eric b. and rakim

Today In Hip Hop History: Eric B. And Rakim’s Sophomore LP ‘Follow The Leader’ Turns 35 Years Old!

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Eric B Rakim heavy gold

On this day in Hip Hop history in 1988, one of the culture’s most prolific duo’s Eric B. & Rakim released their sophomore LP Follow the Leader. Coming shortly after their game-changing debut Paid in Full, their second album showed that not only did the two find a formula of success but that they had yet to hit a ceiling. The refinement of both Rakim’s lyrical prowess and Eric B’s beat-making ability is evident in large part on this album. Follow the Leader had everything one could ask of an album from the Golden Era of Hip Hop.

Selling 500,000 within the year of its release, the album received gold certification as well as the #22 spot on the Billboard Pop Albums chart. Two of the four singles from the project, “Follow the Leader” and “Microphone Fiend” also made appearances on multiple Billboard music charts. Critically, this album received praise across the board being praised as more consistent and cohesive than the duo’s debut. Critics from numerous publications noted the growth of Eric B and Rakim as both rappers and pop icons. Although it may not have sold as many copies or made as much noise, Follow the Leader is in more ways than one a more polished project than Paid in Full and is in large part the reason for the duo’s longevity and status.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Eric B. And Rakim’s Sophomore LP ‘Follow The Leader’ Turns 35 Years Old! first appeared on The Source.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Eric B. And Rakim’s Sophomore LP ‘Follow The Leader’ Turns 35 Years Old! appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: Eric B. And Rakim Released Their Debut Album ‘Paid In Full’ 36 Years Ago

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Ever since the “Eric B. For President” single featuring a young Long Islander named Rakim Allah was released in the summer of ’86 (which was produced by Marley Marl), the fans were feigning for more of the God with the slow flow, so the two were scooped up by Russell Simmons and the genesis of Paid In Full began.

As the prototype album of Hip Hop’s “Golden Era”, everything from song arrangement, album artwork, and even their wardrobe on the album cover became iconic items of that time period. Manufactured and distributed by indie label Zakia/4th and Broadway Records, the album’s anticipation and response was so unprecedented, it earned the duo a new contract with Uni Records for the sophomore project.

A few of the ten-track classic’s stand-out songs include “Move The Crowd”, “I Ain’t No Joke”, “I Know You Got Soul” and the classic title track, “Paid In Full”.

Even though Eric B. and Rakim just reunited as a group in 2018, this album solidified them as one of the greatest Hip Hop duo’s in the culture’s history and we here at The Source salute them for that. Peace!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Eric B. And Rakim Released Their Debut Album ‘Paid In Full’ 36 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip-Hop History: Eric B. and Rakim Released Their Final Album ‘Don’t Sweat The Technique’ 31 Years Ago

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The Microphone Fiend and his silent cohort drop their fourth and final album together on this date.

On this hot summer day in 1992, Rakim, who is widely recognized by some as the greatest MC of all time, released his fourth studio LP with William “Eric B.” Barrier entitled Don’t Sweat The Technique. This was the long-awaited follow-up to Let The Rhythm Hit ‘Em, which was a critically acclaimed album, but that was not reflective in record sales.

This album was also the last LP that Eric B. & Rakim recorded together as a duo. Produced by Eric B. with some production assistance from an up-and-coming producer by the name of Large Professor, Don’t Sweat The Technique solidified Rakim as THE best lyricist in Hip Hop.

Tracks such as “What’s On Your Mind”, which appeared on the House Party II soundtrack, “Know The Ledge”(theme from Juice), and the title track are eternal lyrical masterpieces that are unparalleled to this day. Even songs like “Casualties Of War” depicting the mentality of a conscious Black male during the era of Operation Desert Storm and the war in Iraq were instructive as well as entertaining, while virtually predicting the 9/11 tragedy almost a decade before it happened.

Salute to Rakim Allah and Eric B. for this classic album!

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Eric B. and Rakim Released Their Final Album ‘Don’t Sweat The Technique’ 31 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: Eric B. And Rakim Dropped The ‘Let The Rhythm Hit Em’ LP 33 Years Ago

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The G.O.A.T. and his accomplice Eric B. dropped their third album 33 years ago today

On this date in 1990, DJ Eric B. and Hip Hop’s number one microphone fiend Rakim dropped LP number three entitled Let The Rhythm Hit ‘Em.

One of our most coveted Five Mic classics, Let The Rhythm Hit ‘Em’s production was started by legendary behind the boardsman Paul C, however, because of his untimely passing, the baton was passed to his then young protege, Large Professor. This was the foundation that led to the extensive catalog that Extra P has today, even though neither Large Professor of paul C received credit on the album’s notes.

