Rakim to Receive BET's 'I AM HIP HOP ICON' Award

Rakim's intricately intellectual lyrics draw their force from his worldly experience, inner faith and progressive contemplation. His liquid and seemingly effortless delivery – often imitated but still unrivaled – from a fire fueled by a deep understanding of not just Hip-Hop, but also the Jazz and R&B influences that have surrounded his family since his youth. His recordings – including the all-time cla#sics Paid In Full, Follow the Leader and The 18th Letter - have sold in the multi-millions worldwide. Billboard, Rolling Stone, MTV and a host of others consistently refer to Paid in Full as "the greatest Hip-Hop album of all time" – a claim that often repeated in audience polls. In the history of the Hip-Hop, few artists have had as great an impact on the development and progression of the art forms lyrical style as Rakim Allah.

Previous "I AM HIP HOP ICON" recipients include Grandmaster Flash (2006); KRS-One (2007); Russell Simmons (2008); Ice Cube (2009); Salt N Pepa (2010) and LL Cool J (2011).

Maybach Music's Rick Ross (Def Jam), and Meek Mill (Warner Bros. Records); G.O.O.D. Music's 2 Chainz (Def Jam); and Taylor Gang's Wiz Khalifa (Atlantic) are the first artists confirmed to perform on this year's BET HIP HOP AWARDS.