Rakim’s Meteoric Rise & Lasting Impact Are Examined In A New Documentary (Video)

2016 marks 30 years since Eric B. & Rakim released debut single “Eric B. Is President.” With “My Melody” (as it was listed then) as the B-side, the Zakia/4th & B’way 12″ single would transform Hip-Hop in lyrics, in production, and in style.

Director Kaze has produced and edited a new web documentary that examines the impact, especially of Long Island, New York lyricist Rakim. The MC, who celebrated a birthday yesterday (January 28) would incorporate a love of Jazz into creating rhyme patterns as inventive as any in Hip-Hop.

The four-minute trailer to Check Out My Melody takes interviews from Rakim, as well as his early producer Marley Marl, his first DJ, and more. The film will use found footage capturing praises of The R from the likes of Kidd Creole (The Furious 5), Big Gipp (Goodie Mob), and Sheek Louch (The LOX). There is also footage of Rakim’s recent meeting of DMX. Additionally, the film looks at a Hip-Hop story of legends, with Marley and others reporting how two missed meetings with Freddie Foxxx would prompt Eric B. and manager Alvin Toney to tap Rakim for that breakthrough ’86 single. Rakim, Eric, and Foxxx (n/k/a Bumpy Knuckles) would work together in the years to come.

Related: DMX May Truly Be Rakim’s Biggest Fan. Watch Them Meet To See Why (Video)

The film’s full version is set to appear exclusively at Industry Muscle.

As a note, both Eric B. & Rakim’s Paid In Full and Follow The Leader are in the Top 10 Hip-Hop albums of the 1980s, as determined by AFH reader votes. Each is in the final 32 of “Finding The GOAT: Hip-Hop Albums.”

Related: KRS-One Interviews Rakim About The Genesis Of His Rhyme Style (Video)