Rakim Albums: The Complete Discography Guide From Paid in Full to REB7RTH

Rakim albums span nearly four decades of hip-hop innovation, from his genre-defining work with Eric B. in the late 1980s to his 2024 independent comeback. Across nine studio projects — four as a duo and five solo — Rakim built a discography that fundamentally changed how MCs approach the microphone. His albums introduced internal rhyme schemes, multi-syllabic flows, and a cool intensity that influenced every rapper who came after him.

From the revolutionary Paid in Full to the long-awaited G.O.D.’s Network (REB7RTH), here’s the complete guide to every Rakim album — with chart positions, critical reception, and the stories behind each record.

Total Studio Albums	9 (4 duo + 5 solo)
Duo Albums (Eric B. & Rakim)	Paid in Full, Follow the Leader, Let the Rhythm Hit ‘Em, Don’t Sweat the Technique
Solo Albums	The 18th Letter, The Master, The Seventh Seal, G.O.D.’s Network (REB7RTH), The Re-Up
RIAA Certifications	4 Gold (3 duo + 1 solo)
Highest Chart Position	#1 R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (The 18th Letter, 1997)
Career Span	1987–present
Labels	4th & B’way, MCA, Universal, Aftermath, Ra Records

The Eric B. & Rakim Albums (1987–1992)

The Eric B. & Rakim partnership produced four albums between 1987 and 1992, each one pushing hip-hop’s technical boundaries further. Eric B. handled the turntables and production while Rakim delivered lyrics that rewrote the rules of MCing. Their catalog reads like a textbook on how to evolve as artists without losing what made you great.

Paid in Full (1987)

Their debut album landed like a grenade in hip-hop. Paid in Full peaked at #58 on the Billboard 200 and #8 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, eventually earning RIAA Gold certification. But the chart numbers barely hint at its impact. Rakim’s internal rhyme patterns on tracks like “My Melody” and “I Know You Got Soul” made every other MC sound outdated overnight. The album’s AllMusic 5-star rating reflects its status as one of hip-hop’s most important debuts. If you want to hear these tracks in context, check out our guide to Eric B. and Rakim songs.

Follow the Leader (1988)

Just one year later, the duo leveled up. Follow the Leader climbed to #22 on the Billboard 200 and #7 on the R&B chart, going Gold. Pitchfork gave it an 8.5/10, and the title track’s opening bars — “Follow me into a solo / Get in the flow” — became one of hip-hop’s most quoted verses. The production shifted from sample-heavy funk to more layered arrangements, proving Eric B. could grow alongside Rakim’s increasingly complex rhyme schemes.

Let the Rhythm Hit ‘Em (1990)

This album earned The Source magazine’s coveted 5-mic rating — an honor shared by fewer than 50 albums in hip-hop history. It reached #32 on the Billboard 200, #10 R&B, and went Gold. What makes it special is the production: much of the album was crafted by Paul C., a brilliant producer who was murdered during the recording sessions in 1989. Large Professor stepped in to help complete the work. The result is arguably the duo’s most sonically ambitious project, with tracks like “In the Ghetto” showing Rakim’s growing social consciousness.

Don’t Sweat the Technique (1992)

The final duo album matched Follow the Leader’s #22 Billboard peak while hitting #9 on the R&B chart. Robert Christgau gave it an A− in The Village Voice, and Rolling Stone awarded 4 out of 5 stars. “Know the Ledge” from the Juice soundtrack became one of their most recognizable tracks. But behind the scenes, the partnership was fracturing — financial disputes and creative tensions would end Eric B. & Rakim’s run permanently.

Rakim Solo Albums — The 18th Letter to The Seventh Seal

After the Eric B. & Rakim split, Rakim went quiet for five years. When he returned, he proved he didn’t need his DJ to make a statement. His solo Rakim albums show an artist navigating hip-hop’s rapid evolution while staying true to the lyrical precision that defined him.

The 18th Letter (1997)

Rakim’s solo debut is one of the most successful comeback albums in hip-hop history. The 18th Letter debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200 and hit #1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It moved roughly 500,000 copies in its first week — massive numbers for 1997. Produced by DJ Premier, Pete Rock, Clark Kent, and Father Shaheed, the album proved that Rakim’s lyrical approach wasn’t just nostalgic — it was timeless. “Guess Who’s Back” and “It’s Been a Long Time” announced his return with the quiet confidence fans expected.

The Master (1999)

Released on Aftermath Entertainment (Dr. Dre’s label), The Master reached #72 on the Billboard 200 and #7 on the R&B chart. Reviews were mixed — AllMusic gave it 4.5 stars while The Village Voice was less enthusiastic. The album featured production from Dre, DJ Premier, and DJ Quik, plus a guest verse from Jay-Z on “The Watcher.” Some of the best Rakim songs from this era show him adapting to late-’90s production trends while keeping his lyrical DNA intact.

