While TheUrbanDaily is going to save our thoughts on The Seventh Seal for our year-end wrap up you can get an idea of what some other critics are saying about the God MCs latest CD. Click the hyperlinks to read full reviews.
“The Seventh Seal moves above and beyond where Rakim’s last album The Master left off. Though at times it falls short of the high bar set by Paid in Full, its got some scorchers which will be Hip-Hop high points for 2009 and suggests that next year’s album, already in the works, will be promising.” Allhiphop.com
“In the end, Rakim’s latest album doesn’t really make any contribution of significance to his catalogue. It’s clear that this man isn’t the same microphone fiend heads grew up worshipping.” -Slava Kuperstein, HipHopDX.com
“Rakim proved that he hasn’t lost a step with The Seventh Seal and ultimately reassures listeners that he’s still one of the nicest emcees in the game regardless of the ones (Jay-Z, Lil’ Wayne, T.I., Nas, Drake, J. Cole…) that have come after him” NappyAfro.com
“This record, though not awful by any means, is simply not up to the standards set by the God MC…he was always able to maintain our intention with his lyrics and wordplay…But none of that really comes through on The Seventh Seal.” – Andrew Martin, PopMatters.com
“Rakim’s eagerly-anticipated album is a bit of a snoozer. His lyrics and track presence are as strong as ever, but the production just doesn’t stack up. Tell me this isn’t wrong: The album’s outro track, “Dedicated”, samples No Doubt’s “Don’t Speak”…” HipHopIsread.com
“…Rakim’s new release is an important cultural marker, an example of aging well in a youth-obsessed medium—perhaps even instruction on how to do so. Musically, it’s what Jay-Z is doing through his iconography, but with less hype..” TheRoot.com
“..there are few better formalists than Rakim, and when the music matches the master (“Holy Are U,” “How to Emcee”) the album reaches the rarefied heights of long ago. Unfortunately, all too often the God sounds like a mere mortal…” Jeff Weis, LA Times
“To be honest, he sounds pretty bored for the majority of the record, as he compares pushing his music to slinging dope, dedicates several songs to the special lady in his life, constantly reminds us of his legendary status and how much he loves hip-hop and tries to sound current by making a song with Maino. Not exactly ‘Follow The Leader’, is it?” – Unkut.com
“Too bad that the production here is decidedly mortal, from the played-out chipmunk soul of “Message in the Song” to the plodding keyboards of “Satisfaction Guaranteed.” Mosi Reeves, Spin.com
“While his nimble, adaptable flow never sounds out of place, some of the slower beats tend to drag a little. Ra is at his best when things are simple”
Sussex Countian, The Nebraska City News Press
