Lyrically, Rakim is one of the greatest ever hands down. My issue with this album is that it is very hook driven and because of Rakim's prowess with the pen I find that very interesting. I think style-wise, production from people like Nottz and Needlz are a little more suited for Rakim than a Dre beat (so far when Dre produces for Nas, the records are okay but nothing mind-blowing-I'm guesstimating the results with Dre and Rakim would be similar). The Seventh Seal isn't bad, but I has hoping for something a little stronger considering it had been ten years since his last album.
