William Michael Griffin Jr., aka Rakim, is bringing his legendary MC skills to New Orleans this summer The Big Easy welcomes Rakim with open ears, ready to listen live to the music of a legend. Rakim will perform at Tipitina’s on Saturday, July 6. 

Rakim, one of the greatest rappers of all time, reached 50 years last month and continues to spread his musical masterpieces throughout the world. The Long Island, New York rapper is a father to rhyming several words within a phrase, a style that has continued within music for 30 years now.

The basis for this style was shaped by artists Cold Crush Brothers’ Grandmaster Caz and Treacherous Three’s Kool Moe Dee, who expanded rhyming one word with another to rhyming a word with multiple words. This style has transformed simple raps into complex word structures. Rakim took this pattern a little further and influenced the rap world forever.

Rakim’s rhyme patterns, flow, and extensive vocabulary set him aside from all other rappers in the industry. He flows through a track with an individualistic voice while remaining consistent with delivering his messages. Rakim’s music is simply the foundation of what rap is today.

“The God MC” has just celebrated his 30th anniversary of classic album Paid in Full with Eric B this year. Rakim collaborated with Stephen Marley in 2016 to create their song “Unjust.” Though not often as much anymore, Rakim always makes sure to put out quality rap music whenever he has any features. Rakim has not released his own project since 2009’s Seventh Seal.

Below, check out a video of The God MC performing with our very own brass band, The Soul Rebels. The band will be a special guest at the show. They’re also featured in a brand new music video from London On the Track featuring Juvenile, G-Eazy and City Girls. Check out “Throw Fits,” filmed outside OffBeat offices.

Supporting The Soul Rebels and Rakim is rapper Alfred Banks. Tickets for the July 6 show are available here for $