The Seventh Seal (2009)

After a decade away, Rakim returned with The Seventh Seal, which reached #67 on the Billboard 200 and #9 on the R&B chart. It moved about 12,000 copies in its first week — a reflection of how much the industry had changed rather than the album’s quality. Time Out gave it 4 out of 5 stars. The album showed Rakim grappling with a hip-hop landscape that had shifted dramatically from the boom-bap era he helped create.

The Lost Aftermath Album — Oh My God

Between The Master and The Seventh Seal, there’s a ghost album that haunts Rakim’s discography. After signing with Aftermath Entertainment, Rakim and Dr. Dre reportedly recorded a full album tentatively titled Oh My God. According to Rakim, the project was largely complete but was shelved when he parted ways with Aftermath around 2003.

Several tracks leaked over the years, giving fans a tantalizing glimpse of what could have been one of the most significant Rakim albums ever released. A Rakim-Dre collaboration with full Aftermath production resources? That’s one of hip-hop’s great “what ifs.” The album has never been officially released, and it remains unclear whether it ever will be.

G.O.D.’s Network (REB7RTH) and The Re-Up — The Late Career Revival

After another 15-year gap, Rakim came back swinging with two projects in quick succession. G.O.D.’s Network (REB7RTH) dropped on July 26, 2024 — a 7-track, 32-minute EP that Rakim produced entirely himself. Featuring guest appearances from Kurupt, Masta Killa, and B.G., it signaled that the God MC wasn’t done yet.

Then came The Re-Up on August 29, 2025, a collaboration with producer Big Ghost Ltd. The 8-track project paired Rakim’s veteran lyricism with grimy, sample-based production that felt like a spiritual return to his golden age sound. Together, these two records represent the strongest creative stretch from Rakim since The 18th Letter era.

All Rakim Albums Ranked

Ranking all Rakim albums is a subjective exercise, but using a combination of critical reception, cultural impact, chart performance, and historical significance, here’s how the discography stacks up:

1	Paid in Full (1987)	The album that changed hip-hop forever. AllMusic 5/5, RIAA Gold.
2	Follow the Leader (1988)	The evolution. Pitchfork 8.5/10, Billboard #22, RIAA Gold.
3	The 18th Letter (1997)	The comeback. #1 R&B, 500K first week, RIAA Gold.
4	Let the Rhythm Hit ‘Em (1990)	The Source 5-mic classic. Paul C.’s tragic masterpiece. RIAA Gold.
5	Don’t Sweat the Technique (1992)	The underrated farewell. Christgau A−, Rolling Stone 4/5.
6	The Re-Up (2025)	The late-career gem. Big Ghost Ltd production, return to form.
7	The Master (1999)	The Aftermath experiment. AllMusic 4.5/5 but divisive.
8	G.O.D.’s Network (REB7RTH) (2024)	The self-produced comeback. 7 tracks of pure independence.
9	The Seventh Seal (2009)	The difficult return. Time Out 4/5 but commercially challenged.

Your mileage may vary — some fans swap Let the Rhythm Hit ‘Em into the top two based on that legendary 5-mic rating, and Don’t Sweat the Technique has a loyal cult following that considers it the duo’s most mature work.

Frequently Asked Questions About Rakim Albums

How many albums does Rakim have?

Rakim has nine studio albums total: four with Eric B. (Paid in Full, Follow the Leader, Let the Rhythm Hit ‘Em, Don’t Sweat the Technique) and five solo (The 18th Letter, The Master, The Seventh Seal, G.O.D.’s Network (REB7RTH), The Re-Up).

What is Rakim’s best-selling album?

The 18th Letter (1997) is Rakim’s highest-charting release, debuting at #4 on the Billboard 200 and #1 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It sold approximately 500,000 copies in its first week.

What happened to Rakim’s album with Dr. Dre?

Rakim recorded a largely complete album called Oh My God while signed to Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment around 2000–2003. The album was shelved when Rakim left the label, and it has never been officially released. Several tracks have leaked online.

Did Eric B. and Rakim make any albums after they reunited?

No. While Eric B. & Rakim have reunited for live performances, they have not recorded a new studio album together since Don’t Sweat the Technique in 1992.

Are any Rakim albums certified platinum?

No. Four Rakim albums have achieved RIAA Gold certification (500,000+ copies): Paid in Full, Follow the Leader, Let the Rhythm Hit ‘Em, and The 18th Letter. None have been certified Platinum (1 million copies), though Paid in Full’s actual sales likely exceed that threshold when accounting for its long sales history.

What was Rakim’s last album?

Rakim’s most recent release is The Re-Up (August 2025), an 8-track collaboration with producer Big Ghost Ltd. Before that, he released G.O.D.’s Network (REB7RTH) in July 2024.

From the sample-heavy boom-bap of Paid in Full to the self-produced independence of G.O.D.’s Network, Rakim albums document the evolution of hip-hop’s greatest lyricist across four decades. The God MC never chased trends, never dumbed down his bars, and never stopped proving why he earned that title. Whether you’re discovering these records for the first time or revisiting them for the hundredth, the depth rewards every listen.