It’s a sad fact of life that legends, of any trade, tend to dull with age.
Axl Rose has probably managed to disappoint even the most hopeful fans with recent performances. Rakim, on the other hand, still manages to overthrow our expectations.
Stepping out to a packed stage populated by fellow Hip Hop deities Papa Wu and Grandmaster Caz, Rakim moved with unparalleled confidence. Stepping through the tracks on Paid in Full with the air of a reverend performing a service. The crowd responded like an attentive congregation, rapping along for practically the whole performance.
The energy had begun to fade out during the DJ’s and opener’s performances, but Rakim’s presence sparked a resurrection and sent the already tipsy crowd into fifth gear. The resurgence wasn’t without good reason, Rakim most definitely killed the stage. Even the most laid back tracks were delivered with handfuls of firepower. When the night came to a close, it wasn’t until a good hour later until it really hit me that I had witnessed arguably the greatest emcee of all time grace a stage.
If you’re a Rakim fan, and have been holding out on seeing him live, definitely try to change that. You never know when he’s going to decide to stop performing. Make the effort and catch the next show Rakim decides to do. I can promise it will stand far out compared to any other rap show you’ve been to.
