Rakim Allah

It's the House of Blues, Sunset Strip, Los Angeles on a Friday night and it can only be one thing: Rakim Allah, one of the foremost lyrists in rap. Ever!

Ah man, Jase got us tix at the last minute so finally I was gonna see Rakim! I was excited. As we waited to get our wristbands in the 'Industry' guest list line an entourage turns up. And Rakim himself walks by...for a moment he looks up and I just stare at him and just nod, knowingly. He was dressed like a boxer going into the ring with a towel over his head and a cap on. Best of all, I managed to catch a few shots of him getting the security frisk outside before the HoB.



The gig was your traditional DJ and MC set up with Kid Capri in the house. Oh, and for a special guest...the one and only KRS One. Arrgghhh! What a billing: Rakim and KRS One? OMG! KRS let off some freestyle lyrics, Rakim played his new joint. It was awesome people. Check out the photo above which features Kool Herc...I didn't know he was in the house!



Oh...YouTube came thru: Check this MTV freestyle featuring Rakim and KRS! Word!



Check out the Paid In Full album cover. That era of Dapper Dan's ghetto couture was really something. I was in Harlem in '90 trying to get myself a Dapper Dan custom suit, but no one would serve me. I went twice, but no one wanted to serve an Asian I think. So F*&k them...I got my own one made without their help. Check out my LV custom baseball jacket.



I designed it and got it tailored in '91. Word! And over a decade before LV got their 'ready-to-wear' sports casual range together. The street has had such a profound affect on couture and designer fashion. Just look around...

May be Rapnews.co.uk said it best: "Wearing designs by Dapper Dan made you feel hood rich." No one at Louis Vuitton will ever understand that!