Tracklist Hide Credits

1	Intro	0:14
2	The 18th Letter (Always And Forever) Producer, Mixed By, Programmed By – Father ShahWritten By – (W. Griffin, S. Phillips)Written-By – S. Phillips*, W. Griffin*	3:00
3	Skit	0:23
4	It's Been A Long Time Written By – (W. Griffin , C. Martin, E. Barrier, J. Brown, C. Bobbit, B. Byrd)Written-By – B. Byrd*, C. Bobbit*, C. Martin*, E. Barrier*, J. Brown*, W. Griffin*	3:56
5	Remember That Written By – (W. Griffin, R. Franklin)Written-By – R. Franklin*, W. Griffin*	4:41
6	The Saga Begins Producer, Mixed By, Programmed By, Piano, Scratches – Pete RockWritten By – (W. Griffin, P. Philips)Written-By – P. Philips*, W. Griffin*	4:22
7	Skit	0:19
8	Guess Who's Back Scratches – DJ Clark Kent*Written By – (W. Griffin ,R. Franklin, H. Shocklee, C.D. Ridenhour, E.T. Sadler, E. Barrier)Written-By – C.D. Ridenhour*, E. Barrier*, T. Sadler*, H. Shocklee*, R. Franklin*, W. Griffin*	4:10
9	Stay A While Vocals [Additional] – NnekaWritten By – (W. Griffin, R. Franklin, S. Nichol, C. McIntosh, J. Sendall-Peters)Written-By – C. McIntosh*, J. Sendall-Peters*, R. Franklin*, S. Nichol*, W. Griffin*	4:25
10	New York (Ya' Out There) Written By – (W. Griffin ,C. Martin, B. Chandler, B. DeVoryn)Written-By – B. DeVoryn*, B. Chandler*, C. Martin*, W. Griffin*	4:03
11	Show Me Love Producer, Mixed By, Programmed By – Nick WizVocals [Additional] – Robyn SmallWritten By – (W. Griffin, N. Loizides, J. Knight)Written-By – J. Knight*, N. Loizides*, W. Griffin*	4:18
12	Skit	0:18
13	The Mystery (Who Is God?) Co-producer – Bill BlassProducer, Mixed By – Naughty ShortsScratches [Cuts] – DJ SondWritten By – (W. Griffin, J. Davis)Written-By – J. Davis*, W. Griffin*	5:20
14	When I'm Flowin' Producer, Mixed By – Pete RockWritten By – (W. Griffin, P. Philips)Written-By – P. Philips*, W. Griffin*	5:04
15	It's Been A Long Time (Suave House Mix) Mixed By – Crazy C, James HooverRemix – Suave*Written By – (W. Griffin, T. Jones)Written-By – T. Jones*, W. Griffin*	3:58
16	Guess Who's Back (Alternative Mix)	4:10
17	Outro	1:19

Companies, etc.

• Produced For – Supermen Productions, Inc.
• Produced For – Works Of Mart, Inc.
• Produced For – Soul Brother Number 1 Productions
• Produced For – Nickel Plate Productions
• Produced For – Fat Max Recording
• Produced For – Last Platoon Ent.
• Phonographic Copyright (p) – Universal Records Inc.
• Copyright (c) – Universal Records Inc.
• Distributed By – BMG
• Manufactured By – Disctronics S
• Recorded At – The Track Factory
• Recorded At – D&D Studios
• Recorded At – Giant Recording Studios
• Recorded At – Carriage House Studios
• Recorded At – Greene St. Recording
• Recorded At – The Hit Factory
• Recorded At – Urban House
• Mixed At – Unique Recording
• Mixed At – D&D Studios
• Mixed At – Greene St. Recording
• Mixed At – Quad Recording Studios
• Mixed At – Sony Music Studios, New York City
• Mixed At – The Hit Factory
• Mixed At – Digital Services
• Mastered At – Masterdisk
• Published By – EMI Blackwood Music Inc.
• Published By – The Eighteenth Letter
• Published By – Fahi Sha Publishing
• Published By – Gifted Pearl
• Published By – EMI April Music
• Published By – Songs Of PolyGram International, Inc.
• Published By – Unichappell Music
• Published By – Clark's True Funk Music
• Published By – Pete Rock Publishing
• Published By – Def American Songs, Inc.
• Published By – MCA Music Publishing
• Published By – EMI Virgin Music
• Published By – Dijon Music Publisher
• Published By – PolyGram Music
• Published By – Rough Beat Music
• Published By – Dakota House Music
• Published By – Joe Davis Music
• Published By – Money-N-The-Pocket
• Designed At – Draw The Line

