Rakim The 18th Letter/The Book of Life (2-CD)

3.5 Stars (out of 5) - "...a voice that flows like a rap saxophone....the focus is on skills, not cars, drugs or gats....embellished with lush R&B and edgy Wu-Tang aural textures..."
7 (out of 10) - "...His vocal virtuosity--like a dark storm brewing over both tenemants and pyramids--has influenced everything from the trip-hop brilliance of Tricky to...[many] '90s lyricists....On his first solo album since breaking up with Eric B. in 1993, Rakim ages gracefully...and without bitterness..."
3.5 Mics (out of 5) - "...his style fathered a rhyme revolution still nurtured to this day....THE 18TH LETTER, Ra's first solo LP, comes complete chock-filled with new seven MC theories and wise prophesies..."
"...possibly the most eagerly awaited comeback in hip hop history...razor-sharp, blunted-raw pulse of lithe magic....it's fevered and abandoned where most would settle for lukewarm and cosy..."
Excellent - "...Rakim picks up right where he left off, hypnotizing us with his sublime rhyming skills....No one esle...has quite the same ability to take hold of the English language..."