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Rakim

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Sweat the Technique: Revelations on Creativity from the Lyrical Genius Kindle Edition

by Rakim (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

4.8 1,518 ratings

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On the heels of Kendrick Lamar’s Pulitzer Prize, as the world begins to recognize the creative side of Hip-Hop, comes a writing guide from a musician and "The greatest MC of all time," Rakim.

The musician and Hip Hop legend—hailed as “the greatest MC of all time” and compared to Thelonious Monk—reimagines the writing handbook in this memoir and guide that incorporates the soulful genius, confidence, and creativity of a master artist.

When he exploded on the music scene, musical genius Rakim was hailed for his brilliant artistic style, adding layers, complexity, depth, musicality, and soul to rap. More than anyone, Rakim has changed the way MCs rhyme. Calm on the mic, his words combine in a frenzy of sound, using complicated patterns based on multisyllabic rhymes and internal rhythms. Rakim can tell a story about a down-on-his-luck man looking for a job and turn it into an epic tale and an unforgettable rhyme. He is not just a great songwriter—he’s a great modern writer.

Part memoir, part writing guide, Sweat the Technique offers insight into how Rakim thinks about words, music, writing, and rhyming as it teaches writers of all levels how to hone their craft. It is also a rare glimpse into Rakim’s private life, full of entertaining personal stories from his youth on Long Island growing up in a home and community filled with musiciansto the clubs of New York and the studios of Los Angeles during his rise to the top of popular music. Rakim celebrates the influences that shaped his development, including the jazz music of John Coltrane and the spirituality of the streets, and shares anecdotes spotlighting personalities such as L. L. Cool J. and Dr. Dre, among others.

Filled with valuable lessons for every writer, Sweat the Technique reveals the heart and mind of an artist and his love for great storytelling, and always, the words.

Print length

236 pages
Language

English
Sticky notes

On Kindle Scribe
Publisher

Amistad
Publication date

September 24, 2019
File size

3674 KB
Page Flip

Enabled
Word Wise

Enabled
Enhanced typesetting

Enabled
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Editorial Reviews

Review

“Reading Sweat the Technique is like listening to a classic Rakim track with the same codification, spirituality, and simple-complexity that will make the reader press rewind and start at page one several times over.” — East Bay Express

"Rakim and music journalist Bakari Kitwana offer a road map guiding readers to the source of his inspiration and the reason behind his career longevity: his unmatched skills on the mic. . . Their work reflects hip-hop's role as an innovative conduit of Black experiences." — Literary Hub

“Sweat the Technique is the hip-hop version of Stephen King’s On Writing.” — Medium

“Reflections on a life of artistic commitment during hop-hop’s golden age. . . insightful.” — Kirkus Reviews

“[Sweat the Technique] joins the best of rap history and criticism and has the potential to inspire a new age of rap lyricism.” — Booklist

About the Author

Rakim reigns as one of hip-hop's most transformative artists. Along with his partner Eric B., he recorded 1987's Paid in Full, the landmark recording that MTV named "the greatest hip-hop album of all time." Rakim's inimitable style lyrics, which has drawn comparisons to jazz icon Thelonious Monk, have been cited as an influence on a wide range of top-selling musicians including Jay Z, Nas, Eminem, Tupac, 50 Cent, and The Notorious B.I.G. Rakim is the recipient of the 2012 "I am Hip Hop" Trophy, the 2013 BET Hip Hop Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as multiple Vstrong Hip Hop Honors.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07DHMS5QL
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Amistad (September 24, 2019)
Publication date ‏ : ‎ September 24, 2019
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 3674 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
Print length ‏ : ‎ 236 pages

Best Sellers Rank: #777,941 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #75 in Rap Music (Kindle Store)
- #3,296 in Fiction Writing Reference (Books)
- #4,220 in Motivational Self-Help (Kindle Store)

Customer Reviews:
4.8 1,518 ratings

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Michael J. Henry

Very good book about being a Hip Hop MC

Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2021

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I've now read KRS 1, RZA, U God and some other stuff from hip hop artists and this is a good one. Rakim breaks down his main events in his life and things a MC might want to know and relish. I really dig how he is a mystic, because that speaks to me much more than gangster rap and young/sex/drug/money stuff...which I can enjoy like a small desert from time to time without it warping my spiritual way of thinking; all that stuff is kind of like succumbing to shallowing exciting temptations when the greatest stuff is simple inner wisdom and a life that isn't a circus of being a big somebody, pleasure and bragging. Rakim makes being a nobody...but yet one who serves in the capacity that he does, something that many MC's (including many of the greats) won't ever achieve with all the women and cars out there to hijack their pen for a whispering shadow dangling fantasies....

