Disclaimer, I love his albums with Eric B…

Paid In Full is like the intro to the golden age of hiphop, and Follow The Leader is perfect

But there’s just something special about The 18th Letter. It’s mad underrated and I have no clue why. Just feels so amazing to hear Rakim rap over 90s Premo production after hiphop really got some years to evolve some more since Rakim first hit the scene. His flow is as mesmerizing as ever and some of the concepts on the album are nuts

Never heard it tbh, it’s good? I’m gonna check it out

No, I think it’s good but and maybe comparable but not better

The premier and Pete rock tracks are great and his flow is great, I don’t like the skits though (not to nitpick) and that one Trackmasters love song is whatever

Let The Rythm Hit Em and Don’t Sweat the Technique are underrated though, I think they’re closer to the sweet spot of Rakim still being in his prime and less Eric B filler from the first 2 albums

Over? eh maybe not. I'd say it's on par with some of their stuff though

He definitely showed why he's goat status on it tho

sidenote @op you remember this

this was one of my favorites growin up

I don't really like his work like that and I tried to

I guess can't listen to everything

I like Waiting For The World To End though even though if it's not on the album you talking about

Classic imo

I don’t really consider skits when rating albums if they are seperate tracks

Only way they bring an album down for me is if they’re like attached to a track and you are forced to listen to it

Like that one joint on Dr Dre Compton album where it’s 1 minute of somebody drowning and screaming that s*** makes me cringe

I absolutely hate this garbage ass beat