Rakim

Born William Michael Griffin Jr. and raised in Wyandanch, Long Island, Rakim grew up in a musical family — his aunt was the R&B singer Ruth Brown — and absorbed jazz phrasing and the teachings of the Five-Percent Nation, which shaped his calm, philosophical lyrical voice. He partnered with DJ Eric B. to form the duo Eric B. & Rakim.

Across landmark albums "Paid in Full," "Follow the Leader," and "Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em," his intricate internal rhyme schemes, multisyllabic patterns, and unflappable delivery revolutionized rap technique, moving the art form beyond simple end-rhyme cadences.

He is consistently ranked among the most influential and skilled MCs in the history of the art form, frequently cited by later greats as the rapper who redefined what lyricism could be.

Rakim transformed rap lyricism, establishing the technical and stylistic template — smooth, dense, and cerebral — that modern rappers still follow.