Sweat the Technique: Revelations on Creativity from the Lyrical Genius

Growing up in the Long Island hamlet of Wyandanch, surrounded by a musical family, rapper Rakim was first exposed to hip-hop at age six. Watching aspiring MCs spit their best rhymes in Wyandanch Park ignited a lifelong passion. By the time he was a senior in high school, the lyricist was booking gigs that included the Def Jam ’87 Tour with Public Enemy, Doug E. Fresh, and LL Cool J. While Eric B. and Rakim were on tour, their seminal debut album, Paid in Full, was released to fan and critical acclaim. In this blend of memoir and creative blueprint, Rakim, with Kitwana (The Hip-Hop Generation), writes with the unpretentious wisdom of a seasoned juggernaut. While repentant about the mistakes of youth, he is unapologetic about protecting his talent. A running theme is Rakim’s refusal to sacrifice his integrity or his artistic brand for the sake of public approval.