EXCLUSIVE VIDEO: Rakim Speaks On Nas’ “Unauthorized Biography”

Excerpt of MTV interview of Rakim and Nas a few years ago when the song dropped

http://www.mtv.com/bands/n/nas/news_feature_050206/index3.jhtml

MTV: Rakim, Nas paid you the ultimate compliment in 2004 by recording “U.B.R. (Unauthorized Biography of Rakim)” [on Street's Disciple]. What was it like when you heard that song breaking down your whole life?

“He kind of opened my eyes, like, ‘OK, people’s watching. People really know about Rakim.’ It kind of let me know where I was in the world.” — Rakim

Rakim: That kind of puts things in perspective. You got this far and somebody that you respect, somebody that’s on a high plateau, took time and showed you love. And to hear a lot of it, I was like, “Where did he get that from? How did he know that?” He does put things in perspective, man. He kind of opened my eyes, like, “OK, people’s watching. People really know about Rakim.” It kind of let me know where I was in the world.

Nas: Thanks, man. I always wanted to know how you felt about that, ’cause if somebody made a song talking about me and stuff like that, I wouldn’t know how to react. I just had to make a song about Ra ’cause if we in there making songs in the studio, let’s make songs about things that are important. The dude is important right now, so I made a song about how he inspired [people] a great deal. I used to look at Ra like, “This dude’s an alien. He’s an alien. He’s not from here.” That’s how I feel to this day.

MTV: How much research did you do for that record?

Nas: It took me a day. I went online. I was up on Rakim forever, though — you ain’t up on Rakim, then you don’t belong in rap. I was always up on Ra and I met him as a kid. I was a young teen getting into the game and I met Ra. He came in the studio by himself, put the [medallion] on the table. With the cables, two beepers — it was crazy. I [hadn't] never seen a cell phone, really. I seen them on the TV, “Magnum P.I.” and “Miami Vice.” But I never seen the big, crazy joint — the joint you beat somebody over the head with. The dude was cool then, same as he is now. This brother has always been a cool brother.

MTV: Nas, five years ago we were doing an interview, and we were talking about some of the greats: Slick Rick, Rakim, KRS-One. When did you start feeling comfortable being mentioned in the same breath as some of those people you came up watching?

Nas: You know what it’s like? You can only fight it for so long. Then, when your influence is so great on so many artists, you gotta accept it. Nah mean? God don’t give you a gift. For you, you can’t turn your lights down on your shine. You can’t dim your lights for nobody. It just took its natural course.

MTV: With the climate of rap changing now, how does that affect you when putting out new material? The focus is not on lyrics, as it was back in the day.

Rakim: I’ll answer that right quick, Nas. That’s why it’s up to brothers like me and him to keep it going. ‘Cause if we turn around and fall victim to what’s going on, then it’s a wrap. Nas is doing an album, I’m doing an album. We can make a big statement right here. When this man drops an album, they already looking for it. Nas — you know he’s gonna say something, and the same thing for Rakim. So if we stay focused and do what we do, I think everybody wants that real hip-hop back.

I feel you producer6tray.thanks for saying that so i don`t have to repeat it.And this new generation need to pull out some KRS-1 and Chuck D while they are at it.and Sweet 33,Rakim doesn`t have to be relevent to the new generation,he has left his mark on real hip hop already.Like 6Tray said,you to young to know what real hip hop was,cus it aint this s**t that`s out know.

sweet 33 thats bulls**t, nas lyrics could never f**k Rakim’s you are just to young to even understand it ..with no Rakim there would no Nas..that why this new generation as you call has no real juice just bling garbage, my suggestion is you go and listen to tha god online and you will see why nas is jockin him and not the reverse.

All I would like to say is Rakim is sexy, lol, you can continue to fight now, smooches! lol

Italian Mami take your Don Knotts lookin ass on somewhere. For you youngins that dont know who he is google him and look at her page and you would agree they are twins..lol You like 40 years old still trying to be down and I bet you aint got no man, just them ugly ass dogs lol. You look like a meth head. Just do yourself a favor and kill yourself because you failed in life. Your whole style is fake. You in a country ass part of FL because you one of the New Yorkers that couldnt make it up here…smh.

The fact that you talkin s**t like you so hard is hilarious. You know you wouldnt be so “italian outspoken” if you were face to face. What are you making easy? You are making a fool out of yourself with these idiotic statements. So what you know spell Nas name. You want a cookie? Get life you third class ho. Queens baby.

Peace to the God n Earths, Peace to Rakim Allah.

I understand where Ra is coming from, I am a fan of both.
Nas, meant well on dedicated this because Rakim was his Idol, so was KRS-ONE. However, Nas could’ve called up the GOD and let’em know because his info was out especially his Kids and other things.
Nas, is a humble dude but he could’ve reached out and let Rakim know that he paid Homage. I would’ve felt funny as well…but as I said “Nas meant well but a phone would been kool”.

These Dudes are too gifted and hopefully things will be at ease. I would hate The GODS to beef over something that can easily be reconciled in PEACE.

For you all you HOMO’ niggas that feel that Rakim should’nt be paid RESPECT, ya’ll should kill yaself’s because with out Rakim, there would be no Hip-Hop.
I’m glad Ra didn’t do tracks with Dre bcuz Dre would gave him wack beats like he gave Joel Ortiz and Raekwon and Dre is not all that, Word.

I said it, SO WHAT?!

Primo, Pete-Rock, Beatminers, X-tra P, Etc got hot-s**t…Dre has simple s**t that you Dumbasses suck on!!!!

Rakim ALLAH, will always be RESPECTED!

ahhh, you guys on here make it toooo easy! ain’t noboy e thuggin, i never claimed to be hard, i just simply put u on blast for claimin to love nas but yet you can’t even spell his name right? u r the fraud, not me…and this is exactly what i would say to u or anyone in person, u guys r the ones hidin behind ur comps hunny, with no pics, empty pages..if you knew italians, u would know that we r outspoken & we shoot straight, u don’t like it, go have a tantrum somewhere, take that s**t to oprah…..again, don’t get mad at me cuz “some white b***h” put u on blast for not knowing how to spell nas name correctly, and twice at that.. smh… lmao. that’s ur issue boo, not mine, i will always speak my mind, whether it be on here or off…u bein racist is not my problem, that’s urs, i will ALWAYSSSSSSSSSSSSS do me..and u sound ignornant cuz I didnt know there was a way of “SOUNDING BLACK”.., that’s funny cuz I know plenty of broths & sistas who don’t “sound black” as u would call it…u guys on here r some feminine actin chics, for real, hatin & arguing with a chic? and a white chic at that? thank u for makin it so easy for me to get under ur skin… dammm, i do it everytime, y’all make it sooooo easy.. pretty good for a white b***h…lmfao..