Credits

• A&R [Coordination] – Charmaine Edwards
• A&R [Director] – Dino Delvaille
• Art Direction – A Getting Worse Production, D. Simmons , Jacqueline Rhinehart*, M. Warlow
• Artwork – Corey Stevens , Jito Maat, Keith Duncan , Makudy
• Artwork [Make-up Artist] – Aleish Pierce
• Design, Layout – Draw The Line
• Executive-Producer – Dino Delvaille, Rakim
• Illustration [Front & Back Illustration] – Garth Gardner
• Liner Notes, Rap [Uncredited] – Rakim
• Mastered By – Tony Dawsey
• Mixed By, Engineer – Dave Kennedy* (tracks: 13), Eddie Sancho (tracks: 4, 10), Kenny Ortiz (tracks: 8, 9), Rod Hui (tracks: 6), Tony Smalios (tracks: 14), Yianni Papadopoulos (tracks: 2, 5, 8, 11)
• Photography By – Adger W. Cowans
• Producer, Mixed By, Programmed By – DJ Clark Kent* (tracks: 5, 8, 9, 16), DJ Premier (tracks: 4, 10, 15)

Notes

℗ & © 1997 Universal Records Inc. All rights reserved.
Distributed by the local BMG company. A unit of BMG Entertainment.
Made in the EU.

Mastered at Masterdisk, N.Y.C.

Issued in a clear tray jewel case with 12-page booklet.

Logos disc : Compact Disc Digital Audio · Universal Records
Logos cover : Universal Records

2: Published by: EMI Blackwood Music Inc. / The Eighteenth Letter Music /BMI, Fahi Sha Publishing/ASCAP
Produced, programmed and mixed for Supermen Productions, Inc. Recorded at Track Factory Studios, L.I.C. Mixed at Unique Recording Studios, N.Y.C.
"The 18th Letter" contains a sample from "Do Your Thing" by Lyn Collins under license from PolyMedia, a division of Polygram Group Distribution, Inc.

4: Published by: EMI Blackwood Music Inc. / The Eighteenth Letter Music /BMI, Gifted Pearl/ EMI April Music/ASCAP, Songs of PolyGram, Intil/BMI, Unichappell Music /BMI
Produced, programmed and mixed for Works of Mart, Inc. Recorded and mixed at D&D Studios, N.Y.C.
"I Know You Got Soul" performed by Eric B. & Rakim courtesy of Island Records, Inc.

5: Published by: EMI Blackwood Music Inc. / The Eighteenth Letter Music /BMI, Clark's True Funk Music/BMI
Produced, programmed and mixed for Supermen Productions, Inc. Recorded at Giant Studios, N.Y.C. Mixed at Unique Recording Studios, N.Y.C.
Contains samples from "Thoughts of old Flames" performed by Pleasure, courtesy of Fantasy, Inc. Contains a sample of "Thoughts of old Flames" written by D. Hepburn & B. Smith, published by 360 Music, INc. Contains elements from "Reminisce" performed by Mary J. Blidge. Used courtesy of MCA Records, Inc., under license from Universal Music Special Markets, Inc. Published by Music Corporation of Americ/Mary J. Blidge Music (ASCAP) WB Music Corp./BMG Music Publishing

6: Published by: EMI Blackwood Music Inc. / The Eighteenth Letter Music /BMI, Pete Rock Publishing/ASCAP
Produced, programmed and mixed for Soul Brother #1 Productions. Recorded at Carriage House Studios, Stamford, CT and Greene Street Studios, N.Y.C. Mixed at Greene Street Studios, N.Y.C.
"Eric B. is President" performed by Eric B. & Rakim, licensed courtesy of Island Records, Inc. Samples "Eric B. Is President" (written by Eric B. & Rakim), published by Songs of PolyGram International, Inc. and Robert Hill Music.

8: Published by: EMI Blackwood Music Inc. / The Eighteenth Letter Music /BMI, Clark's True Funk Music/BMI, Def American Songs, Inc./BMI, Songs of Polygram Int'l/BMI
Produced, programmed, scratches and mixed for Supermen Productions, Inc. Recorded at Track Factory Studios, N.Y.C. Mixed at Sony Music Studios, N.Y.C. and Quad Studios, N.Y.C.
"Bring the Noise" by Public Enemy, courtesy of Def Jam Recordings. Under license from Polymedia, a division of Polygram Group Distribution, Inc. "My Melody" performed by Eric B. & Rakim courtesy of Island Records, Inc.

