Studio Albums
| Year | Album | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | The 18th Letter | Universal |
| 1999 | The Master | Universal |
| 2009 | The Seventh Seal | SRC / Smoke House |
Collaboration Albums
| Year | Project | Collaborator |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Paid in Full | Eric B. & Rakim |
| 1988 | Follow the Leader | Eric B. & Rakim |
| 1990 | Let the Rhythm Hit ’Em | Eric B. & Rakim |
| 1992 | Don’t Sweat the Technique | Eric B. & Rakim |
Mixtapes / Rare & Unreleased Material
| Year | Project | Label |
|---|---|---|
| 1985–1986 | Long Island Demo Era Recordings | Independent |
| 1996 | Post Eric B. Session Tapes | Universal Archives |
| 2005 | Smoke House Era Recordings | Smoke House |
Selected Singles
- I Ain’t No Joke (1987)
- Eric B. Is President (1987)
- Microphone Fiend (1988)
- Follow the Leader (1988)
- Pain in Full (1988)
- Know the Ledge (1992)
- Guess Who’s Back (1997)
- Holy Are You (2009)
Style and Influence
Rakim is known for revolutionizing rap lyricism through internal rhyme schemes, multisyllabic flows, and a calm, controlled delivery that contrasted sharply with early hip-hop’s more rhythmic shouting styles.
His work with Eric B. established a new standard for MC technique that influenced nearly every major rapper who followed in the late 1980s and 1990s.
Legacy
Rakim is widely regarded as one of the greatest rappers of all time, often credited with transforming MCing into a more complex and literary art form.
Albums like Paid in Full remain foundational texts in hip-hop history.