New York, NY (Top40 Charts/ SMC Recordings) - SMC Recordings (PINKSHEETS: SMCE) announced today it is releasing a brand new album by gold and platinum recording artist, Rakim Allah. The album titled "The Seventh Seal" is slated for release on November 17, 2009 through a joint venture between SMC and the artist's imprint Ra Records. It will be distributed through Fontana Distribution, Universal
Music Group's independent distribution arm in the United States, and worldwide through SMC's established partnerships. In making the announcement, Ralph Tashjian, co-founder and CEO for SMC, states, "This is the biggest project in SMC's history. Not only are we releasing a historic record by an iconic artist, we are also opening doors for SMC's worldwide expansion."
"I am very excited to be working with SMC and Rakim," said Ron Spaulding, Executive Vice President and General Manager for Fontana Distribution, Universal Music Group's independent distribution arm. "This is one of the most anticipated releases in hip-hop... Fontana's entire team is excited and engaged in making history with SMC and Rakim!"
Since the release of the album's first single "Holy Are You," anticipation from critics and fans alike has been growing. USA Today states, "The God MC previews his long-awaited 'The Seventh Seal' with a lyrically adept reminder of how he earned the name," with Billboard proclaiming, "Rakim is in top form, richly merging self-mythologizing reflections on his legacy with religious imagery."
The album boasts guest appearances by rap superstars Busta Rhymes and Jadakiss as well as a very special appearance by Destiny Griffin, Rakim's own daughter. He has also enlisted a cluster of production talent including Needlz, Nottz, Jake One and more on the album's well-rounded tracks.
"It's just surreal," says SMC A&R Will Bronson, of naming Rakim among SMC's artists/partners. "He is the quintessential emcee and it speaks volumes for what we've created, for him to choose to partner with us on this album."
Rakim first exploded onto the scene in the late 1980s as a member of Eric B. and Rakim. Their first album, "Paid in Full" has sold over one million units and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Billboard, Rolling Stone, MTV and a host of others consistently refer to "Paid in Full" as "the greatest Hip-Hop album of all time."
Rakim ventured out on his own in 1997 and released the highly anticipated "The 18th Letter." Well-received by the media and fans, "The 18th Letter" took Rakim to new heights, proving his staying power as a solo artist. The album was certified gold and reached No 1 on Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop and No 4 on the Top 200 charts. Now the long awaited new Rakim release titled "The Seventh Seal" is slated for release this month.
