Eric B. & Rakim "Follow The Leader" (July 26, 1988)

There's a scene in Spike Lee's latest movie, School Daze, in which a group of college girls are planning their next party. "And none of that awful rap music," declares their leader. "But I like Run DMC," pleads one, subconsciously acknowledging their status as crossover artists supreme. She might just as easily have said Eric B & Rakim. Eric B & Rakim are the Run DMC of their day, the ghetto upstarts turned table rousers, overdressed in customized track suits. On a scale of bragging as art form they rate a unanimous nine out of ten, bejewelling themselves both physically and lyrically with an ornate series of chains, rings and rhymes. Follow The Leader, a recent Sounds single of the week, stands out on its own. A bedevilling combination of The Twilight Zone and just about every insidious '70s bassline that you can't quite shake off. It's brutally impersonal, a vacant lot of sound that is as disturbing as Rakim's menacing rapping. In short, a hard act to follow. That said, Rakim's still up top -- still out on a limb, getting paid and generally setting the trends. The unique, flowing dynamics of his rap only serve to show us just how far behind the rest of the nation's rappers are lagging. In a world where rap goes in cycles, Rakim is the cyclist supreme, easing his way up the hills the others are still stumbling on. The rest of the album is equally exhilarating -- Eric B primes his music with hip House-ish basslines, musical gelignite in his capable hands, while Rakim just chills you to the core with his calculated responses. Along with Public Enemy and Boogie Down Productions, Eric B & Rakim are at the forefront of rap's continued musical rebellion. There are no tricks, no powerplays or revolutionary uprising, just a series of irrepressible, unstoppable dance explosions. Bomb the bass and get it on. - Sounds, 1988. Where does it rank in their catalog?

"...Easing his way up the hills the others are still stumbling on." Well said.

Eric B. & Rakim "Don't Sweat The Technique" (6/23/92)

The music Eric B. and Rakim make kicks because it sneaks into the ear like careless whispers before exploding on the brain like dynamite. Eric B.’s tracks are mellow and mean, while Rakim’s lyrics are at once eloquent and threatening. Describing his inimitable style in the classic track “I Got Soul,” from Paid in Full (1987), Rakim roared, “I can take a phrase that’s rarely heard/Flip it-now it’s a daily word.” With that he defined the essence of great hip-hop — before taking it to the next phase with Follow the Leader (1988) and Let the Rhythm Hit ‘Em (1990). On Don’t Sweat the Technique, their majestic fourth album, Eric and Rakim expound further on the funky-fresh aesthetic. The title comes off like a warning to crews looking for mass-ass appeal. But they should also heed the words of “The Punisher,” a track that sends out a brutal manifesto to every rapper coming on. Rakim sounds scarier than a terrorist, and one just knows he’s talking reality when he promises that “you’ll never hold a mike again.” This former stickup kid may have traded in his life of crime for rhymes, but the brutality of his past life informs his loopy poetics and icy voice. In “Relax With Pep,” Rakim declares, “I’m prepared to take mine to get mine/And I can protect mine, either with a rhyme or a nine,” and his new enterprise is sustained with thick, kill-crazy beats that display a moody, cinematic quality. When he weaves a verse of seduction (“Keep the Beat”), slinky minor-key piano chords get rubbed in. When he stalks the perimeter like a mad ghetto boy on “Know the Ledge,” the theme from the movie Juice, buzzing, wailing snippets speed by to heighten the tension. Don’t Sweat the Technique activates the mind — it’s playful, violent, dramatic, funky, jazzy and definitely dope. - Rolling Stone (7/92). Don't Sweat The Technique was released on this day in 1992. 

Original cassette artwork for "Don't Sweat The Technique" (1992)

Juice Soundtrack (The Source, 1992)

As hip-hop continues to bumrush the silver screen, the soundtrack is almost as important as the plot. Juice, a new film that stars Digital Underground crew member 2Pac and features DJ's Richie Rich and Plasticman is no exception to the rule. Hank Shocklee has assembled an all-star roster of hip-hop and R&B artists to contribute previously unreleased songs with positive results. Established stars like Naughty By Nature, Eric B & Rakim, Big Daddy Kane, Too Short, EPMD, Salt 'N Pepa, Cypress Hill and Son of Bazerk comprise the already-known hip-hop squad, and new comers MC Pooh and the Juvenille Committee round it out. While everything does not slam, there are some standout cuts. Naughty By Nature goes to work on "Uptown Anthem," a hard yet catchy groove where Treach rips the mic to shreds. For the title track "Juice (Know The Ledge)," Eric B & Rakim follow-up the R&B flavored "I Want To Know What's On Your Mind" (from the Houseparty II soundtrack) with the hardcore jolt to the head fans have been waiting for. The jam beings with a fast-paced, upright jazz bassline which is followed by a crackling kick/snare combo accented by a funky flute sample. Rakim goes for broke and delivers metaphors with a gangsta edge: "Shells lay around on the battleground / Dead bodies are found throughout the town / Try to put shame in my game to make a name / I'ma put it on a bullet and put it in your brain." - The Source, 1992. "Juice (Know The Ledge)" is my single favorite Hip-Hop record of ALL-TIME! I'm on the record with that.

