Rakim is undeniably one of the best MCs to ever pick up a mic. So imagine being the son of a Hip Hop legend who’s also pursuing a career in the same space; the pressure is undoubtedly intense. But 22-year-old Tahmell Griffin is determined to make his mark — comparisons be damned.
On Friday (July 31), Griffin unveiled his debut studio album Home, a modest 10-track, 35-minute offering intended to showcase his familial ties. He’s beyond appreciative to have the chance to learn from his famous father — but Rakim didn’t exactly hold his hand.
“Growing up with my dad, I was able to always ask questions and pick his brain about his thoughts on what was going on,” Griffin tells HipHopDX. “Then I also had the privilege of opening up during sold-out shows when him and Eric B got back together and experience different lifestyles. My dad is a huge influence to me and he is the bar of where I want to be.
“Now that I’m older, I understand I had the cheat sheet and still do. My dad always give me advice. He also lets me fly too. He lets me make my own mistakes then explain later on why it failed.”
Griffin admits he’s often asked what it’s like having Rakim as a father but for him, that’s a difficult question to answer.
“Honestly, all I can say is it’s like having my dad there for me all the time,” he adds. “He’s not Rakim to me, he’s dad. I can’t explain what that’s like because all I know is my dad was there for me and always supports me. I’m grateful my dad raised me with tough love. He was getting me ready for the rest of my life.”
As Griffin spits on “Bubble,” Hip Hop is his “calling” and he’s ready for the challenge — he just happened to get a head start. Growing up in Long Island, he was exposed to Big Daddy Kane, Busta Rhymes, DJ Premier and Nas early on, giving wings to his potential.
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While speaking at SITE Santa Fe in March, Rakim told Chuck D about his upbringing, and some of the things he said about his father sounds eerily similar to how Griffin grew up.
“I used to go hard with working out for quarterback to reach the next level,” he recalled. “I remember before the season started, like two or three weeks out, I would start running to the high school. You want everybody to see you running down the street, you feel important, like, ‘There goes Ra getting ready for the season.’ I remember getting my little workout on. I remember coming home and Pops would be in the kitchen. I’d be like, ‘Ah, I was just working out Dad.’ He’d say, ‘Did you run backwards?’
“Pops would give me half the story all the time. It was always trivia. I was trying to think of the answer first, because I didn’t want to sound dumb. ‘Nah, Dad, I didn’t.’ ‘Well, you a quarterback right? After you take the snap, how you gonna get back?’ Oooh, OK. So I became one of the illest straight dropback quarterbacks in the game. In the first year after my Pops said that to me, I didn’t get sacked the whole year.”
Armed with the knowledge from his father, Griffin is firmly focused on what looks like a promising future.
Check out Home below.
Decent job
Production and hooks are really bad. He’s got nothing interesting to say.
Didn’t want to be the first to say it lol
Why wouldn’t you say it …. yep … Rakim is a legend … so what lol … he’s a musician not a scientist lol … his kid blows … talk about boring
Post the link to your album lol this shit knocks. Internet gangsters lmao.
Who do you listen to ? Thats not boring ??
Productions and hooks are really bad? We listening to the same album?
Dopeness ?
Hot fiiiire
Everyone on here hating. Definitely scared to come around the town. Facts. This album is fireeeeeeee
You vats is bugging the duck out this album is ????????
My mans is coming from the soil don’t for get
Listen to it again my g an this time listen ?
From a sc nigga the hooks are dope The delivery is fire the approach fired bars fire breakdowns fire all the tracks that’s there on the HOME album #DOPE who ever didn’t like it is Hating just like that (Wallo voice)
An that’s coming from ty aka backwoodz aka fuck ya baby moms last night ?
You cats are bugging the fuck out the album is ??????????
You Guys on Here saying he is garbage have 1 no lyrics and 2 probably listen to 69 and say he has bars !!
The kid’s not bad. He’s got a good voice, nice flow, and some decent rhymes. It’s also refreshing to see that he’s not doing that corny teenager rap that these kids are up on.
All gas, no brakes… #heaintnojoke
The Kid went in on this album! What y’all wanted some mumble rap b.s?? Y’all got people in the game doing that already! Oh is it y’all minds can’t catch the schemes cuz it’s not pills and guns?? Y’all crazy Tah keep doing ya thing family first all day every day and can’t none of u haters do better and I got a stack on that.
He’s talented. Sucks that he’ll always be compared to an Undeniable Legend in his father. Keep it up young man! We need a resurgence of Lyricism. Not hating on the newer generation but I personally like good rhymes and concepts. The turn up era has it’s purpose. Keep rockin youngins. Balance is needed.
Give the kid a break… I wouldn’t say this is amazing but it’s decent for a first effort and the kid has plenty of room for future growth, I will be keeping a close eye on his progress out of respect for the God MC himself
oh come on this is trash
How u figure?? Wat makes it trash??
The track that did it for me is (I Rap 2)
on that track you can tell that’s Rakim’s DNA right there!!
wish it was more like that on the album…nice effort Tah keep it up
cant wait to hear Jabar’s debut…..
Peace
I totally agree 100%!! You got to be tru ol skool to know that
No one cant say this young God dont have lyrics or creativity. Its his music !! All produced my this guy!! Who else do that ???? you must like that BS non lyrical music ???
???This young mind will only progress with time and he doesn’t even have a lable behind him ?? Damn imagine making a whole album on your own !! Mixing and Mastering your own music ???????
Keep going.
Nigga stop pretending to be me using my name to sell your weak ass music. Cease and desist order incoming!
Nahh. Keep trying
The fuck yall trippin on this album is better than 95% of shit out nowadays.
Keep droppin that music Tahmell only the skys the limit when you stay focused and committed to the craft.
This is an excellent debut!