Paid in Full (album)

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Paid in Full
RakimPIF.jpg
Studio album by
Eric B. & Rakim
ReleasedJuly 7, 1987 (1987-07-07) [1]
Recorded1986–1987
Studio Marley Marl's home studio and Power Play Studios in New York City
Genre Golden age hip hop
Length45:08
Label 4th & B'way, Island
Producer Eric B. & Rakim
Eric B. & Rakim chronology
Paid in Full
(1987)		 Follow the Leader
(1988)
Singles from Paid in Full
  1. "Eric B. Is President"
    Released: 1986
  2. "I Ain't No Joke"
    Released: 1987
  3. "I Know You Got Soul"
    Released: 1987
  4. "Move the Crowd"
    Released: 1987
  5. "Paid in Full"
    Released: 1987

Paid in Full is the debut studio album by American hip hop duo Eric B. & Rakim, released on July 7, 1987, by Island-subsidiary label 4th & B'way Records. The duo recorded the album at hip hop producer Marley Marl's home studio and Power Play Studios in New York City, following Rakim's response to Eric B.'s search for a rapper to complement his disc jockey work in 1985. The album peaked at number fifty-eight on the Billboard 200 chart, number eight on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and produced five singles: "Eric B. Is President", "I Ain't No Joke", "I Know You Got Soul", "Move the Crowd", and "Paid in Full".

Contents

Paid in Full is credited as a benchmark album of golden age hip hop. Rakim's rapping, which pioneered the use of internal rhymes in hip hop, set a higher standard of lyricism in the genre and served as a template for future rappers. The album's heavy sampling by Eric B. became influential in hip hop production. The record has sold over a million copies and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified it platinum in 1995. In 2020, the album was ranked number 61 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time. [2]

Background

Eric B. and Rakim met in 1985 after Eric B. looked for a rapper to complement his turntable work at the New York City radio station WBLS. [3] After Rakim responded to Eric B.'s search for "New York's top MC", [4] Eric B.'s friend and roommate Marley Marl allowed him to use his home studio. The first track they recorded, "Eric B. Is President", was released as a single on the independent Zakia Records in 1986. After Def Jam Recordings founder Russell Simmons heard the single, the duo were signed to Island Records and began recording the album in Manhattan's Power Play Studios in early 1987. [4] Rakim wrote his songs in approximately one hour while listening to the beat. He then recorded his vocals in the booth by reading his lyrics from a paper. In 2006, Rakim revealed, "When I hear my first album today I hear myself reading my rhymes but I'm my worst critic." [5] The duo completed the album in one week. They have said that they worked in 48-hour shifts and recorded in single takes to complete the album within budget. [6] In a 2008 interview with AllHipHop, Eric B. stated, "[T]o sit here and say we put together this calculated album to be a great album would be a lie. We were just doing records that felt good." [7]

The album's success led to a contract with Uni Records and MCA Records, where they released their second album, Follow the Leader (1988). [8] Eric B. and Rakim are credited as officially producing Paid in Full. Although Marley Marl claimed to have produced two tracks ("My Melody" and "Eric B. Is President" [9] ), Eric B. has argued that Marley Marl was only an engineer. [7] In 2003, Eric B. alleged the duo had not been paid in full for their work, and filed a lawsuit against the Island Def Jam Music Group, Lyor Cohen, and Russell Simmons. [10]

The album cover featured a photo of Eric B. and Rakim wearing custom-made Gucci "knock-ups" by Harlem tailor Dapper Dan. [11]

Music

Rakim's rhyming deviated from the simple rhyme patterns of early 1980s hip hop. His free-rhythm style ignored bar lines and had earned comparisons to Thelonious Monk. [12] The New York Times ' Ben Ratliff wrote that Rakim's "unblustery rapping developed the form beyond the flat-footed rhythms of schoolyard rhymes". [13] While many rappers developed their technique through improvisation, Rakim was one of the first to demonstrate advantages of a writerly style, as with for instance his pioneering use of internal rhyme. [14] Unlike previous rappers such as LL Cool J and Run-DMC who delivered their vocals with high energy, Rakim employed a relaxed, stoic delivery. [4] [15] According to MTV, "We'd been used to MCs like Run and DMC, Chuck D and KRS-One leaping on the mic shouting with energy and irreverence, but Rakim took a methodical approach to his microphone fiending. He had a slow flow, and every line was blunt, mesmeric." [16] Rakim's relaxed delivery resulted from his jazz influences; he had played the saxophone and was a John Coltrane fan. [9] [12] [17] [18] His subject matter often covered his own rapping skills and lyrical superiority over other rappers. [19] [20]

