“That’s a classic.”
Rakim is reflecting on the 2025 Grandmaster Hip Hop Awards that took place at the Bellagio in Las Vegas last October, when Parliament-Funkadelic leader George Clinton rapped “Follow the Leader” in front of Rakim, The Geto Boys’ Scarface, Dr. Dre, Babyface, Nas, and a ballroom full of other Hip-Hop luminaries.
To hear Rakim, a bona fide Hip-Hop legend who’s inspired the likes of Eminem, Jay-Z, and Nas, pay tribute to the predecessors who influenced him is a palpable reminder of the power of music.
“That was humbling, man,” he says. “My brother used to play George Clinton. I think he was the first one in our town that knew about Parliament-Funkadelic, and my brother had a big boombox. Every day and every night, he used to play Parliament-Funkadelic, so I grew up listening to him. Then I learned his music and realized what made George so great. To hear him do that, it’s the most humbling and one of the greatest things in my career.”
Rakim was unaware Clinton knew his music that well. But obviously Rakim knew his. In 1988, Eric B & Rakim sampled Funkadelic’s 1975 single “No Head, No Backstage” for “Lyrics of Fury” off the duo’s sophomore album, Follow the Leader. Even Clinton was in awe.
