Synopsis

Rakim delivers a focused, performance-driven statement of lyrical authority in "When I B On Tha Mic." The video places him at the center of a street-level hip-hop setting, surrounded by fellow artists, neighborhood scenes, and a crowd that reinforces the song's communal energy. Rakim handles the verses with calm control while the visual keeps returning to his presence, the microphone, and the culture that shaped him. Appearances by DJ Premier, DJ Clark Kent, Busta Rhymes, and Fredro Starr underline the track's all-star hip-hop atmosphere.

Factoids & Trivia

• "When I B On Tha Mic" was released in 1999 as the lead single from Rakim's second solo album, "The Master."

• The track was produced by DJ Premier, whose hard, sample-heavy production gives Rakim a stark backdrop for his intricate rhyme patterns.

• DJ Premier appears in the video alongside DJ Clark Kent, Busta Rhymes, and Fredro Starr.

• The video was released in the United States in December 1999 and runs for approximately four minutes.

• "The Master" arrived on November 30, 1999, making the video part of Rakim's return to the spotlight near the end of the decade.

• The single reached No. 20 on the Hot Rap Singles chart and No. 53 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.