Rakim Net Worth

Net Worth	$ 2,000,000
Real name	Willis Michael Griffin Jr.
Source of Wealth	Rapping, Producing
Profession	Rapper, Producer, Songwriter
Spouse/Partner	Felicia Griffin
Date of Birth	Jan 28, 1968
Zodiac	Aquarius
Age	55
Gender	Male
Height	167 cm / 5 ft 5 inch
Nationality	American

Biography

Rakim is an American rapper, most famous for being part of the hip-hop group Eric B. & Rakim. They were a crucial part of the scene during the late ‘80s and ‘90s.

As of 2022, Rakim’s net worth is estimated at $2 million.

Early life

Rakim is part of the R&B singer Ruth Brown’s family. He was raised in a family of musicians, and wrote his first rhymes at the age of seven, writing about the cartoon character Mickey Mouse.^[1]

While he was still in high school, Rakim was a part of the football team and wanted to pursue a career in that area. However, during his studies, he was introduced to DJ Eric B., and soon enough, they started working together in an attempt to make a name for themselves in the music industry.

In addition, when Rakim was 16, he decided to convert to Islam and changed his name to Rakim Allah.

A post shared by RAKIM (@thegodrakim)

Career

In 1986, Rakim & Eric B. released their debut single - “Eric B. Is President,” by the end of the year, the duo became the talk of the town and the hip-hop community. As a result, the Def Jam founder, Russell Simmons, signed them to Island Records.

In the meantime, their all-time classics “Paid In Full” and “I Ain’t No Joke” were well-accepted by the crowds, helping the duo to build a reputation. “Paid In Full” reached No. 58 on the Billboard 200.

In 1988, the duo released “Follow the Leader,” which reached No. 22 on Billboard’s Pop Albums chart. The album was certified gold and sold over 500,000 copies.

Two years later, in 1990, Rakim & Eric B. released their third album - “Let the Rhythm Hit ‘Em,” which was selected as ‘The Source’s’ 100 Best Rap Albums.

In 1992, Eric B & Rakim released their fourth, and unfortunately, the final album, “Don’t Sweat the Technique.” Soon after, Eric B. wouldn’t sign MCA’S contract, due to fear that Rakim would drop out of the duo. As a result, they went to court, for a long, weary trial. By the end of the trial, the duo dissolved.

In 1993, reshuffling occurred in MCA, which caused the label to drop Rakim completely. He got signed to Universal Records, and released his first solo debut album in 1996, “The 18th Letter.” The album was a huge success, reaching No. 4 on the Billboard 200, followed by being certified gold.

In 1999, he released “The Master,” which was followed by good criticism, but didn’t sell as well as expected.

In 2000, Rakim got signed to Dr. Dre’s Aftermath Entertainment, but many changes occurred while he was recording “Oh, My God.” The album was postponed indefinitely, and in 2003, Rakim left the label.

He didn’t release a new album from 1999 until 2008, when he ultimately released “The Archive: Live, Lost & Found”. He announced a new album in 2006, called “The Seventh Seal”, but the album didn’t get released until 2009. However, the album sold only 12,000 copies, since Rakim’s pause from releasing new music for more than ten years.

In the following years, Rakim appeared as a featured guest for several artists, such as DMX, Linkin Park, and A Tribe Called Quest’s member - Ali Shaheed Muhammad.

In 2016, Eric B. & Rakim reunited after 23 years and planned a tour through some of the biggest venues in NY, Las Vegas, London, and Australia.

🎤 Read about another rapper's story: Yung Joc.

Personal life and controversies

Rakim is married to his wife, Felicia, and they have three children - Destiny Griffin, Jabar Griffin, and Tahmell Griffin. The rapper has another son with Nicole Smith, whom he dated before he met his wife. They had a short affair, resulting in them having a son.

Reportedly, in 2004, the rapper was arrested on multiple occasions due to failing to pay child support. Nicole made an appearance on an MTV show, claiming Rakim was over $25,000 behind in child-support payments and had not been in contact with their son for over five years.

Hence, Rakim stated that he was falsely arrested multiple times for the same allegations, but claimed he didn’t know he had a son until the first time he was arrested for these charges. In addition, he claimed he didn’t know there were any warrants released for his arrest.^[2]

A post shared by RAKIM (@thegodrakim)

Conclusion

Rakim is an American rapper, famous for being a part of the world-renowned duo Eric B. & Rakim.

They were active during the ‘80s and ‘90s, which was when they were most famous.

The rapper’s net worth as of 2022 is estimated at $2 million.

References