Rakim has been out of the limelight for quite some time, but he is still highly revered from the golden age of hip hop and up to 2009 as a pioneer.
In this interview with Billboard's Gail King, Rakim sheds some light on how spirituality plays a role with the much anticipated "The Seventh Seal".
BB: What's the story behind the title, "The Seventh Seal"?
RAKIM: The seals are from the Bible- Revelations and the coming of the Apocalypse. But Islam, Judaism, Christianity: all have a version of the same events. The Lion of Judah breaks the seven seals one by one, each imparting knowledge and inflicting catastrophe, ending with seven trumpets announcing the end of Times. After the Apocalypse, God rises from the ashes to recreate the Kingdom, taking only the greatest elements from the past with them.
When you look at Hip-Hop, I want to do that: to spit fire and take our best from the ashes to build our kingdom; to recognize all the regional styles, conscious lyrics, the tracks, underground, mainstream, the way we treat each other. Lose the garbage and rebuild our scene. I've always tried to insert consciousness and spirituality in my records, interpreting the writings of all cultures and religions and how they apply to life in modern times.
BB: Does this album contain any material from the unreleased album you did with Dr. Dre or is it all new music?
RAKIM: No, that's locked down in the lab for now. This is me live from New York City, everything brand new.
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Rakim "The Seventh Seal" is tentatively set for September 15
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