I didn't know NPG was part of the art department Nine years and they just say "I got an idea, here it is"

I bet you someone on this board could do a better job with a lp cover and make it legit and professional at the same time.



But at least this time there is a lp cover. Aftermath never would have dropped his album. I dont know if I believe this date. July 2009? He really wants to stick with this 7 thing. On Prefix it says December. On amazon it says September. This thing has more release dates than Detox! lol Are there preorder numbers yet anywhere? lol
[Edited 6/15/09 10:48am]
[Edited 6/15/09 10:49am]

Trickology said:

Supreme Mathematics - teaches that numbers 0-9 means:
1 - Knowledge
2 - Wisdom
3 - Understanding
4 - Culture/Freedom
5 - Power/Refinement
6 - Equality
7 - God
8 - Build/Destroy
9 - Born
0 - Cipher

i've seen worse actually I kind of like it
[Edited 6/15/09 12:19pm]

what's wrong with it?

lol, as bad as it is, it has nothing on the tacky amateurish NPG art dept.

InsatiableCream said:

Well, you expect something of an effort like Organized Konfusion or NonPhixion's The Future is now. I guess what im saying is, Rakim is putting out what he considers his best solo work. The fans expect the unveiling of the lp cover to be interesting with a title like "The Seventh Seal" I guess that's why the fans are just puzzled a bit. I dont know maybe it's the expectation of seeing something apocalyptic style imagery vs some minimal design. The fans want a epic presentation, I guess.

Ugot2shakesumthin said:

Touche I agree it was just a reference point of the reaction that people have to this. I wonder if Rakim really did keep the Dr Dre tracks for the album. Rakim is the D'angelo of rap. No consistent release dates, No desire to tour, and both catalyst icons who have a small catalog of releases.

Whats wrong with it?

Do you wanna see TACKY?

It's cool. It'll look nice on a vinyl sleeve

Harlepolis said:

Funk dat

http://www.imeem.com/8thd...o-new-mix/

I guess it isn't that bad.

Billboard Interview
July 14, 2009
Link

"The Seventh Seal," the long-anticipated album by rap legend Rakim, is slated for release in the fall.

The rapper -- best known as half of the rap duo Eric B. & Rakim -- signed with Dr. Dre's Aftermath label in 2001. Featured on the 2002 top 10 R&B single "Addictive" by Aftermath labelmate Truth Hurts, Rakim later parted ways with Dre and Aftermath, and his album was never released. Rakim has not released a new studio album save for 2008's mostly live set, "The Archive: Live, Lost & Found," which included four previously unreleased songs.

The new album is being released on Rakim's Ra Records label in a joint venture with Tuscan Villa Entertainment. Its first single, "Holy Are You," will hit shelves July 28.

The rapper tells Billboard the new album is fueled by "consciousness and spirituality."

Billboard: What's the story behind the title, "The Seventh Seal?"

Rakim: The seals are from the Bible -- Revelations and the coming of the Apocalypse. But Islam, Judaism, Christianity: All have a version of the same events. The Lion of Judah breaks the seven seals one by one, each imparting knowledge and inflicting catastrophe, ending with seven trumpets announcing the end of Times. After the Apocalypse, God rises from the ashes to re-create the Kingdom, taking only the greatest elements from the past with them.

When you look at Hip-Hop, I want to do that: to spit fire and take our best from the ashes to build our kingdom; to recognize all the regional styles, conscious lyrics, the tracks, underground, mainstream, the way we treat each other. Lose the garbage and rebuild our scene. I've always tried to insert consciousness and spirituality in my records, interpreting the writings of all cultures and religions and how they apply to life in modern times.

Billboard: Does this album contain any material from the unreleased album you did with Dr. Dre, or is it all new music?

Rakim: No, that's locked down in the lab for now. This is me live from New York City, everything brand new.

Billboard: Who produced the album? Are there any guest features?

Rakim: I'm going to keep that cat in the bag for one more minute. But you'll see names you know and names you don't recognize yet but will after this drops. We've got our New York dudes on there, but we reached out to everybody. We have some features too; special cats in the right places but not everywhere.

Billboard: Are you concerned at all about reaching the new generation of hip-hop fans who aren't necessarily familiar with your music?

Rakim: I don't accept that the new generation is looking for anything different than what we've always been looking for. Depending on the moment, they want bangers that make them crack their neck, they want tracks that put them in a zone where they can sit back and chill. The ladies want something that makes them feel sexy and loved. And everyone wants something that makes them think a little bit -- at least sometimes. Every generation wants that real hip-hop. And I've always been able to bring that.

Billboard: Is there a chance that you and Dr. Dre may work together again in the future?

Rakim: No doubt, if the project and the timing are right. He's got his thing going on and I got mine. But I know our camps will look for ways to mix things up.