Lakim Shabazz | |
---|---|
Birth name | Larry Welsh |
Also known as | M.C. La Kim |
Born | Newark, New Jersey, US |
Origin | Newark, New Jersey, US |
Genres | |
Occupation(s) | Rapper |
Labels | Tuff City |
Associated acts | Flavor Unit |
Lakim Shabazz (born Larry Walsh) is a former hip-hop emcee artist who was one of the founding members of the original version of the Flavor Unit crew. His stage name refers to the so-called Lost Tribe of Shabazz, which is based on the teachings of Wallace Fard Muhammad. As an artist signed to Tuff City, Lakim first gained recognition when he provided vocals for the 45 King's '900 Number'. Further collaboration with the 45 King was to follow in the shape of an EP entitled The Red, The Black, The Green. Then later in 1988 the debut album Pure Righteousness was released as an introduction style album with a "the 45 King presents" moniker on the cover sleeve. The debut album was pretty well received and has become an iconic release of the period in Hip Hop where the Islam style of the late 1980s/early 1990s is concerned. Lakim Shabazz has released two albums, recorded for Aaron Fuchs's Tuff City Records, featuring production by The 45 King, and his militant lyrics were predominantly about his love of the Nation of Islam and his dedication to the Nation of Gods and Earths, the latter of which he was a member. After his second album ran its course, he worked with Diamond D briefly and disappeared. He is currently living in New Jersey and makes occasional appearances at Five-Percenter Show and Prove events.
In an interview to AllHipHop, Lakim said: "I came up listening to Cold Crush, Treacherous Three, Jazzy Five. A lot of my influences were, like, Grandmaster Flash, Kool Moe Dee; then later on in life, you had Rakim, Kane".