AllMusic editor Steve Huey characterized Rakim for his "complex internal rhymes, literate imagery, velvet-smooth flow, and unpredictable, off-the-beat rhythms." [21] Pitchfork writer Jess Harvell described his rapping as "authoritative, burnished, [and] possessing an unflappable sense of rhythm". [20] Paid in Full, which contains gritty, heavy, and dark beats, [22] marked the beginning of heavy sampling in hip hop records. [13] Of the album's ten tracks, three are instrumentals. [23] As a disc jockey, Eric B. had reinstated the art of live turntable mixing. [9] His soul-filled sampling became influential in future hip hop production. [16] Music critic Robert Christgau noted that Eric B. had incorporated "touches of horn or whistle deep in the mix" of his sampled percussion and scratches. [24]

Singles

"Eric B. Is President" was released as the first single with "My Melody" as the B-side. [12] It peaked at number 48 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks and number forty on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales. [25] The track sparked debate on the legality of unauthorized sampling when James Brown sued to prevent the duo's use of his music. [26] PopMatters ' Mark Anthony Neal called it "the most danceable hip-hop recording" of 1986. [27] According to Touré of The New York Times, "It is Rakim's verbal dexterity as well as his calm, deep voice and dark tone that has made this song a rap classic: 'I came in the door/ I said it before/ I'll never let the mic magnetize me no more/ But it's bitin' me/ Fightin' me/ Invitin' me to rhyme/ I can't hold it back/ I'm looking for the line/ Takin' off my coat/ Clearin' my throat/ The rhyme will be kickin' it/ Til I hit my last note.'" [28] Remixes of both “Eric B. Is President” and “My Melody” were included on the album as opposed to their original versions.

The second single, "I Know You Got Soul", peaked at number 39 on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart, number 34 on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales, and number 64 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks. [25] The track's production contains "digitized cymbal crashes, breathing sounds, and a bumping bass line." [29] The song popularized James Brown samples in hip hop songs. [30] The British band M|A|R|R|S sampled the line, "Pump up the volume", on their number one UK single, "Pump Up the Volume". [31] Rolling Stone ranked it at number 386 on "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". [32]

The third single, "I Ain't No Joke", peaked at number 38 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks. [25] Described as one of the album's "monumental singles", [33] Michael Di Bella wrote in the All Music Guide to Rock that "Rakim grabs the listener by the throat and illustrates his mastery of the rhyming craft". [8] The fourth single, "Move the Crowd", peaked at number three on the Hot Dance Music/Club Play chart and number 25 on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales. [25] The track's B-side, "Paid in Full", was released as a single in 1987 and later remixed by the production duo Coldcut. The remix used several vocal samples, most prominently "Im Nin'alu" by Israeli singer Ofra Haza. [31] In 2008, the song was ranked at number 24 on VH1's "100 Greatest Hip Hop Songs". [34]

Reception and influence

Retrospective professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [21]
Blender Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [35]
Melody Maker Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [36]
Muzik Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [37]
Pitchfork 7.8/10 [20]
Q Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [38]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [39]
The Source 5/5 [40]
Spin Alternative Record Guide 10/10 [41]
Uncut Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [42]

In a contemporary review for The Washington Post , Mark Jenkins highlighted the single "Eric B. Is President" but was unimpressed by the rest of Paid in Full: "Its beats are monotonous, and the attempts to take 'jazz and the quiet storm' and 'convert into hip-hop form' fall flat." [43] Robert Christgau gave the album a "B" grade in his "Consumer Guide" column for The Village Voice . [24] Writing in 2001, he said it has "four groundbreaking masterworks" in "I Ain't No Joke", "I Know You Got Soul", "Paid in Full", and "Eric B. Is President", but was less enthusiastic about the other six songs: "They're pure, innovative, in-your-face—no doubt. But they're also turntablism with spoken decoration, of small use to anyone who hasn't internalized the 'real' hip hop aesthetic." [44] In the newspaper's annual Pazz & Jop critics' poll, it was named the 27th best album of 1987. [45]

