User:Freshyballer/sandbox

Born in 1988,Rakim Mayers(somali) was named after the Rapper Rakim, one half of the Eric B. & Rakim duo.[2][3]When he was 12 years old, his father went to jail in connection with selling drugs.[2] A year later an older brother was killed near his apartment,which inspired him to take rapping more seriously.[4] Mayers had started rapping at age 8,[5]grew up admiring Harlem-based rap group The Diplomats, and also lists among his influences by Three 6 Mafia,Mobb Deep, Wu-Tang Clan, Run DMC, UGK, and Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.[2][6][7]After living for a period in a shelter with his mother and elsewhere around Manhattan, he moved to Elmwood Park, New Jersey.[2][7]