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Sweat the Technique
- Revelations on Creativity from the Lyrical Genius
- Narrated by: Rakim
- Length: 6 hrs and 17 mins
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Publisher's 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.
What listeners say about Sweat the Technique
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- Anonymous User
- 07-10-2019
God mc
Usually I don't have the attention span to finish a book but this was different. Best part is it's Rakim narating it
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- Duality360
- 18-06-2020
Rakim Allah! The Master Orator
As a long time fan and Hip-Hop historian, I was geeked up to find that Rakim handled the voiceover in his own words. As a Music Producer, I was even more excited to find out exactly where the breakdown happened with his unfinished Dr. Dre collaboration.
For what it's worth Rakim, 3 years was unreasonable in my opinion. This Audiobook gets all the stars.
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