Below is the full album review for the Juice soundtrack in The Source...

Eric B. & Rakim "Lyrics Of Fury" (1988)

There is no secret to their success -- it's about nothing but talent. Eric B. grew up in Elmhurst, Queens, New York loving basketball and music. He played trumpet and guitar as a youth and then graduated to the turntables when rap first surfaced in the late 70s. By 1985 Eric was good enough to work as a mobile deejay for urban contemporary giant WBLS - New York. It was at BLS that Eric met Marley Marl, the on-air mixer for "Mr. Magic's Rap Attack." Rakim himself was born William Griffin in Brooklyn. He grew up in Wyandanch, Long Island, one of five kids in a musical family and the nephew of early rock'n'roll immortal Ruth Brown. An honor roll student, Rakim was writing rhymes and rapping from the time he was a seventh grader. He and Eric met and clicked right away. "We made a promise that our music had to be positive, strong, and different," remembers Rakim, whose interest in Islam is reflected in his stage name. "And I think we've kept our promise." - via Press Kit / Bio. Perhaps not looked at as their most popular track, but "Lyrics Of Fury" on "Follow The Leader" is widely considered one of the greatest expressions of lyrical exercise, and my favorite track off their "Follow The Leader" album in 1988. Lyrics and audio below.

"I haunt if you want the style I possess
I bless the child, the earth, the gods and bomb the rest
For those that envy an MC, it can be Hazardous to your health so be friendly
A matter of life and death, just like a Etch A Sketch
Shake 'til you're clear, make it disappear, make the next
After the ceremony, let the rhyme rest in peace"

Eric B. & Rakim "Juice (Know The Ledge)" G.O.A.T.

I feel like I'm gonna be redundant here, but my favorite hip-hop track of ALL time? Eric B. & Rakim's "Juice" (Know The Ledge). I don't even sway in my opinion - it's as consistent today as it was in the early 90s. "Juice (Know The Ledge)" embodies everything I want in my hip-hop: Driven lyrics over a moving beat, an ill bassline, and fresh cuts. It helps that the visuals match the track and we had a classic movie to go above and beyond that. Rakim was it to me ... he wasn't like anything before him and he shifted everything about flow afterwards. I had NO clue what Eric. B or Rakim looked like in the earlier years; I hadn't seen them live or in a video, but I heard the music and created a solid image in my head. It's not often that the artist looks JUST like what you had in your mind. And, if you see Rakim in 2018 ... if you see Large Professor in '18 ... these are the OGs in the game that helped make it what it is today and they absolutely still carry on tradition. Sip the Juice!

Eric B. & Rakim "We're The Opposite of the Beastie Boys" (1987)

Smash Hits was a pop magazine in the UK from the late 70s into the 2000s. This article with Eric B. & Rakim was featured in their November-December issue in 1987. In the brief interview, Eric B made reference to them being the opposite of the Beastie Boys and while it wasn't the focus of the article, headlines do sell, lol. "Yeah, we're like the opposite of the Beastie Boys in a way," Eric B says in response to being 'a serious pair.' "Now people see them as being rowdy and unpleasant but I just see them as living out everybody's fantasy. Everyone wants to behave loosely and badly and just do what they feel like doing. But we're not like that -- our stage act isn't a whole lot of laughing clowns dancing about on the stage -- it's a serious 45 minutes. Our songs are about serious everyday situations that people can relate to." The article, promoting their Paid In Full release, also includes the lyrics and a breakdown of some of the bars about positivity and their ultimate message on the song, 'Don't be a stick up kid!' That's sound advice! Peep the technique from Rakim below...

Duel Of The Iron Mics (The Source, 1998)

The Source's 100th issue in 1998 had LL Cool J on the cover and a nice article that highlighted 8 classic albums that had previously received 5-mic ratings. Back when the mic rating truly meant something, artists aspired to make an album that would receive that coveted award. And, for fans, as Elliott Wilson said, ''The mics are one of the main reasons that The Source flies off your newsstands. More importantly, there are over 3 million hip-hop fans worldwide who look to The Source for honest reviews of the multitude of rap albums released each month...'  That was true for a long time. The 8 albums selected for the article are: A Tribe Called Quest's 'Peoples Instinctive Travels & the Paths to Rhythm,' Ice Cube's 'AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted,' Brand Nubian's 'One For All' (note to the editor: 'All For One' was the single), De La Soul's 'De La Soul is Dead,' A Tribe Called Quest 'Low End Theory,' Nas' 'Illmatic' and finally, The Notorious B.I.G.'s 'Life After Death.' Interestingly, Elliott explains the historical context of 'Life After Death' and even offers that he originally scoffed at 'Illmatic' receiving a 5-mic rating. Time has proven that Miss Info was correct for her review, but it's not rewriting history to say sales were mediocre and only us real heads were championing it early. Would you argue against any of these records receiving 5 mics? Personally, I've always been on the fence on 'Let The Rhythm Hit Em' but I can see their logic.