Paid in Full was released during what became known as the golden age hip hop era. [46] In The Rolling Stone Album Guide (2004), Sasha Frere-Jones called it "one of hip-hop's perfect records", [39] while Alex Ogg considered it to be the duo's magnum opus in his book The Men Behind Def Jam. [4] Rakim's rapping on the album set a blueprint for future rappers and helped secure East Coast hip hop's reputation for innovative lyrical technique. [14] [47] Author William Cobb stated in To the Break of Dawn that his rapping had "stepped outside" of the preceding era of old school hip hop and that while the vocabulary and lyrical dexterity of newer rappers had improved, it was "nowhere near what Rakim introduced to the genre". [46] The New York Times' Dimitri Ehrlich, who described the album as "an artistic and commercial benchmark", credited Rakim for helping "give birth to a musical genre" and leading "a quiet musical revolution, introducing a soft-spoken rapping style". [48] AllMusic's Steve Huey declared Paid in Full one of hip-hop's most influential albums and "essential listening" for those interested in the genre's "basic musical foundations". [21] MTV ranked it at number one in "The Greatest Hip-Hop Albums of All Time", stating it raised the standards of hip-hop "both sonically and poetically" and described it as "captivating, profound, innovative and instantly influential". [16] The album is broken down track-by-track by Rakim in Brian Coleman's book Check the Technique . [49]

In 2003, Rolling Stone listed Paid in Full at number 228 on "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time", maintaining the rating in a 2012 revised list, calling it "Ice-grilled, laid-back, diamond-sharp: Rakim is a front-runner in the race for Best Rapper Ever, and this album is a big reason why." [50] In the 2020 reboot of the list, the album's rank shot up to number 61. [51] Similarly, Blender magazine included the album in its "500 CDs You Must Own Before You Die". [52] Time magazine listed it as one of the eighteen albums of the 1980s in its "All-TIME 100" albums; editor Alan Light acknowledged the record changed the "sound, flow, and potential" of hip hop and that if Rakim is "the greatest MC of all time, as many argue, this album is the evidence". [15] Jess Harvell of Pitchfork complimented Rakim for an "endless display of pure skill" and described the album as "laidback and funky", but believed it contained "too much filler to get a free 'classic' pass". [20] Pitchfork placed Paid in Full at number fifty-two in its "Top 100 Albums of the 1980s"; editor Sam Chennault wrote that Rakim inspired a generation of MCs and "defined what it meant to be a hip-hop lyricist". [53] By 2018, at which point Pitchfork had substantially altered their list of the top albums of the 1980s, Paid in Full was moved to number eleven and called ″a crowning achievement of hip-hop's first golden age″ and one of the genre's ″glittering Rosetta Stones″. [54] Slant Magazine listed the album at #32 on its list of "Best Albums of the 1980s" saying "For his part, Rakim didn't need to rely on macho jargon and trite gangsterisms for his self-aggrandizing sermons; he would simply reel off line after line of spellbinding wordplay, influencing an entire decade of tongue-twisting MCs in the process." [55]

Rakim is credited with influencing rappers including the Wu-Tang Clan, Jay-Z, 50 Cent, and Nas, [48] [56] who cited Paid in Full as one of his favorite albums. [57] 50 Cent told NME that Paid in Full was the first album he bought: "I used to get my grandmother's tape recorder – the one she used to tape church services – and record hip-hop off the radio. And, with Eric B. & Rakim, I think that was the first moment where I felt like, 'I've got to own this. This is crucial.'" [58] "It was a record that caused trouble," remarked Busta Rhymes, "but it was one you couldn't top." [59] Eminem borrows or interpolates lines from Paid in Full on tracks from The Marshall Mathers LP including "My Melody" ("I'm Back") and "As The Rhyme Goes On" ("The Way I Am").

