Back in August, Meka posted an early version of the artwork (which is better IMO) but the label decided to go extra hard light for the official version (shown above). I’m just nitpicking though… I just want the music! Hit the jump for the press release of Rakim’s upcoming album, which is now scheduled to drop on November 17th.
September 24, 2009 (New York, NY) –After months, if not years of Internet speculation and rumor, the man many call The God MC’s management and label officially confirm that Rakim Allah will release his long awaited new album The Seventh Seal on November 17, 2009. Guest artists include Busta Rhymes, Jadakiss, Maino, Tracey Horton, IQ, Styles P, and others, including Destiny Griffin, Rakim’s own daughter. The artist’s Ra Records shares the imprint in a joint venture with Tuscan Villa and SMC Recordings and is distributed through Fontana/Universal Music Group.
Since its release, the album’s lead single “Holy Are You” has won praise from critics and fans alike. USA Today states, “The God MC previews his long-awaited The Seventh Seal with a lyrically adept reminder of how he earned the name,” with Billboard proclaiming “Rakim is in top form, richly merging self-mythologizing reflections on his legacy with religious imagery.”
His first full album of new material in almost a decade, The Seventh Seal is Rakim’s contemporary observation of the Hip-Hop culture he helped define. While staying loyal to his New York roots, Rakim has created a body of work that encompasses the very best of regional, underground and mainstream styles that are reformed and delivered through his intricate lyricism and the seemingly effortless flow for which he is revered. He has enlisted a slew of production talent including Needlz, Nottz, Jake One, Nick Wiz, Ty Fiffe and more on the album’s well-rounded tracks.
The artist states, “The Seventh Seal is my own revelation…my way of taking the best of what Hip-Hop has to offer, what we as a culture and a community have to offer, putting my stamp on it and leading us forward while constantly respecting what we’ve already accomplished. When you’ve been blessed with a career like mine, you develop a deep relationship with the music, and that love is recognized by the true heads that share it with you. You’ll see us keep building as we break through each Seal…showing the best of what I can do in many forms, bringing the energy and having fun, but first I’m laying that foundation and give my longtime fans the conscious fire they expect.”
I Wonder Why This Never Dropped Back In 07/07/07…
Back When I Was Anticipating It..
cover looks better now
fix the site
The timing is perfect for the return the of the God MC.
Both covers look horrible imo, but hopefully the album is good…
I would love a rakim vs eminen tram called “God vs the devil” holy shit would be I’ll
few comments maybe if the faked this as a jay z release would’ve been more. maybe be the only album i cop this year
[...] 2dopeboyz Share and [...]
Rakim – The 7th Seal (Artwork x Press Release) « You Heard That New said this on September 25th, 2009 at 4:00 pm
……i gotta wait til November???? eh….i know it’s worth the wait….
I feel u shake… all i need is 2 more leaks b4 i buy the album… from an actual record store…haven’t done that in soooooo long…haha
hope doc dre is producing at least one song and EM VS. RAKIM WOULD DOPE AS HELL
This is going to be classic. I can feel it.
lol all they did to the cover was change the contrast so the jacket and the shadows were straight black
anywayz cant wait to hear this.
This is going to disappoint so bad.
can’t wait kind of low key pissed got to wait till November now though
And also what’s up with the site working & not working someone give you guys a virus or something? I know it ain’t just me to because I seen someone mention it in 1 of the other posts!
^^^^^^^ yea me 2. When I go to the site it leads to a blank page & then I gotta hit F5 for the site to load right.
all new age bullshit from rakim. he has fallen for the devil’s lies that “ye shall be like gods.”
believe in christ and turn from this satanic hiphop game
old cova was way betta dis 1 looks stupid lol i feel like a blind man lookin @ dis shit. but can’t wait 4 album
anyone else getting sick of busta rhymes being on everybody’s album?
yeah but why is he wearing a heavy jacket in the desert
Im like crying. To EPIC!!!!!!!!!!
WTF, another fcucking delay bullshit, after bullshit
The cover is still okay to me although I do prefer the other one that had the different contrast (it was more crisp/cleaner to me). But anyway, if this is the “Official” version, than so be it. BY THE WAY, I WAS DOING SOME SEARCHING ON YOUTUBE AND CAME ACROSS THIS SONG CALLED “GUERILLA”. IT’S BY A GERMAN RAPPER NAMED AZAD. APPARENTLY HE’S LIKE A UNDERGROUND/HARDCORE RAPPER FROM GERMANY. ANYWAY, THE SONG FEATURES MY MAN RAKIM! AND I THINK HE RIPPED IT! THE ONLY THING IS THAT THE GERMAN RAPPER IS RAPPING IN HIS NATIVE GERMAN LANGUAGE SO UNLESS YOU SPEAK GERMAN, YOU DON’T KNOW WHAT HES SAYIN BUT IT STILL SOUNDS TIGHT NONETHELESS. IF YOU WANT TO HEAR IT GO TO YOUTUBE AND TYPE: “Azad – Guerilla feat Rakim” AND THERE’S A SIMILAR SOUNDING REMIX TO THE SAME SONG: JUST TYPE: ” Azad – Guerilla Remix (feat. Rakim) MZEE-Edition”. ALTHOUGH IT AINT A RAKIM SONG IT’S FRESH LYRICS FROM THE R THAT SHOULD KEEP YOU SALIVATING FOR THAT SEVENTH SEAL ALBUM! PEACE.
[...] information: News on Okayplayer Rakim on Wikipedia Bookmark this [...]
Rakim release new album "Seventh Seal" | Rap and Blues said this on November 9th, 2009 at 5:09 pm
this very good artist, faith in God