Eric B. & Rakim in Spin Magazine (1987)

Eric B. and Rakim know you got soul. If you didn't, you wouldn't be in here! Amen. This Eric B. & Rakim feature interview is from Spin Magazine in November-December of 1987. It's always dope when Rakim sits down for an interview and shares his perspective and we get insight into the mind of a living legend. For example, Rakim says: “I’m not a rapper. I’m a lyricist. Rappin’ is sum’n that you do when you coolin’ out, just poppin’ shit, know whumsayin’? I take this more serious than just a poem. Tryin’ to make this art. Instead of people comin’ up to me and sayin’, “Oh, you’re a rapper?”, I’d rather them come up to me and say, “Oh, are you an artist?” My music isn’t hip-hop; I call it Knowledge, a Lesson with Music.” For more wisdom and just Rakim waxing poetics about the culture, religion, lyrics and more, read the interview above from nearly 30 years ago. Then, ask yourself - where do you place Rakim on the list of greatest of all-time? Is he the God MC? And, what is their best (or your favorite) song? My favorite is an obvious choice, but it's hard to argue... 'Juice.'

Rakim Lecture at Red Bull Music Academy (NY, 2013)

"Hip-hop's golden age began in 1986, the day Rakim stepped to a microphone to record “Eric B Is President.” Only 18 years old, Rakim had a smooth, effortless flow that brought a cool melodicism and high intelligence to the rap game. His partnership with his DJ, Eric B, yielded four great albums and numerous classic singles before Rakim split for a solo career. Despite initial success with 1997's The 18th Letter, he endured several frustratingly fruitless years signed to Dr. Dre's Aftermath, working on an album that never came. Yet in 2012, The Source named him the greatest MC of all time. In this talk at the 2013 Red Bull Music Academy in New York, Rakim discussed living in the moment, the ’80s, and the various challenges of the music industry." Art by Tasiir Franz.

Eric B. & Rakim "Press Kit" / "Paid In Full" (July, 1987)

"Though Paid In Full, Eric B. and Rakim's debut album on Island is only just now being released, they have been street sensations ever since they first crashed onto the set over a year ago with "Eric B. Is President / My Melody." Powered by some of the funkiest beats since they heyday of James Brown, the rapper Rakim invited teenaged America to "Ch-Ch-Ch-Check out my melody" - an invitation that was accepted with great pleasure ... With summer once again upon us, Eric B. and Rakim have returned with their second single, "I Know You Got Soul," another super-funky item which begins ... "It's been a long time, I shouldna left you / Without a strong rhyme to step to" ... "Think of how many weak shows you slept through / Time's Up! I'm sorry I kept you" ... There is no secret to their success - it's about nothing but talent. Eric B. grew up in Elmhurst, Queens, New York .. he played trumpet and guitar as a youth and then graduated to the turntables when rap first surfaced in the late '70s ... By 1985 Eric was good enough to work as a mobile deejay for WBLS. It was at BLS that Eric met Marley Marl ("Mr. Magic's Rap Attack"), who has remixed "Eric B. Is President" and "My Melody" on Paid In Full." Check them out live at the Apollo in '91, cont'd below...

"Rakim himself was born William Griffin in Brooklyn ... He grew up in Wyandanch, Long Island ... An honor roll student, Rakim was writing rhymes and rhyming from the time he was in seventh grade ... He and Eric met and clicked right away... "We made a promise that our music had to be positive, strong, and different," remembers Rakim. "And I think we've kept our promise." ... "Surely there must have been something about the two of them. "My Melody," the first demo they ever made as a team, was bought by the first company they brought it to - Harlem's Zakia Records, who shortly thereafter licensed it to Island Records. When the record started to break nationally, Rakim was still in his last year of high school. With Paid In Full, Eric. B & Rakim demonstrate conclusively that, in their own words, they ain't no joke. In fact, they're on a mission..." - July, 1987

Rakim "WORDS" (Short Film)

Words is a re-introduction, and aural celebration of hip-hop’s most influential MC. Inspired by the vinyls that birthed the art form, the film is a portrait of two sides of an artist (A & B) and the streets and city he inspired. Two of his verses ("I Know You Got Soul" and "Follow The Leader") have been remixed … but the weight of his words will never change. His flow patterns and elevated rhymes shifted the entire culture! If this mini-doc / ode to the God MC, RAKIM, doesn't give you chills and make you stop what you're doing, then make you feel like you can do and be ANYTHING, then hip-hop culture might not be for you. Watch this excellent short film by Matt Bieler below...