Rakim Loses His Cool Amid Thrown Bottles At Gathering Of The Juggalos Festival
Rakim is renowned for his calm demeanor on and off the mic, but the rap legend got a bit riled up after unruly fans tossed bottles in his direction during a recent performance.
The New York native was in Thornting, Oh., earlier this month for the Insane Clown Posse’s annual Gathering of the Juggalos celebration, which he was booked to perform at for the event’s 24th edition.
During his set, Rakim chided a segment of attendees in the crowd for throwing bottles toward the stage, going as far as to pause his performance to address the culprits. “Chill with the muthaf**king bottles, man,” the 56-year-old said, expressing his agitation over the seeming show of disrespect.
In a show of goodwill, he then turned his attention to the other concertgoers, shouting, “For everybody that came to have a good time, make some noise,” receiving a paltry response in return.
Rakim continued, hinting that he’d be forced to end his performance prematurely if any other objects were hurled in his direction moving forward. “‘Cause, you know, I’m not tryna get hit with no f**king bottle, man,” he said. “I love y’all, but I don’t wanna walk off stage while we having a good time, you know what I mean?”
The rapper then launched into a performance of his 1998 single, “It’s Been a Long Time,” one of several classics from his catalog in what was otherwise billed as a ceremonial set by the festival’s organizers, who dubbed Rakim a “myth” and a “legend” during the leadup to the event.
“Juggalos, let us bow our heads one time before nodding them in honor of one of the greatest to ever grace a microphone,” read a press release announcing his addition to the festival lineup. “We’re talking about the godfather of flow himself: The one and only Rakim! A more-than-worthy edition to any stage, Rakim is as much an ecosystem in the art of rhyming as he is an influence!”
It continued, “From crafting one half of the all-time classic ‘Paid in Full’ with Eric B to etching an undeniable legacy in East Coast Hip-Hop and music in general, this pioneer cemented the legitimacy of from-pen-to-page-to-booth-to-stage style the same way Michelangelo carved figures in stone! That’s how deep ingrained this man is in the art and culture of it!”
Usually reserved to the shadows, Rakim has stepped back into the spotlight in a big way in recent years, a resurgence that culminated in the release of his new album, G.O.D.s NETWORK – REB7RTH, earlier this summer. Produced entirely by Rakim, the album, his first in more than a decade, is a star-studded affair with features from Nipsey Hussle, DMX, Prodigy, Snoop Dogg, Method Man, Kool G Rap, and more.
See footage of Rakim’s performance at the 24th annnual Gathering of the Juggalos below.
Rakim checks the crowd at Gathering of the Juggalos music festival for throwing bottles and threatens to walk off stage. pic.twitter.com/gqoyJvnCIX
— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) August 26, 2024
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