As of this summer, it has been 40 years since Eric B. and Rakim released their debut single "Eric B. Is President." That's the song that introduced Rakim to the world, and his hard-nosed but quietly tricky style instantly made him one of history's greatest rappers and put him in top-dive discussions for eternity. After a very long absence and a whole lot of nostalgia-circuit touring, Rakim returned with 2024's G.O.D.’s Network (Reb7rth), his first album in 15 years. Rakim followed it with The Rebirth last year, and now he's announcing a collaborative album that he made with two other great veteran rappers who adapted their own versions of his unflappable style.
Rakim opened G.O.D.’s Network (Reb7rth) with "Be Ill," a song that he made with Kurupt, the Philadelphia-born MC who came to fame as one half of tha Dogg Pound, and the perpetually underrated Wu-Tang Clan member Masta Killa. The three of them made perfect sense together, and now they're joining forces for the The Godbody, a new album that features guest appearances from people like Snoop Dogg, Ghostface Killah, Raekwon, KRS-One, Kool G Rap, and Kurupt's Dogg Pound partner Daz Dillinger. You just know all those guys are excited to be on a record with Rakim. Jay-Z and Eminem are on an interlude, too, but I bet they don't rap.
This is one of those albums where all three rappers don't appear on every song. Rakim himself is only on five of the 16 tracks, including the lead single. Opening track "Goin Down" is a rock-solid boom-bap track with some surprisingly funky guest vocals from West Coast veteran Kokane. It's exactly what you want from a team of seen-it-all rap veterans who don't want to venture too far from their comfort zones. Below, check out that song and the album's tracklist.
TRACKLIST:
01 Rakim, Kurupt, & Masta Killa - "Goin’ Down" (feat. Kokane)
02 Kurupt, & Masta Killa -" DPG-Wu-Tang, Wu-Tang-DPG"
03 Kurupt & Masta Killa - "Rock Ya Body (feat. Daz Dillinger, Ghostface Killah, & Raekwon)
04 Kurupt & Masta Killa - "Push The Button"
05 Kurupt & Masta Killa - "Rabbit (feat. Mac Shawn 100)
06 Eminem & Jay-Z - "God Speak (Interlude)"
07 Rakim - "A Different Kind"
08 Kurupt & Masta Killa - "Is It Love" (feat. Jamall Ray)
09 Kurupt & Masta Killa - "Thelonius" (feat. Buckshot, Rim, & Trigga)
10 Masta Killa - "Nights Over Brooklyn"
11 Rakim, Kurupt, & Masta Killa - "I’m Good (Remix)"
12 Killa Sin (Killarmy) - "Upstate Introspective"
13 Rakim, Kurupt, & Masta Killa - "Still Ill!" (feat. KRS-One & Kool G Rap)
14 Kurupt - "Nine & Chrome Fiend
15 Kurupt & Masta Killa - "Rabbit (Remix)" (feat. Snoop Dogg)
16 Rakim, Kurupt, & Masta Killa - "Hallelujah (Remix)" (feat. Mic King)
The Godbody is out 9/18. Pre-order it here, and read our 2024 We've Got A File On You interview with Rakim here.