On July 11, 1995, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the album platinum. [60] As of December 1997, it had sold over a million copies. [48]

Track listing

All songs written and produced by Eric B. & Rakim.

No.TitleSample(s) [61] Length
1."I Ain't No Joke"
Contains samples of:
3:54
2."Eric B. Is on the Cut" (instrumental)
Contains samples of:
3:48
3."My Melody" (remix)
Contains samples of:
6:46
4."I Know You Got Soul"
Contains samples of:
4:45
5."Move the Crowd"
Contains samples of:
3:49
6."Paid in Full"
Contains samples of:
3:50
7."As the Rhyme Goes On"
Contains samples of:
4:00
8."Chinese Arithmetic" (instrumental)
Contains samples of:
4:07
9."Eric B. Is President" (remix)
Contains samples of:
6:20
10."Extended Beat" (instrumental mix of "Move the Crowd") 3:49

Personnel

Adapted from AllMusic. [62]

Charts

Charts (1987) [63] [64] Peak
position
UK Albums Chart 85
U.S. Top Pop Albums [65] 58
U.S. Top Black Albums 8

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [66] Platinum1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Reissues

RegionDateLabelFormatCatalog
United StatesOctober 27, 1998Island/PolyGram RecordsDouble CD (Platinum Edition) Out Of Print524 573
November 4, 2003Island/IDJMG/Universal RecordsDouble CD (Deluxe Edition)986 083
April 26, 2005Island/IDJMG/Universal RecordsCD (Expanded Edition)988 042

