Rakim Fires Up Highline Ballroom

  /  08.14.2009

Rakim

Hip-hop legend Rakim Allah and a host of friends, as well as some fire, took over the Highline Ballroom in downtown Manhattan Thursday night to give fans a sneak peek of his long-awaited album, The Seventh Seal (Ra Records/ Tuscan Villa/SMC Recordings), due this fall.

The exclusive event began at 9 p.m. but lines formed well before 7 p.m. when the doors opened. U-God, from the famed Wu-Tang Clan, took to the stage to open up the set with some classics. Halfway through his performance of songs like Ol’ Dirty Bastard’s “Got Your Money” and “Dopium” (off his latest album of the same name), VIP privileges were taken away from fans when an unexpected fire broke out behind the bar. Everyone in the vicinity evacuated the top floor, which made the standing room around ticket holders even more crowded below.

Most events would have ended at the first billow of smoke, but, like Rakim’s ever-lasting rap career, the party went on. A host of DJs blessed the stage including DJ Big Kap, who mixed the first half of the show, and DJ Kid Capri, who rocked the crowd for about an hour, mixing and scratching what seemed like every hit song of the past 10 years.

While it was hot and steamy outside, Miami heat rose inside when Rick Ross made a guest appearance to show his respect for Rakim. The bearded rapper ran through hits such as “Maybach Music,” “Hustlin’,” and “Push It.” Despite his recent beef with Queens native 50 Cent, the crowd of New Yorkers surprisingly embraced The Boss.

The man of the hour, Rakim aka The God MC, didn’t hit the stage until about 11:30 p.m., but fans weren’t left disappointed. He covered all the basics, performing classic tracks like “When I Be on the Mic,” “I Ain’t No Joke,” and “Holy Are You” off his first full album in a decade.

–Bilal Morris

Photos by Cassidy “Sparrow” Maldonado for staging-rapup.kinsta.cloud

TRENDING

Metro Boomin Addresses Speculation About Drake And Future's Alleged Beef: "Stop Making Stuff Up"

Metro Boomin told fans to “stop making stuff up for engagement” without clarifying whether he ...
03.25.2024

Drake Seemingly Trolls Nav After Realizing He Unfollowed Him On Instagram

Nav seemingly unfollowed Drake after the release of Metro Boomin and Future’s new album. Drake ...
03.24.2024

New Photos Of Drake Go Viral Following Kendrick Lamar's Verse On "Like That"

Social media fans claim that Drake looks stressed following the release of Kendrick Lamar’s new ...
03.23.2024

Social Media Reacts To Future Name-Dropping Megan Thee Stallion On "Type S**t"

Social media is debating whether Future’s “Take down Meg Thee Stallions by the group” lyric ...
03.22.2024
View More

Sponsored Stories