9: Published by: EMI Blackwood Music Inc. / The Eighteenth Letter Music /BMI, Clark's True Funk Music/BMI, MCA Music Pub./ASCAP, EMI Virgin Music/ASCAP
Produced, programmed and mixed for Supermen Productions, Inc. Recorded at Track Factory Studios, L.I.C. and Hit Factory Studios, N.Y.C. Mixed at Hit Factory Studios and Sony Music Studios, N.Y.C.
Nneka appears courtesy of Island Records. "Stay a little while child" performed by Loose Ends courtesy of Virgin Records, UK.

10: Published by: EMI Blackwood Music Inc. / The Eighteenth Letter Music /BMI, Gifted Pearl/ EMI April Music/ASCAP, Dijon Music Pub./PolyGram Music/BMI
Produced, programmed and mixed for Works of Mart, Inc. Recorded and mixed at D&D Studios, N.Y.C.
"New York (ya out there)" contains a sample from "Down and out in N.Y.C." by James Brown under license from Polymedia, a division of PolyGram Group Distribution, Inc.
"New York (ya out there)" by Rakim contains excerpts from "Wild Style Theme Rap One" performed by Grand Master Cey & Chris Stien courtesy of Charlie Ahearn/Pow Wow Productions

11: Published by: EMI Blackwood Music Inc. / The Eighteenth Letter Music /BMI, Rough Beat Music/ASCAP, Dakota House Music/ASCAP
Produced, programmed and mixed for Nickel Plate Productions. Recorded at Track Factory Studios, L.I.C. Mixed at Sony Music Studios, N.Y.C.
Contains a sample of "Understanding" written by Hubert Eaves, used courtesy of Huemar Music, Inc.

13: Published by: EMI Blackwood Music Inc. / The Eighteenth Letter Music /BMI, Joe Davis Music/BMI
Produced for Fat Max Recording/Last PLatoon Ent. Co-produced for Last Platoon Ent. Recorded at Track Factory Studios, L.I.C. Mixed @ Sony Studios, NY
"Good Morning Heartache" performed by Charles McPherson written by E.Drake, D.Fisher & I. Higgin Botham, used courtesy of Main Stream Records/Sony Tunes Inc./Linda bet Music Group

14: Published by: EMI Blackwood Music Inc. / The Eighteenth Letter Music /BMI, Pete Rock Publishing/ASCAP
Produced, programmed and mixed for Soul Brother #1 Productions. Recorded at Carriage House Studios, Stamford, CT and Greene Street Studios, N.Y.C. Mixed at Greene Street Studios, N.Y.C.
Contains portion of "A Time For Love" /Webster/Mandell/Witmark & Sons/Warner Chappell Music Inc.) Used by permission. All rights reserved.

15: Published by: EMI Blackwood Music Inc. / The Eighteenth Letter Music /BMI, Money-N-The Pocket/ASCAP
All cuts & scratches courtesy of Def Jam Blasta. Recorded at Urban House Studios, a division of Suave House, Inc., Houston, TX. Mixed at Digital Services, Houston, TX.

Barcode and Other Identifiers

• Barcode (Text): 6 01215 31132 7
• Barcode (String): 601215311327
• Label Code: LC 1846
• Matrix / Runout: DISCTRONICS S UND 53113 02
• Mastering SID Code: IFPI L501
• Mould SID Code: IFPI 8706
• Distribution Code (F:): UN540
• Rights Society: BIEM / GEMA
• Rights Society: BMI
• Rights Society: ASCAP

Other versions

Category	Artist	Title (Format)	Label	Category	Country	Year
UD-53113	Rakim	The 18th Letter ‎(CD, Album)	Universal Records	UD-53113	US	1997
U2-53113	Rakim	The 18th Letter ‎(2xLP, Album)	Universal Records	U2-53113	US	1997
UD-53113	Rakim	The 18th Letter ‎(CD, Album, RE)	Universal Records	UD-53113	US	Unknown
none	Rakim	The 18th Letter ‎(Cass, Album, Promo)	Universal Music	none	France	1997
MVCU-24011 (UD-53113)	Rakim	The 18th Letter ‎(CD, Album)	Universal Records	MVCU-24011 (UD-53113)	Japan	1997