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ "Paid in Full – Eric B. & Rakim – Songs, Reviews, Credits – AllMusic". AllMusic . Archived from the original on August 28, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2016.
  2. ↑ "500 Greatest Albums of All Time Rolling Stone's definitive list of the 500 greatest albums of all time". Rolling Stone . 2021. Archived from the original on April 9, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Eric B and Rakim: Biography", The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll, Simon & Schuster, 2001, archived from the original on December 22, 2007, retrieved September 5, 2008
  4. 1 2 3 4 Ogg, Alex (2002). The Men Behind Def Jam: The Radical Rise of Russell Simmons and Rick Rubin . p. 105. Omnibus Press. ISBN   0-7119-8873-0
  5. ↑ JButters (August 1, 2006). "Halftimeonline.net Archived July 29, 2017, at the Wayback Machine ". HalftimeOnline.net. Accessed September 25, 2008.
  6. ↑ MacInnes, Paul (June 13, 2011). Eric B and Rakim record Paid in Full in a week Archived September 27, 2016, at the Wayback Machine . The Guardian . Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved August 9, 2011.
  7. 1 2 Berrios, Martin A. (February 29, 2008). "Class Of '88: Paid In Full Archived March 5, 2008, at the Wayback Machine ". AllHipHop. Accessed September 6, 2008.
  8. 1 2 Bogdanov, Vladimir; Woodstra, Chris; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2002). All Music Guide to Rock: The Definitive Guide to Rock, Pop, and Soul. p. 374. Backbeat Books. ISBN   0-87930-653-X.
  9. 1 2 3 Taylor, Steve (2004). The A to X of Alternative Music. p. 20. Continuum International Publishing Group. ISBN   0-8264-8217-1
  10. ↑ Strong, Nolan (October 17, 2003). "Eric B. Wants To Be Paid In Full, Suing Island Def Jam Archived December 2, 2008, at the Wayback Machine ". AllHipHop. Accessed July 15, 2008.
  11. ↑ Hairston, Tahirah (July 27, 2018). "Dapper Dan Is Finally Getting His Props". Complex . Archived from the original on October 1, 2018. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  12. 1 2 3 Freedom duLac, Josh. (October 2, 2006). "A Stop-and-Go Hip-Hop Show Archived December 1, 2017, at the Wayback Machine ". The Washington Post. Accessed September 5, 2008.
  13. 1 2 Ratliff, Ben. Review: Paid in Full Archived December 2, 2008, at the Wayback Machine . The New York Times . Retrieved on October 19, 2009.
  14. 1 2 Huey, Steve. "allmusic Rakim > Biography". Allmusic. Accessed September 5, 2008.
  15. 1 2 Light, Alan (November 13, 2006). "The All-TIME 100 Albums". Time magazine. Accessed September 29, 2008.
  16. 1 2 3 "MTV.com: The Greatest Hip-Hop Albums Of All Time Archived October 11, 2007, at the Wayback Machine ". MTV (2005). Accessed July 15, 2008.
  17. ↑ Jbutters (July 6, 2006). "Rakim Archived July 29, 2017, at the Wayback Machine ". HalftimeOnline.net. Accessed September 5, 2008.
  18. ↑ "Q & A w/ Rakim: Lyrics of Fury Archived July 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine ". ThaFormula.com (2005). Accessed October 29, 2008.
  19. ↑ Darby, Derrick; Shelby, Tommie; West, Cornel (2005). Hip Hop and Philosophy: Rhyme 2 Reason. p. 42. Open Court Publishing. ISBN   0-8126-9589-5.
  20. 1 2 3 4 Harvell, Jess (June 1, 2005). "Eric B. & Rakim: Paid in Full / Follow the Leader". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on November 20, 2021. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  21. 1 2 3 Huey, Steve. "Paid in Full – Eric B. & Rakim". AllMusic . Archived from the original on June 5, 2012. Retrieved October 19, 2009.
  22. ↑ Rose, Tricia (1994). Black Noise: Rap Music and Black Culture in Contemporary America. p. 93. Wesleyan University Press. ISBN   0-8195-6275-0.
  23. ↑ Wang, Oliver (2003). Classic Material: The Hip-Hop Album Guide, p. 69. Entertainment, Culture, Writing Press. ISBN   1-55022-561-8
  24. 1 2 Christgau, Robert (September 29, 1987). "Christgau's Consumer Guide". The Village Voice . New York. Archived from the original on April 7, 2019. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  25. 1 2 3 4 "allmusic Paid in Full > Charts & Awards > Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Accessed August 4, 2008.
  26. ↑ Simon & Schuster (2001). "Eric B and Rakim". The Rolling Stone Encyclopedia of Rock & Roll. Accessed August 4, 2008.
  27. ↑ Neal, Mark Anthony (November 19, 2003). "...And Bless the Mic for the Gods: Rakim Allah Archived January 1, 2005, at the Wayback Machine ". PopMatters. Accessed August 4, 2008.
  28. ↑ Touré (August 14, 1994). "Pop View; Only One Star in the Two Schools of Rap Archived December 2, 2008, at the Wayback Machine ". The New York Times. Accessed August 6, 2008.
  29. ↑ Perry, Imani (2004). Prophets of the Hood: Politics and Poetics in Hip Hop. p. 52. Duke University Press. ISBN   0-8223-3446-1
  30. ↑ "allmusic Paid in Full > Overview". Allmusic. Accessed August 6, 2008.
  31. 1 2 Wojcik, Pamela Robertson; Knight, Arthur (2001). Soundtrack Available. p. 254. Duke University Press. ISBN   0-8223-2800-3.
