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Rakim | The Master
When you've been named the best rapper ever in countless readers and critics polls, it must be easy to get a bit complacent. Thankfully, Rakim's second solo album offers hip-hop's best rapper ever outdoing himself yet again, and not conceding a whit to '90s rap -- Rakim has always been known for his laidback flow, and accordingly, he never pushes himself here. The flow is smooth as syrup, and will undoubtedly make fans of '90s hip-hop realize just what rhythm is after merely a few tracks. His play with internal rhymes and incredibly dense lyrics are also a trademark, and he never disappoints.The Master also benefits from a stellar cast of producers including Clark Kent, DJ Premier, Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence, the 45 King, and even Rakim himself -- all of them among the best old-school slanted trackmasters in hip-hop today. The productions are tough and catchy (no strings here, thankfully) but they never outshine the rhymes. Yes, Rakim praises himself on quite a few tracks here ("Flow Forever," "When I B on the Mic," "I Know," "It's the R"), but after a listen or two, listeners will likely agree with every boast he makes. After one album (The 18th Letter) to get back into things, Rakim is doing the best work of his career.
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