The 18th Letter is the debut solo album of American emcee Rakim, released November 4, 1997, on Universal Records in the United States.

[2] It is his first release of new material, following a five-year hiatus after Don't Sweat the Technique (1992) as duo Eric B.

A deluxe version of The 18th Letter was sold with the compilation disc The Book of Life (UD2-53111),[5] an Eric B.

[6] The Book of Life was also issued separately as a double vinyl LP.

[8] The New York Times wrote that the album "features gripping, richly textured backing tracks and kinetic wordplay filled with references to the Koran; his masterly command of rhyming has only deepened with time.