  32. ↑ "I Know You Got Soul". Rolling Stone (December 9, 2004). Accessed September 12, 2008.
  33. ↑ Huey, Steve. "allmusic Eric B. & Rakim > Biography". Allmusic. Accessed August 15, 2008.
  34. ↑ Winistorfer, Andrew (September 29, 2008). "VH1's 100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs Archived October 2, 2008, at the Wayback Machine ". Prefix magazine. Accessed October 14, 2008.
  35. ↑ Bemis, Alec Hanley. "Eric B. & Rakim: Paid In Full Deluxe Edition". Blender . New York. Archived from the original on August 11, 2004. Retrieved October 31, 2009.
  36. ↑ Kulkarni, Neil (October 31, 1998). "Eric B. & Rakim: Paid in Full". Melody Maker . London.
  37. ↑ Tope, Frank (December 1998). "Eric B & Rakim: Paid in Full – The Platinum Edition". Muzik . No. 43. London. p. 74.
  38. ↑ "Eric B. & Rakim: Paid in Full". Q . No. 147. London. December 1998. p. 140.
  39. 1 2 Frere-Jones, Sasha (2004). "Eric B. & Rakim". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. pp.  281–282. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8 . Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  40. ↑ "Eric B. & Rakim: Paid in Full". The Source . No. 150. New York. March 2002.
  41. ↑ Hunter, James (1995). "Eric B. & Rakim". In Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig (eds.). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. p. 133. ISBN   0-679-75574-8.
  42. ↑ "Rhyme Kingpins". Uncut . No. 81. London. February 2004. p. 88. Archived from the original on December 6, 2010. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
  43. ↑ Jenkins, Mark (September 4, 1987). "The Rappin' Rocks On". The Washington Post . Weekend section, p. n.15. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  44. ↑ Christgau, Robert (December 18, 2001). "A Ken Burns Xmas". The Village Voice . New York. Archived from the original on December 8, 2013. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  45. ↑ "The 1987 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll". The Village Voice . New York. March 1, 1988. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  46. 1 2 Cobb, William Jelani (2006). To the Break of Dawn: A Freestyle on the Hip Hop Aesthetic. p. 140. New York University Press. ISBN   0-8147-1670-9.
  47. ↑ Karon, Tony (September 22, 2000). "'Hip-Hop Nation' Is Exhibit A for America's Latest Cultural Revolution". Time magazine. Accessed September 25, 2008.
  48. 1 2 3 Ehrlich, Dimitri (December 7, 1997). "Recordings View ; A Rap Pioneer Defies the Odds Archived December 2, 2008, at the Wayback Machine ". The New York Times. Accessed July 16, 2008.
  49. ↑ Coleman, Brian. Check The Technique: Liner Notes For Hip-Hop Junkies. New York: Villard/Random House, 2007.
  50. ↑ "227) Paid in Full". Rolling Stone (November 1, 2003). Accessed July 15, 2008.
  51. ↑ "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time – Rolling Stone". Archived from the original on April 9, 2021. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  52. ↑ "500 CDs You Must Own: Hip-Hop Archived August 9, 2008, at the Wayback Machine " . Blender magazine (April 2003). Accessed September 24, 2008.
  53. ↑ Chennault, Sam (November 20, 2002). "Top 100 Albums of the 1980s Archived April 18, 2007, at the Wayback Machine ". Pitchfork. Accessed September 29, 2008.
  54. ↑ "The 200 Best Albums of the 1980s – Page 10". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on July 24, 2020. Retrieved July 23, 2020.
  55. ↑ "Best Albums of the 1980s | Feature". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on May 29, 2012. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
  56. ↑ "MTV.com: The Greatest MCs Of All Time Archived April 13, 2006, at the Wayback Machine ". MTV (2006). Accessed October 28, 2008.
  57. ↑ Isnanul, Ahmed (May 22, 2012). "Nas' 25 Favorite Albums". Complex . Complex Media. Archived from the original on May 25, 2012. Retrieved May 22, 2012.
  58. ↑ Haynes, Gavin (October 1, 2015). "Soundtrack of my life". NME . p. 48.
  59. ↑ Batey, Angus (October 2009). "My record collection – Busta Rhymes". Q . p. 46.
  60. ↑ "RIAA Searchable Database – Paid in Full Archived October 19, 2015, at the Wayback Machine ". Recording Industry Association of America. Accessed September 5, 2008.
  61. ↑ "Paid in Full by Eric B. & Rakim: Album Samples, Covers and Remixes". WhoSampled. Archived from the original on January 13, 2017. Retrieved January 11, 2017.
  62. ↑ "allmusic Paid in Full > Credits". Allmusic. September 7, 2008.
  63. ↑ Warwick, Neil; Kutner, Jon; Brown, Tony (2004). The Complete Book of the British Charts. p. 92. Omnibus Press. ISBN   1-84449-058-0.
  64. ↑ "allmusic Paid in Full > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Accessed July 15, 2008.
  65. ↑ ""Eric B. e Rakim Chart History (Billboard)"". Billboard. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
  66. ↑ "American album certifications – Eric B. & Rakim – Paid in Full". Recording Industry Association of America.

