The 18th Letter
1997 studio album by Rakim
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The 18th Letter is the debut solo album by American emcee Rakim. It was released on November 4, 1997, through Universal Records in the United States. The album features production by DJ Clark Kent, Pete Rock, Father Shaheed, Nick Wiz and DJ Premier.[1] It contains lyrical themes that concern hip hop's golden age, Rakim's rapping prowess, and the state of hip hop.[2]
| The 18th Letter | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | November 4, 1997 | |||
| Genre | Hip hop | |||
| Length | 54:10 | |||
| Label | Universal | |||
| Producer |
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| Rakim chronology | ||||
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Background
The album was Rakim's first release of new material following a five-year hiatus after Don't Sweat the Technique (1992) as duo Eric B. & Rakim.[3][4] The album's title refers to the letter "R" being the eighteenth letter of the English alphabet.
Deluxe version
Commercial performance
The 18th Letter debuted at number four on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart[7] and was certified Gold in the United States.[8]
Critical reception
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [9] |
| Chicago Tribune | [10] |
| Robert Christgau |  [11] |
| Pitchfork Media | 8.0/10[12] |
| Rolling Stone |  [13] |
| The Source | [14] |
| Spin | 7/10[15] |
| USA Today | [16] |
| Yahoo! Music | (favorable)[17] |
The New York Times wrote that the album "features gripping, richly textured backing tracks and kinetic wordplay filled with references to the Koran; his masterly command of rhyming has only deepened with time."[18]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Intro" | 0:13 | ||
| 2. | "The 18th Letter (Always and Forever)" | 3:01 | ||
| 3. | "Skit" | 0:24 | ||
| 4. | "It's Been a Long Time" |
| 3:58 | |
| 5. | "Remember That" |
| 4:40 | |
| 6. | "The Saga Begins" |
| 4:22 | |
| 7. | "Skit" | 0:19 | ||
| 8. | "Guess Who's Back" |
|
| 4:11 |
| 9. | "Stay a While" |
|
| 4:25 |
| 10. | "New York (Ya Out There)" |
| 4:04 | |
| 11. | "Show Me Love" |
|
| 4:19 |
| 12. | "Skit" | 0:19 | ||
| 13. | "The Mystery (Who Is God?)" |
|
| 5:21 |
| 14. | "When I'm Flowin'" |
|
| 5:04 |
| 15. | "It's Been a Long Time (Suave House Mix)" |
|
| 3:59 |
| 16. | "Guess Who's Back (Alternative Mix)" |
|
| 4:11 |
| 17. | "Outro" | 1:20 | ||
| Total length: | 54:10 | |||
Notes
The Book of Life
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Know You Got Soul" (from Paid In Full) |
| 4:43 | |
| 2. | "Follow the Leader" (from Follow the Leader) |
|
| 5:32 |
| 3. | "Eric B. Is President" (from Paid In Full) |
|
| 6:15 |
| 4. | "Microphone Fiend" (from Follow the Leader) |
|
| 5:13 |
| 5. | "I Ain't No Joke" (from Paid In Full) |
|
| 3:52 |
| 6. | "Lyrics of Fury" (from Follow the Leader) |
|
| 4:11 |
| 7. | "My Melody" (from Paid In Full) |
|
| 6:47 |
| 8. | "Know the Ledge" (from Don't Sweat the Technique) |
|
| 3:58 |
| 9. | "Move the Crowd" (from Paid In Full) |
|
| 3:36 |
| 10. | "Let the Rhythm Hit âEm" (from Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em) |
|
| 5:24 |
| 11. | "Mahogany" (from Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em) |
|
| 4:27 |
| 12. | "In the Ghetto" (from Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em) |
|
| 5:26 |
| 13. | "Casualties of War" (from Don't Sweat the Technique) |
|
| 4:02 |
| 14. | "The Punisher" (from Don't Sweat the Technique) |
|
| 4:06 |
| 15. | "Paid in Full" (from Paid In Full) |
|
| 3:49 |
| Total length: | 71:21 | |||
Charts
Weekly charts
|
Year-end charts
|
Certifications
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[23] | Gold | 500,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
The 18th Letter & The Book of Life
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[24] | Gold | 500,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||