Eric B & Rakim's 1986 debut, "Eric B. Is President"/"My Melody" caused a paradigm shift in the art of MCing.

Ra's phrasing, cadence and flow would become one of the most influential and imitated in Hip-Hop, eventually earning him status as "God MC." Rakim is consistently placed at the top of greatest MC lists, and his rhymes remain amongst the most analyzed in the game.

Here, we present Rakim's 5 greatest moments. Come witness Rakim live at this year's Rock The Bells Cruise.

1. Soul Train Interview, 1987

Rakim was a mysterious figure since his 1986 debut. He didn't give many interviews early on, and he appeared to be a very serious person even before his 1987 hit, "I Ain't No Joke." When he performed "I Know You Got Soul" on Soul Train in 1987, his interview with the sometimes abrasive host Don Cornelius marked his first on a major platform. As we surmised, Rakim was an extremely serious MC, even replying to Cornelius "I Ain't No Joke," when he was asked why he didn't smile.

2. Pump It Up, 1990

In 1990, Rakim appeared on Pump It Up with host Dee Barnes where he performed a short freestyle cementing his already iconic status. "I don't go on tour, I go to war," he proclaimed as an enthusiastic crowd chanted and cheered.

"Lyrics make me a menace/ when it's in a sentence then it's finished/ more pure than raw, much more above the law/ I don't go on tour I go to war, stompin' comp performance that flaunt a similar style Raps attack 91 rap exile/ cause every word I said'll be deadly/ an MC murderer science is steadily/ giving me new ways and methods/ melodies and medleys, weapons for records."

3. "Friends" with Jody Watley, 1989

It was a breath of fresh air to witness the seemingly reclusive and private Rakim appear on a song with an artist of Jody Watley's stature. Because of its prime time radio and video airplay, "Friends" introduced Rakim to a wider audience, that did not necessarily listen to Rap music, while serving his loyal fanbase with another classic verse. "Friends" peaked at #3 on Billboard Black Singles and # 9 on the Hot 100.

4. "Mahogany", 1991

"Mahogany" appeared on Eric B. & Rakim's third album album Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em. The tale of Rakim "finessing" Mahogany was the closest that he had come to making a "love song" at the time. The tale set to a classic Al Green sample is a highlight on Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em, and it set the tone for later romantic songs like, "What's On Your Mind" from Don't Sweat The Technique.

5. "I Ain't No Joke" Video, 1987

The video for "I Ain't No Joke" is historic for a few reasons. It's Rakim's first video and the first time that most of his fanbase was able to see him in action. It also contained appearances from Public Enemy's Flavor Flav, who was just beginning to experience a surge in popularity due to a few award show appearances, live performances and P.E.'s debut album, Yo! Bum Rush The Show. Ra's fanbase would witness the elusive MC's mannerisms, and even a small dance step or two.