Reacting to "Paid in Full" by Eric B. and Rakim

Here’s a Rakim fact I think you would appreciate. Rakim has been with his wife since high school.

Bob probably won't read this but he is truly missing context if he doesn't hear the Coldcut remix of Paid In Full. So influential that it was the version of the song used for the official music video. That remix propelled his career immensely.

the RATM link you made in the dropping bombs line is everything i love about music and i hope the more classics you touch this year just keeps your and our mind searching for those hints.

In the spirit of classics, it would be so cool to see you react to What’s Going On by Marvin Gaye (if you haven’t already heard it). Not hip hop, but a must listen album imo.

The long sections of scratching over the instrumental on "Eric B Is President" not only highlights the DJ, it gives the party people that are dancing a space to shout and chant. That song gets people up everytime. As a kid in the 80,s Ive witnessed it at house parties and family functions. Good times.

If you're curious about the talent pool of producers you should check out the YouTube series Rhythm Roulette where producers are taken into a record store and have to choose 3 records blindfolded and then use them to compose a new beat. There are definitely skill gaps but that's also part of what's cool watching the videos. I also highly recommend the Stretch and Bobbito documentary about early New York Hip-hop radio and how it spread thru mixtapes that ppl would make during the late night shows that played hip-hop. I believe it's called Stretch and Bobbito: Radio That Saved Lives

Rakim (Rah-Kim) shifted rap from the predictable AABB rhyme pattern and shouting to a relaxed monotone delivery that highlighted the writing. He placed rhymes in the middle rather than just at the end. He also pioneered the "run on" sentence that crossed what WAS the musical line of where the rhyme should end according to the beat. Rakim created the modern blueprint for lyricism that forced his predecessors to adopt while birthing every great rapper that came after like Nas, Jay Z and Eminem for instance.

RAKIM!! Great job, Bob! God MC

I was kinda expecting Bob to recognize way more parts of the album. Man Rakim and Eric B were in the pop charts back then. When listening to this album you can hear soooo much future samples.

like that top youtube comments said, doing THE classic

or RUN-DMC any of the first three albums. Really the first hip hop act to become very big

next classic has to be boogie down productions criminal minded or by all means neccessary

Finally the God MC.

The rappers who have used the unique rapping style employed by Rakim and attribute it as inspiration include GZA, Ghostface Killah,Raekwon , Tupac, Nas, Kool G. Rap, Jay-Z, The Notorious B.I.G., Eminem, 50 Cent and countless more. Jay-Z, Eminem, Nas and 50 Cent have claimed that Rakim is their favorite rapper.