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  • Sweat the Technique

  • Revelations on Creativity from the Lyrical Genius
  • By: Rakim
  • Narrated by: Rakim
  • Length: 6 hrs and 17 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (108 ratings)
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Sweat the Technique

By: Rakim
Narrated by: Rakim
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Summary

The musician and hip-hop legend - hailed as “the greatest MC of all time” and compared to Thelonious Monk - reimagines the writing handbook in this memoir and guide that incorporates the soulful genius, confidence, and creativity of a master artist.

When he exploded on the music scene, musical genius Rakim was hailed for his brilliant artistic style, adding layers, complexity, depth, musicality, and soul to rap. More than anyone, Rakim has changed the way MCs rhyme. Calm on the mic, his words combine in a frenzy of sound, using complicated patterns based on multisyllabic rhymes and internal rhythms. Rakim can tell a story about a down-on-his-luck man looking for a job and turn it into an epic tale and an unforgettable rhyme. He is not just a great songwriter - he’s a great modern writer. 

Part memoir, part writing guide, Sweat the Technique offers insight into how Rakim thinks about words, music, writing, and rhyming as it teaches writers of all levels how to hone their craft. It is also a rare glimpse into Rakim’s private life, full of entertaining personal stories from his youth on Long Island growing up in a home and community filled with musicians to the clubs of New York and the studios of Los Angeles during his rise to the top of popular music. Rakim celebrates the influences that shaped his development, including the jazz music of John Coltrane and the spirituality of the streets, and shares anecdotes spotlighting personalities such as LL Cool J and Dr. Dre, among others.

Filled with valuable lessons for every writer, Sweat the Technique reveals the heart and mind of an artist and his love for great storytelling and, always, the words. 

©2019 Rakim (P)2019 HarperCollins Publishers

What listeners say about Sweat the Technique

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SUPREME

This is HIPHOP,
This is Real.
History of RAKIM and HipHop
Gets person and real.. he gives us deep insight in why William Michael Griffin is RAKIM.
yea he NICE

also makes :( at the current state of hiphop

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Man is not God my brother

Overall I loved the music parts. I love my generation of REAL Mc’s talking about their craft and how difficult it was to get your music heard etc. #Classichistory

What I didn’t like is the following
The way this man quoted scripture was very out of context you can’t manipulate scripture to fit the narrative you want it to fit that’s not how it works. The Bible makes it very clear who God is..

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Absolutely incredible

I am so glad that Rakim read this himself. Great content and throughly engaging book.

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2 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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love rakims music

loved it will listen meany more times
listen to it in 3 days ☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️ ☺️

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Well Worth Waiting 4 30 years ago

Well Worth Waiting 4 30years 2 find out how y n wat inspired Rakim .

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1 person found this helpful

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Excellent

An artist I knew but who I knew nothing about. A very interesting and engaging listen.

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Sweat The Technique review

A must read from Hip Hop's supreme lyricist, Rakim. Its a fantastic and historical journey.

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Hip Hop Legend and Rap Master

Really interesting listen to Rakims creative process and writing style. Some really inspirational themes about life, knowledge and humanity

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Insightful and grounded

Wonderfully communicated throughout. I’m always a fan of the writer to speak their audio book. What makes it greater is it’s communicated by the legend himself!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

great to hear Rakim reflect

Really enjoyed hearing his reflections on the golden era of hip hop… and appreciate his honesty and emphasis on integrity,consciousness and spirituality…hoping he returns with new music soon…

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