Songs such as the title track “Let The Rhythm Hit ‘Em” satisfied most of Ra’s lyrical critics, who were still looking for the R to have a repeat performance of their debut album, Paid In Full. Tracks such as “Mahogany” was proof of Rakim’s story telling ability, while “In The Ghetto” reminded his fans and listeners of the origin of his greatness and many other Hip Hop artists like him.

This album is definitely a time capsule piece of the Golden Era and The Source salutes both Eric B. and Rakim for this timeless gem!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Eric B. And Rakim Dropped The ‘Let The Rhythm Hit Em’ LP 33 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: Eric B. And Rakim’s Sophomore LP ‘Follow The Leader’ Dropped 34 Years Ago

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tumblr 5599e7df26ccfc9d78371ade2a25d962 42dabeca 1280

On this day in Hip Hop history in 1988, one of the culture’s most prolific duo’s Eric B. & Rakim released their sophomore LP Follow the Leader. Coming shortly after their game-changing debut Paid in Full, their second album showed that not only did the two find a formula of success but that they had yet to hit a ceiling. The refinement of both Rakim’s lyrical prowess and Eric B’s beat-making ability is evident in large part on this album. Follow the Leader had everything one could ask of an album from the Golden Era of Hip Hop.

Selling 500,000 within the year of its release, the album received gold certification as well as the #22 spot on the Billboard Pop Albums chart. Two of the four singles from the project, “Follow the Leader” and “Microphone Fiend” also made appearances on multiple Billboard music charts. Critically, this album received praise across the board being praised as more consistent and cohesive than the duo’s debut. Critics from numerous publications noted the growth of Eric B and Rakim as both rappers and pop icons. Although it may not have sold as many copies or made as much noise, Follow the Leader is in more ways than one a more polished project than Paid in Full and is in large part the reason for the duo’s longevity and status.

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Eric B. And Rakim’s Sophomore LP ‘Follow The Leader’ Dropped 34 Years Ago appeared first on The Source.

Today In Hip Hop History: Eric B. and Rakim’s Debut Album ‘Paid In Full’ Turns 35 Years Old!

by
tumblr f4b053cde79e24689fd311b863ae8743 0ad97b11 1280

Ever since the “Eric B. For President” single featuring a young Long Islander named Rakim Allah was released in the summer of ’86 (which was produced by Marley Marl), the fans were feigning for more of the God with the slow flow, so the two were scooped up by Russell Simmons and the genesis of Paid In Full began.

As the prototype album of Hip Hop’s “Golden Era”, everything from song arrangement, album artwork, and even their wardrobe on the album cover became iconic items of that time period. Manufactured and distributed by indie label Zakia/4th and Broadway Records, the album’s anticipation and response was so unprecedented, it earned the duo a new contract with Uni Records for the sophomore project.

A few of the ten-track classic’s stand-out songs include “Move The Crowd”, “I Ain’t No Joke”, “I Know You Got Soul” and the classic title track, “Paid In Full”.

Even though Eric B. and Rakim just reunited as a group in 2018, this album solidified them as one of the greatest Hip Hop duo’s in the culture’s history and we here at The Source salute them for that. Peace!

The post Today In Hip Hop History: Eric B. and Rakim’s Debut Album ‘Paid In Full’ Turns 35 Years Old! appeared first on The Source.

Today in Hip-Hop History: Eric B. and Rakim’s Final Album ‘Don’t Sweat The Technique’ Turns 30 Years Old!

by
Screen Shot 2022 06 23 at 5.11.54 AM

The Microphone Fiend and his silent cohort drop their fourth and final album together on this date.

On this hot summer day in 1992, Rakim, who is widely recognized by some as the greatest MC of all time, released his fourth studio LP with William “Eric B.” Barrier entitled Don’t Sweat The Technique. This was the long-awaited follow-up to Let The Rhythm Hit ‘Em, which was a critically acclaimed album, but that was not reflective in record sales.

This album was also the last LP that Eric B. & Rakim recorded together as a duo. Produced by Eric B. with some production assistance from an up-and-coming producer by the name of Large Professor, Don’t Sweat The Technique solidified Rakim as THE best lyricist in Hip Hop.

Tracks such as “What’s On Your Mind”, which appeared on the House Party II soundtrack, “Know The Ledge”(theme from Juice), and the title track are eternal lyrical masterpieces that are unparalleled to this day. Even songs like “Casualties Of War” depicting the mentality of a conscious Black male during the era of Operation Desert Storm and the war in Iraq were instructive as well as entertaining, while virtually predicting the 9/11 tragedy almost a decade before it happened.

Salute to Rakim Allah and Eric B. for this classic album!

The post Today in Hip-Hop History: Eric B. and Rakim’s Final Album ‘Don’t Sweat The Technique’ Turns 30 Years Old! appeared first on The Source.