YMMV / Eric B. & Rakim

• Genre Turning Point: While Rakim is a legend in hip-hop, younger listeners may fail to get just how revolutionary he was as a rapper. When Rakim emerged on the scene, simplistic flows, straightforward rhyme schemes, and bars that never had more than a few syllables were standard. Absolutely no one in 1986 was rapping with the complex and multilayered rhyme schemes, freeform flow, and dense bars that Rakim brought to the table, and they also weren't doing it with the relaxed, laid-back style that was his trademark. To put it simply, Rakim took the art of rapping to the next level and made himself the benchmark for what was expected out of aspiring rappers, and young listeners who are used to the game that he effectively created may grasp his impact, but likely will not fully appreciate it.

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