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William Michael Griffin Jr., better known by his stage name Rakim, is an American rapper. He is one half of golden age hip hop duo Eric B. & Rakim, with whom he released four albums: Paid in Full (1987), Follow the Leader (1988), Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em (1990), and Don't Sweat the Technique (1992). He also released three solo albums: The 18th Letter (1997), The Master (1999), and The Seventh Seal (2009).

<i>Follow the Leader</i> (Eric B. & Rakim album) 1988 studio album by Eric B. & Rakim

Follow the Leader is the second studio album by American hip hop duo Eric B. & Rakim. Following their debut album Paid in Full (1987), Eric B. & Rakim left 4th & B'way Records and signed with Uni Records, a subsidiary label of major label MCA Records. They recorded Follow the Leader at Power Play Studios in New York City. The duo produced, composed, and arranged the album with additional contributions from Rakim's brother Stevie Blass Griffin, who contributed with various instruments. Eric B. & Rakim worked with audio engineers Carlton Batts and Patrick Adams on the album. In a similar manner to their first album, a "ghost producer" was brought in for two songs. In a 2007 interview with Unkut.com, The 45 King said he produced both "Microphone Fiend" and "The R". "Microphone Fiend" was originally made for Fab 5 Freddy, until 45 King gave it over to Eric B., the group's "DJ".

Louis Eric Barrier is an American rapper, record producer, DJ, and actor from New York City. One half of the golden age hip hop duo Eric B. & Rakim, he formed the group in 1986 and served as its primary producer and DJ. Their debut album, Paid in Full (1987) was named the greatest hip hop album of all time by MTV in 2006, and the duo were nominated in 2011 for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

<i>Critical Beatdown</i> 1988 studio album by Ultramagnetic MCs

Critical Beatdown is the debut studio album by American hip hop group Ultramagnetic MCs, released on October 4, 1988, by Next Plateau Records. Production for the album was handled primarily by the group's rapper and producer Ced-Gee, who employed an E-mu SP-1200 sampler as the album's main instrument. Music journalists have noted the album for its innovative production, funk-based samples, self-assertive themes, and clever lyrical rhymes by Ced-Gee and rapper Kool Keith.

<i>Let the Rhythm Hit Em</i> 1990 studio album by Eric B & Rakim

Let the Rhythm Hit ’Em is the third studio album by hip hop duo Eric B. & Rakim, released on June 19, 1990. The group's sound develops further, with Rakim adopting a deeper, more aggressive tone of voice, and more mature and serious subject matter. Musically, the production ranges from smoother soulful tracks such as "In the Ghetto" to the hard-edged assault of the title track "Let the Rhythm Hit ’Em."

<i>Dont Sweat the Technique</i> 1992 studio album by Eric B. & Rakim

Don't Sweat the Technique is the fourth and final studio album by American hip hop duo Eric B. & Rakim, released on June 23, 1992, by MCA Records. It was recorded and produced by Eric B. & Rakim at The Hit Factory in New York City. The album builds on the sounds of 1990's Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em, with Rakim sounding more aggressive on Eric B.'s jazzy, soulful production.

<i>The 18th Letter</i> 1997 studio album by Rakim

The 18th Letter is the debut solo album of American emcee Rakim, released November 4, 1997, on Universal Records in the United States. The album features production by DJ Clark Kent, Pete Rock, Father Shaheed, Nick Wiz and DJ Premier. It contains lyrical themes that concern hip hop's golden age, Rakim's rapping prowess, and the state of hip hop.

Golden age hip hop refers to mainstream hip hop music created from the mid or mid-late 1980s to the early or early-mid 1990s, particularly by artists and musicians originating from the New York metropolitan area. A precursor to the new school hip hop movement, it is characterized by its diversity, quality, innovation and influence on overall hip hop after the genre's emergence and establishment in the old-school era, and is associated with the development and eventual mainstream success of hip hop. There were various types of subject matter, while the music was experimental and the sampling from old records was eclectic.

