| The Master | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Rakim | ||||
| Released | November 30, 1999 | |||
| Recorded | 1998–1999 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 1:02:07 | |||
| Label | Universal 542 082 | |||
| Producer |
| |||
| Rakim chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from The Master | ||||
| ||||
The Master is the second solo album by American rapper Rakim, released November 30, 1999, on Universal Records. It serves as the follow-up to Rakim's debut solo album, The 18th Letter (1997), and would be Rakim's last studio album for nearly a decade, until 2009's The Seventh Seal.
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| The Independent |  |
| Los Angeles Daily News | |
| Los Angeles Times | |
| NME | |
| Rolling Stone | |
| The Source | |
| USA Today | |
| Vibe | (mixed) |
| The Village Voice | (unfavorable) |
The Master received generally positive to mixed reviews from music critics.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Intro (The Master)" | 1:22 | ||
| 2. | "Flow Forever" |
| 4:11 | |
| 3. | "When I B on tha Mic" (feat. DJ Premier) |
|
| 3:42 |
| 4. | "Finest Ones" (feat. Clark Kent) |
|
| 4:24 |
| 5. | "All Night Long" |
|
| 4:27 |
| 6. | "State of Hip-Hop" (interlude) |
|
| 0:39 |
| 7. | "Uplift" |
|
| 3:09 |
| 8. | "I Know" |
| 4:07 | |
| 9. | "It's the R" |
|
| 4:15 |
| 10. | "I'll Be There" (feat. Nneka Morton) |
|
| 5:10 |
| 11. | "It's a Must" (feat. Rahzel) |
| 4:24 | |
| 12. | "Real Shit" |
|
| 4:21 |
| 13. | "How I Get Down" |
| 4:05 | |
| 14. | "L.I." (interlude) |
|
| 0:53 |
| 15. | "Strong Island" |
|
| 4:34 |
| 16. | "Waiting for the World to End" (feat. DJ Premier) |
|
| 4:05 |
| 17. | "We'll Never Stop" (feat. Connie McKendrick) |
|
| 4:19 |
| Total length: | 1:02:07 | |||
- Samples
- "Flow Forever" samples "Since We Said Goodbye" by The Counts
- "When I B on Tha Mic" samples "What the World Needs Now Is Love" by The Artistics, "The Saga Begins" by Rakim, "How About Some Hardcore" and "World Famous" by M.O.P., "Peter Piper" by Run-DMC, "Blind Alley" by The Emotions and "Metal Thangz" by Street Smartz feat. O.C. and Pharoahe Monch
- "Finest Ones" samples "We Belong Together" by The Spinners and "High Power Rap" by Crash Crew
- "I Know" samples "Let's Straighten It Out" by Latimore and "Steppin' Out" by Steel Pulse
- "It's the R" samples "Mother's Son" by Curtis Mayfield, "Tru Master" by Pete Rock feat. Inspectah Deck and Kurupt and "As the Rhyme Goes On", "Follow the Leader", "I Know You Got Soul" by Eric B. & Rakim
- "I'll Be There" samples "I'll Be With You" by Grover Washington, Jr.
- "Real Shit" samples "Survival of the Fittest" by Mobb Deep
- "How I Get Down" samples "Funky Drummer" by James Brown
- "Waiting for the World to End" samples "Brooks' 50c Tour (Main Title Collage)" by Quincy Jones, "Save Me" by Bloodstone, "All Night" by Xperadó and "Microphone Fiend" by Eric B. & Rakim
- "We'll Never Stop" samples "The New Rap Language" by Spoonie Gee and The Treacherous Three
Charts
Album
| Chart (1999) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 | 72 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) | 7 |
Singles
| Year | Song | Chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Billboard Hot 100 | Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | Hot Rap Singles | ||
| 2000 | "When I B On Tha Mic" | - | 53 | 20 |
Notes
- Nathan Brackett, Christian Hoard (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. Completely Revised and Updated 4th Edition. Simon and Schuster. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
References
- Bush, John. "The Master - Rakim". AllMusic. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
- Perry, Tim (27 November 1999). "Pop: ALBUM REVIEWS". The Independent. Archived from the original on 2022-06-18. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
- "SOUND CHECK. - Free Online Library". Los Angeles Daily News. 3 December 1999. Archived from the original on 22 October 2012. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
- Baker, Soren (25 December 1999). "DMX Delivers Harsh Reality on 'Then' - Los Angeles Times". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
- Columnist (12 September 2005). "The Master - NME". NME. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
- Hoard, Christian (2 November 2004). "The New Rolling Stone Album Guide - Google Books". Rolling Stone. ISBN 9780743201698.
- Parker, Erik "Mr Parker" (January 2000). "Record Report: Rakim – Rakim". The Source. No. 124. New York. p. 191.
- Jones, Steve. "Review: The Master". USA Today: 04.D. November 30, 1999. Archived from the original on 2009-08-21.
- Mao, Chairman (February 2000). "Vibe - Google Books". Vibe.
- Lewis, Miles Marshall (18 January 2000). "The Passing of the Mic - Village Voice". The Village Voice. Retrieved 21 August 2009.
- "Rakim Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
- "Rakim Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved February 1, 2020.
- "Rakim When I B On Tha Mic Chart History - Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
- "Rakim When I B On Tha Mic Chart History - Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
External links
- The Master at MusicBrainz (list of releases)
- The Master at Discogs
- Album Review at The Harvard Crimson
- Album Review at The Independent
- Album Review at RapReviews
| Rakim | |
|---|---|
| Solo albums |
|
| Eric B. & Rakim |
|
| Featured singles | |
| Related articles | |