Rakim and J. Dilla will be honored at the Kennedy Center in DC on March 30 for their contributions to the history of Hip-Hop and Jazz. The event will be orchestrated by Robert Glasper, Derrick Hodge, and the Black Radio Orchestra.
The new honor adds to Rakim’s recent appreciation from the culture. The God MC and Houston legend Scarface were honored by Nas and the Paid In Full Foundation with the inaugural “Hip Hop Grandmaster Awards” last November. The legends were presented with 500,000 dollars and health benefits in appreciation for their unforgettable contribution to the culture.
“We created the Paid in Full Foundation to honor foundational Hip-Hop artists who made colossal contributions to the art form and society as a whole,” said foundation founder Ben Horowitz in a press release. “In addition, the foundation aims to enable these legendary heroes to continue sharing their brilliance with the world. We are ecstatic that Rakim and Scarface will accept our Grandmaster Award this year.”
Rakim’s legendary career began in 1985. He is best known for his Paid in Full album with Eric. B. After splitting with Eric B. in 1992, he bounced from label to label until he signed with Universal in 1996. The 18th Letter album was released in November 1997. It debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200 and was certified Gold by the RIAA.
Rakim shares a few rare stories about his career with Ebro in the Morning in 2019. Watch him tell stories of signing ASAP Rocky’s diaper, MC Serch, and more, below.