The legendary Rakim is poised to FINALLY drop his long awaited album by rap “The Seventh Seal” this Fall.  The project which is being released on Rakim’s Ra Records label in a joint venture with Tuscan Villa Entertainment’s first single, “Holy Are You,” will drop July 28.

The rapper tells Billboard the new album is fueled by consciousness and spirituality.

“The seals are from the Bible- Revelations and the coming of the Apocalypse,” Rakim said.  “But Islam, Judaism, Christianity: all have a version of the same events. The Lion of Judah breaks the seven seals one by one, each imparting knowledge and inflicting catastrophe, ending with seven trumpets announcing the end of Times. After the Apocalypse, God rises from the ashes to recreate the Kingdom, taking only the greatest elements from the past with them.”

“When you look at Hip-Hop, I want to do that: to spit fire and take our best from the ashes to build our kingdom; to recognize all the regional styles, conscious lyrics, the tracks, underground, mainstream, the way we treat each other. Lose the garbage and rebuild our scene. I’ve always tried to insert consciousness and spirituality in my records, interpreting the writings of all cultures and religions and how they apply to life in modern times.”

When asked about a possible reunion with former label head Dr. Dre who signed Rakim to his Aftermath label in 2001, the emcee would not rule it out.

No doubt if the project and the timing are right. He’s got his thing going on and I got mine. But I know our camps will look for ways to mix things up.

And of course The God couldn’t leave without speaking on the status of the game.

I don’t accept (expect?)  that the new generation is looking for anything different than what we’ve always been looking for. Depending on the moment, they want bangers that make them crack their neck, they want tracks that put them in a zone where they can sit back and chill. The ladies want something that makes them feel sexy and loved. And everyone wants something that makes them think a little bit-at least sometimes. Every generation wants that real hip-hop. And I’ve always been able to bring that.