained wisdom with maturity. Even more amazing, 1997's 18th Letter, a double CD that's half new and half retrospective, looks like a measured commercial success. --Roni Sarig

Customer Reviews:

great to have in the archives.......2007-05-12

It is one of the best rap albums ever made!

who's Jeezy!.......2006-11-23

I'm not a big hip- hop fan , i'm more classic R&B But I know Rakim (not litterally, but his music) He's one of the few (very few) rappers that I've followed along the years. His voice is excellent and the lyrics are deep. I agree with the rest of the crew,(except that first one)He's one of the best! By the way...who's Jeezy?

Young Jeezy Sucks.......2006-05-21

I read that guys review saying this CD is gay and he says Jeezy is better, Jeezy sounds worse than me taking a s*it! Southern rap is probably one of the worst forms of hip hop now adays. Rakim is probably one of the best rappers ever, he stays focused and he could kill anyone in a battle rap. His albums have been great, going back to the days when he was with Eric B. The beats are hard and his rhymes are perfect, every song on here is awesome. Also, the only reason why Jeezy got famous was because MTV (the gayest channel on earth) played his videos over and over again. If you like this, you'd also like the Wu Tang Clan.

Yove got some nerve!.......2006-03-24

i saw that a reviewer a little bit below me on February 13, 2006 said that Rakim was awful! What is that about! He even has the nerve to say that Jeezy is a better rapper than Rakim! That is just a joke! Jeezy is one of the most generic and worst rappers out there today! Rakim was one of the first great rappers, and any rap expert would say that he is one of the top 5 easily. Every song on the compilation is a classic! Ive only heard a couple of songs on the 18th Letter disc, but they were great! That guy has no right to say that Rakim sucks, because he has amazing lyrics, great flow, songs that mean something, and eric b. gave him great beats when they were together. Its people like that guy that cause rap to be in the situation that it is in today. Oh, and by the way, he also gave the Black Star album 1 star (another classic). Just get this cd, and don't listen to people like him, because they have no idea what good music is!

Great Album.......2006-03-23

Apparently some fool had the guts to compare Young Jeezy to Rakim. Young Jeezy is your typical disposable rapper who is going to be forgotten about next month. Unlike Jeezy, Rakim contains substance. From "Guess whos back" to "it's been a long time", Rakim lays down lyrics like none other. Jeezy's lyrics are all terrible similies refering to crack and cocaine and how he's the snowman. Well Rakim is the sun and he is melting Jeezy's ass!

Soul Music:

Soul Music

soul music

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