Good book:)

8 people found this helpful

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Sheldon S. Taylor

More EP Than Full Player, Sweat The Technique Still Has Enough Soul To Move The Crowd

Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2019

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Thirty plus years after his debut, Rakim invites readers to follow the leader into his literary universe Sweat The Technique: Revelations On A Creativity From A Lyrical Genius. Billed as "part memoir-part writing guide," Ra goes behind the rhyme and explores the technique and inspiration behind his conceptual genius. He also shares perspectives on his spiritual views and offers motivational jewels for the reader.

Offering rare reflections of his life and career, Rakim still holds the literary reigns tight like a grudge. Leaving topics previously touched on in social media blogs and old interviews on the cutting room floor, Rakim bypasses wild-style stories of his younger days when he and DJ Eric B rolled deep with the infamous Paid In Full posse. Ditto for the obligatory mouth-dropping industry confessions and untold stories recounting the late Eighties' testosterone-filled rap industry.

Technique really comes alive when Rakim reflects on his early days as "Popo" and "Lil Griff"---the scrappy kid from Wyandanch, Long Island, part music/sports prodigy----part gun-toting hard rock, nurtured by his mother's support and guided by his father's wise and steady hand. Recounting the oft-told story of his entry in the rap game, Rakim shares how an unexpected visit from Eric B puts him on the fast track to becoming the teen-aged hip hop prodigy---automatically better than every rap peer and pioneer.

Technique captures the dizzying highs: the big money paydays and rapid career ascent requiring Rakim to drop out of school. The bidding war that led to him signing the first million-dollar rap contract at the tender age of twenty. ("Just two years earlier, I had no thought of making money as a MC and now I was out buying a Benz, a Jeep Cherokee, jewelry, clothes and sneakers."). It reveals the lows: the pressures of young fatherhood and his grandmother's passing. Rakim expresses the guilt of reluctantly tending to a hot careers while his hero---his beloved father succumbed to bone cancer.

Momentarily pulling back the veil of discretion, Rakim shares stories of his first love and briefly unpacks his sometimes conflicted relationship with his partner. He celebrates the accomplishments of their unlikely partnership while revealing his desire to be independent of it at the start of their journey. He revisits the growing pains, creative and business differences that would lead to their breakup as well as their tension filled and triumphant reunion.

Sweat The Technique's circular prose at times can be thematic. Like Rakim's syncopated flow, it swings back and forth, both discreet and revealing all at once. Recollections capture the GOD MC's many moods and grooves. Bold and testy like Miles. Enigmatic like Monk. An ember-like spirit stoked by competition and self-mastery. A soaring rap deity whose family is the wind beneath his wings. More EP than a full-length player, Sweat The Technique still has enough soul to move the crowd.

40 people found this helpful

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Bonnie Boe

Great Memoir

Reviewed in the United States on January 5, 2024

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I bought this for my son as if it’s his favorite all time artist. He said that this memoir was so informative and that if you are a hip hop or rap person you should definitely give this book a read. Life from the perspective of the artist, though not an autobiography, clearly gives introspective into his life! He has started to reread it already he said it is that good.

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Dennis l.

ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!!!

Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2023

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THE GOD MC LET'S YOU IN HIS MIND, AND HELPS YOU DISCOVER, MATHEMATICALLY, WHY HE IS ONE OF THE "BEST" IN HIS CRAFT!!! #PEACETOTHEALMIGHTY!!!

Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2020

Verified Purchase

Great insight into Rakim the MC. This man is about more then just rhyming words at the end of a sentence.

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Kindle Customer

Loved it, must read for hop hop fans and writers , highly recommend for anyone

Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2021

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Very well written, entertaining and educational for both hip hop fans, artists, and really anyone else. I had already heard a lot of his music but I listened to or re-listened to the tracks he mentioned and/or dissected as he told his story and I think that will enrich the experience of reading this book for others as well

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Sherlonzo R. Pennix

The R! One of the Greatest of All Time!

Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2022

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I consider Rakim as one of the greatest emcees of all time. If he's not on your Mount Rushmore of emcees, i don't know what you're thinking. I truly enjoyed the honor and privilege to read and learn more about "The R"!

3 people found this helpful

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C-Rod

Masterful!

Reviewed in the United States on June 3, 2022

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I'm speechless. This was a GREAT read. I will definitely read it again. Rakim takes on a trip through his life & journey to becoming The God MC. A true Master of his craft. Simply put... Lyrical Genius.

One person found this helpful

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