Rakim is an American rapper who is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential MCs the world has ever seen. Born as William Michael Griffin, Rakim is also one-half of the celebrated hip hop duo ‘Eric B. & Rakim’ whose complex lyricism boosted the hip hop genre to new heights. A master exponent of the art, he is placed on the same pedestal as some of the greatest luminaries of rap music such as Big Daddy Kane, KRS-One, LL Cool J, Melle Mel, Chuck D, and Kool G Rap. While much of his elevated status is due to his teaming up with Eric B., his solo career too is brilliant and a source of inspiration to many; his music set new standards for the artists following in his footsteps. Though, never quite becoming a household name, Rakim’s lyrics revolving around his faith and ability remain unmatched even today for their smooth flow, jazz inflections, and sheer effortlessness. Pioneering the use of rhymes in the middle rather than the end of lines, Rakim set new standards that were far higher than the then current techniques. Rather than practices that relied on improvisation, he demonstrated very ably the possibility of penning lyrics that were intricately crafted with words and metaphors cleverly chosen for maximum impact; even today his early work astounds with its startling freshness. During his heydays beginning 2006, he was featured on virtually every list of all-time great MCs.