The 18th Letter is the debut solo album of American emcee Rakim, released November 4, 1997, on Universal Records in the United States. The album features production by DJ Clark Kent, Pete Rock, Father Shaheed, Nick Wiz and DJ Premier. It contains lyrical themes that concern hip-hop's golden age, Rakim's rapping prowess, and the state of hip-hop. It is his first release of new material, following a five-year hiatus after Don't Sweat the Technique as duo Eric B. & Rakim. The album's title refers to the letter "R" being the eighteenth letter of the English alphabet. A deluxe version of Read more on Last.fm.
