#TBT: Eric B. & Rakim

Eric B. & Rakim had a short 7 years and 4 albums of pure influence before disbanding in 1993. Widely regarded as one of the best duos in rap history, the two didn't release many songs that your favorite rapper didn't like.

Rakim, who is considered to be an elite MC still to the this day, linked up with Eric B. through a mutual friend. The two got in touch and started borrowing records from Rakim's older brother that would be used as the samples of the golden era. Rakim's laid-back flow was revolutionary and his skill-set was unmatched, creating a breakthrough appeal in the hip-hop and African American communities.

The New York duo created their debut, landmark album Paid In Full in just one week, citing the short studio time as a reason for the albums straight-to-the-point vibe.

In their later years, Eric B. & Rakim expanded on that style, revolutionized the way rappers rap, the way beats are sampled and the way hip-hop is perceived as an art form. There is no doubt in anyone's mind, both rappers and critics alike, that hip-hop would not be the same if it weren't for Eric B. & Rakim.

They have influenced everyone by default, and so we're taking this Thursday to throw it back to some of our favorite Eric B. & Rakim jams that they released before disbanding over legal issues.

What to say about this song that hasn't been said before? Not only is it an important song for rap music and hip-hop culture, but it's also a positive-swinging joint that African American culture can be very proud of. Rakim spits lines about how he used to be a stick up kid, but now he earns in a righteous way...with the mic. This sentiment was embedded in many of your favorite drug-dealer-turned-rappers, and its influence is still felt today.

Jay Z selected this song to be on the NBA 2K13 soundtrack when he hand-picked the soundtrack for that video game...doesn't that say it all? This song is your favorite rapper's favorite song, but also a landmark single that influenced the single. From graffiti to Flava Flav dancing, this song is golden era hip hop, through and through.

"Even if it's jazz or the quiet storm
I hook a beat up, convert it into hip-hop form
Write a rhyme in graffitti in every show you see me in
Deep concentration cause I'm no comedian"

The lead single from Eric B. & Rakim's Paid In Full album isn't the most well-known song they have.The track never got proper video treatment, but funky samples of James Brown and Mountain (amongst others) provided enough for DJs to spin the track around New York.

"Pump up the volume!"

In a way, coming up in the 80s was a blessing. Eric B. & Rakim had access to incredible samples that hadn't been used and abused yet, and were able to create something incredibly unique with the art of sampling that had never been done before. Today, it's a little more than finding an obvious sample to make a fire track, but back then simplicity was the only option. "I Know You Got Soul" is an example of a simple hip-hop song that was flavorful because it was fresh and innovative, and it still carries its weight.

Rakim's lyrical capabilities grew immensely over the years, and "Follow The Leader" is a solid step up from the simpler rhymes of the first album. Taken off the album of the same title, this tune is a little darker and more experimental than the earlier stuff, but it is still classic hip-hop.

"The R's a rolling stone, so I'm rolling
Directions told then, the rhymes are stolen
Stop buggin' a brother said dig him, I never dug him
He couldn't follow the leader long enough so I drug him
Into danger zone he should arrange his own
Face it, it's basic, erase or change your tone
There's one R in the alphabet
It's a one letter word and it's about to get
More complex from one rhyme to the next
Eric B, be easy on the flex"

The duo really spazzed on this one. The funky beat composed of samples from The Average White Band and Fab Five Freddy provides the perfect canvas for Rakim to spit some conscious bars...

"Hell of a antidote, something you can't smoke
More than dope, you're trying to move away but you can't, you're broke
More than cracked up, you should have backed up
For those that act up need to be more than smacked up"

The darker, deeper style on "Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em" is a link to the duo's previous style and the mid-90s styles of Wu-Tang Clan and Notorious BIG that were looming for New York hip-hop. It's really interesting to view these tunes in context and see exactly what they added to the art form at the time they were released. This album earned 5 mics from the Source Magazine and was selected as one of the top 100 albums by the magazine in 1998.

A little bit of a deeper cut, "Step Back" is a laid-back tune that really allows Rakim to spit some strong bars on. The lack of a chorus and scratched hook lets this one flow out like an extended freestyle where Rakim's lazy flow the star.

"Reach out and touch the mic, take control
Still getting paid and I still got soul
And the only thing I ever wanted you to follow was poetry
Mind takes X-rays, so listen closely
From the darkness came the light, clear out of a dark night
Now I'm here to spark the mic
Send out truth, for other groups and substitutes
With run-on rhymes and weak dubs and loops
They'd rather hear the arsonist, they insist
No need to reminisce, see if you can step to this"

In one of the most fabulously 90s videos to ever exist, Eric B. & Rakim parade around a tropical mansion gambling with women in bikinis and rhyming over a beautiful stand-up-bass line. Dudes will love this one for the skin, and ladies will love it for the vintage fashion. Don't sweat the technique, just hit play and enjoy it.

Originally released on the Juice soundtrack, this song is a prime example of hip-hop's jazz influence. The video features the duo rhyming around the mean streets with chopped shots of the film (that featured 2Pac) dispersed throughout.