<i>Illmatic</i> 1994 studio album by Nas

Illmatic is the debut studio album by American rapper Nas. It was released on April 19, 1994, by Columbia Records. After signing with the label with the help of MC Serch, Nas recorded the album in 1992 and 1993 at Chung King Studios, D&D Recording, Battery Studios, and Unique Recording Studios in New York City. The album's production was handled by DJ Premier, Large Professor, Pete Rock, Q-Tip, L.E.S., and Nas himself. Styled as a hardcore hip hop album, Illmatic features multi-syllabic internal rhymes and inner-city narratives based on Nas' experiences growing up in the Queensbridge Houses in Queens, New York City.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Know You Got Soul (Eric B. & Rakim song)</span> 1987 single by Eric B. & Rakim

"I Know You Got Soul" is a song recorded by Eric B. & Rakim in 1987. A commercial and artistic success, it was ranked #23 by Rolling Stone on their list of Top 50 hip-hop songs, and #396 on their list of 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

<i>It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back</i> 1988 studio album by Public Enemy

It Takes a Nation of Millions to Hold Us Back is the second studio album by American hip hop group Public Enemy, released on June 28, 1988, by Def Jam Recordings and Columbia Records. It was recorded from 1987 to 1988 in sessions at Chung King Studios, Greene St. Recording, and Sabella Studios in New York.

<i>Strictly Business</i> (EPMD album) 1988 studio album by EPMD

Strictly Business is the debut album by hip-hop duo EPMD. It was released on June 7, 1988, by Fresh/Sleeping Bag Records around the world and BCM Records in Germany. It peaked at No. 80 on the Billboard 200 soon after release, yet it earned an RIAA gold album certification within four months of its release. In addition, it has received much positive critical attention since its release. In 2012, the album was ranked number 453 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Girls Around the World</span> 2008 single by Lloyd

"Girls Around the World" is a song by American recording artist Lloyd. The song features rapper Lil Wayne and was written by Lloyd and Lil Wayne, along with Eric Barrier and William Griffin. The song was produced by his production team, Big Reese and Jasper Cameron, who also produced his breakthrough hit, "You", which also featured Lil Wayne. The song served as the lead single for Lloyd's third studio album Lessons in Love. "Girls Around the World" received positive to mixed reviews from critics, some of whom noted it as generic, and others named it as a top track from the album. It reached No. 64 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 13 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The song samples the drum break from "Ashley's Roachclip" by the Soul Searchers, as well as interpolating Rakim's verse in "Paid in Full" by hip hop duo Eric B. & Rakim.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Ain't No Joke</span> 1987 single by Eric B. & Rakim

"I Ain't No Joke" is a song by rap duo Eric B. & Rakim, released as the second single from their debut studio album Paid in Full. It peaked at number thirty-eight on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks. Described as one of the album's "monumental singles", Michael Di Bella wrote in the All Music Guide to Rock that "Rakim grabs the listener by the throat and illustrates his mastery of the rhyming craft". A music video was made for it, featuring dancing from Flavor Flav of the group Public Enemy. The song was selected by Jay-Z for the NBA 2K13 soundtrack. It was also featured in the video game Saints Row, as well as in the soundtrack of MLB The Show 23.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paid in Full (Eric B. & Rakim song)</span> 1987 single by Eric B. & Rakim

"Paid in Full" is a 1987 song by American hip hop duo Eric B. & Rakim. Written and produced by group members Eric Barrier and Rakim Allah, the song was released as the fifth single from the duo's debut studio album of the same name. It became one of the group's most successful singles, owing heavily to a popular remix of the song by English electronic dance music duo Coldcut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric B. & Rakim discography</span>

The discography of Eric B. & Rakim, an American hip hop duo, consists of four studio albums, five compilation albums, 15 singles, and nine music videos. Eric B. & Rakim formed and signed a record deal with Zakia Records in 1985. The following year, the duo signed a deal with 4th & B'way Records. Their debut album Paid in Full was released in 1987. In the United States, it peaked at number 58 on the Billboard 200, number 8 on R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It appeared on the Dutch, New Zealand, and UK Albums Chart. Paid in Full produced five singles, four of which appeared on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The fifth single "Paid in Full" (1988) peaked in the top five of the Dutch and New Zealand Singles Chart.

References

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