Rakim's long-awaited "The Seventh Seal"

Hip-Hop pioneer Rakim's long-awaited The Seventh Seal album will finally be released this fall and drop under the rapper's own record label.

Rakim recently explained the meaning behind his forthcoming release and how he anticpates gaining the younger generation's attention.
"The seals are from the Bible - Revelations and the coming of the Apocalypse...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...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 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...Every generation wants that real hip-hop. And I've always been able to bring that."