I know it has been FOREVER since I posted, but here is another album review. Enjoy!

How to Emcee - On the very first song, Rakim seems to take on the role of the Godfather of Hip Hop. Obviously, the state of hip hop has been on everybody's mind, but now we get to hear from the one who basically created the modern day standards of lyricism and see what he has to say about it. The first two verses are pretty nice, but the third is when he really goes in and listeners will see what it is that has helped Rakim gain respect from any true hip hop fan. However, the problem with this song, and probably most of the songs on the album, is that it is a hard listen, meaning it's just not as appealing to the ears. Although the lyrics are on point (which is really what you expect from Rakim), it doesn't really give you a particular feeling. For that reason, it gets a rating of 4.5.

Walk These Streets (feat. Maino) - Ra seemed to be on a mission to motivate in this album, and it is seen here first. Throughout this song and many others during the course of the album, he speaks on haters and the grind and what it takes to be successful at that grind. Money is the main objective in the streets and Ra speaks directly to those hustling, looking for a way to make as much as they can. Maino is also featured on the song, which actually is a nice fit for him. He holds his own on the song and really seems to command the track. This gets a 4.

Documentary of a Gangsta (feat. IQ) - As stated in the intro of the song, this is the rise and fall of a gangster. Rakim tells the story of gangster trying to make it to the top, concerned only with making money and doing whatever is necessary to come up. Throughout the song, Ra has clever lines to describe the young man's mindset, such as, "He call $100 a hunny, mamis he call em dimes, so his mind's on his money, but mamis is on his mind" and "yYou like ballin', he like stealin' and shootin'". This is a 5.

Man Above (feat. Tracey Horton) - This is another one of those motivational songs. Ra talks about all the struggles that a young (black) man/woman may face and their mentality  when it comes to getting a job, deciding to hustle, the pressures that come in the world, etc. The point is that there is no giving up no matter how bad things get and no matter how many people judge because the "Man above" always sees you through. This is another 4.

You and I (feat. Samuel Christian) - Something that is not really typical of Rakim, he discusses a relationship on this track. He talks about the ups and downs of the relationship with his girl and all the problems they go through and work out. Not really the best song Ra has made, but it is still something nice to kinda chill to. It's a 3.5.

Won't Be Long (feat. Tracey Horton) - This is Ra's letter to the Hip Hop community and culture. He discusses his passion for rapping, but also the reasons that he is frustrated with the state that hip hop. He also talks about where he has been for the past years and cautions us to not loose sight that there are still problems, even during the time of Obama. This is deserving of a 4.25.

Holy Are You - Not only does Rakim explain why he is the "God MC" on this track, but he also spits very religoulsy on the track. While you may not agree with everything said in the song (specifically "walk on water, naw neither did Jesus"), there is not taking away from his lyrical attack ont the track. Although my beleives are that of the Christian persuasion, I can respect and understand that others will have differing opinions and believes. Therefore, while I don't completely agree with some lines like the line mentioned above, I can definitely appreciate the song and lyrics for what they are (just might not recite them all lol). This is still a 5, though.

Statisfaction Guaranteed - On this one, Rakim speaks from the viewpoint of a drug dealer and compares his rhymes to addicting drugs (crack/coke, heroin, etc.). It is just another reminder of the gift of rhyming that he possesses and what he has contributed to the game. The title coupled with the description of the song should say it all. Really nice track that is going to get a 4.5.

Working For You -  This song deals with a relationship again, but this time, Ra speaks from the viewpoint of a husband doing any thing necessary to ensure that his family can eat and have a place to live. He speaks on the worries of the wife who is concerned that her husband may not come home to her or their child while also portraying the husband who feels he has an obligation to his family to provide them with all necessities. While the story is familiar to hip hop, the way in which it is presented in this case is different from most. It is very refreshing to hear it this way. The song is another 4.5.

Message in the Song (feat. Destiny Griffin) - The title is pretty much self-explanatory. Ra talks about the lack of messages in songs nowadays and also leaves a few messages of his own in this song. He really goes in on this song and spits really hard. Probably one of the best songs sonically, as well. This gets a 5.

Put It All to Music - This is a really nice song to just vibe to. This is a dedication to the rush that people get when listening and making good music. After listening to the lyrics, you will definitely know exactly what Rakim is talking about and it may actually give you that feeling while listening. It gets a 5.

Psychic Love - This is another song about a relationship. Although it may not really be what we expect or are looking for from Rakim, it is actually really nice to hear a song dedicated to the ladies that also has lyrical content. It seems rare to come across that in these days, but Ra spits really well over the track. This is a 4.25.

Still in Love - From a love for a woman back to the love he has for hip hop, Rakim dedicates another ode to hip hop and music. He covers many details that he enjoys about music and what he tries to bring to the game. It is basically a continuation of "Put It All to Music," but focuses a little more on the actual aspects of the music and creating the music than the emotions and feelings behind them. This is another 4.25.

Dedicated - Because of the nature of the song, I'm actually not going to rate it. Personally, I think the song is very good, but how can you put a rating to a dedication somebody gives to a family member they love dearly? Ra dedicates this to his mother and describes all of the health problems and other issues that she encountered. It is always a good thing when artists show love and respect to their parents (although it is usually just their mothers). The dedication was done quite nicely.

Overall, the album is very solid. Toward the end, it starts to sound better sonically, but at times it is a little harder to listen too. The lyrics are there and are nearly flawless in just about every song, but a lot of times, the hooks could use improvement. However, when listening to Rakim, the hooks are really the last thing that you pay attention to. I would have to say that overall, the album is about 4.25.

What did you think about the album and/or the review. Let your voice be heard by either commenting or emailing at straightouttahiphop@gmail.com. Let's get those twitter numbers up to: @HER_Lover.


Peace.

*On another note, I hope that everybody has a wonderful Thanksgiving. Enjoy and cherish all the time that you spend with your family members and friends. Too often we take even the most important things like family for granted. Eat lots of turkey and other delicious food, rest up, and get ready for the last push before the Christmas season!