Rakim is a great story teller on record, and in person. In an exclusive interview on the sold out Rock The Bells Cruise, Ra recounted the story behind his lines on "Remember That" from 1997's The 18th Letter. In the song he described "a crazy concert" with Kool DJ Red Alert at New York's infamous Union Square, and on the cruise he explained exactly what went down.

"It was a show at this spot called Union Square," he explained. "It was hectic. There was a fight before me and Eric B got there, and we arrived separately. Eric got there and they wouldn't let him in, and I came all the way from Long Island. The cops had the spot barricaded, and I watched from across the street. I went and jumped the barricade and fell into the door, and they thought the police were bangin' at the door."

Ra then explained that the he was about to be denied entry until the promoter noticed him, and he was allowed to enter. "They were tearin' Union Square up, and Eric B. couldn't get in. I got in and they took me to the stage and I was lookin' around for the DJ's, I see Red Alert, and I told him that I needed him to throw the joints on, and he said, I got you! We killed that shit man!"