Rakim pics & word

He came. Rakim has now rocked Vancouver for the first time since he came out on the scene back in '86.

He came. Rakim has now rocked Vancouver for the first time since he came out on the scene back in '86. After openings slots by an energetic and on point Kyprios and Checkmate and Concise who were joined by Maestro Fresh Wes (proving he's still got the fire for his original art), a banging golden era set by Hedspin (check out his Rakim - the R mixtape too) the 18th letter didnt get on stage until what seemed like near 2am. It was dam hot, dam sweaty, dam stanky but when Rakim walked on stage, it transported me right back to my childhood when hip hop was this new and fresh thing and this MC was the mystic king of the mic. As cliche as it still may sound, a figure that represented perhaps the most "pure" era of hip hop, when nothing else but beats & rhymes were king, was now on stage at Pop Opera.......MORE UNDER THE CUT.

Rakim @ Pop Opera, Aug. 17 from Japfunk on Vimeo.

Now, he wasn't spitting off the rhymes as on point and as crisp as he must of 20 years ago but it wasnt too much of a shock since most legendary MCs from the old days that peformed on the VH1 hip hop honours special show, for example, didnt quite replicate their original form either. But never the less, a bonafide legendary MC was on hand to deliver some old rhymes and new. It wasnt too much of a surpise either that many fans didnt seem too hyped to hear his new stuff but when he delivered the old goods, the heads were running off every line and response. Thanks to J-Swing for bringing the R to town and for the hookup!

Rakim @ Pop Opera, Aug. 17 II from Japfunk on Vimeo.

Kyprios