Eric B. was born Eric Barrier in 1965 in Elmhurst, Queens.
Eric B. was a hugely influential DJ and beatmaker whose taste for hard-hitting James Brown samples touched off a stampede through the Godfather of Soul’s back catalog that continues up to the present day.
Rakim was born William Griffin, Jr., in 1968. He came from Long Island. At 16, he converted to Islam and adopted the name Rakim Allah.
Eric B met Rakim as a mobile DJ for WBLS and they formed a partnership in 1985.
Their first track together was ‘Eric B. Is President with ‘My Melody. This was followed by hits like ‘I Aint No Joke’ and ‘I Know You Got Soul’
In 1987, Paid in Full was released and it became an instant classic. Its considered one of the greatest Hip Hop albums of all time.
This album was followed in 1988 with ‘Follow The Leader’.
When the group’s contract was up with MCA, there was talk of recording a solo album but unfortunately the partnership broke up.
Legal issues had prevented both artists from starting their solo careers for some time.
Rakim was signed to Universal and in 1997 he released the well-recieved ‘The 18th Letter’ and in 1999 - ‘The Master’
Rakim is considered one of the best to ever do it. Snoop Dogg has openly said he top MC was Rakim. Rakim inspiried artists like Nas. Talib Kweli called him the Godfather of Rap.
Make no mistake, Rakim revolutionised emceeing with his poetic flow and elaborate metaphors. Rakim’s rhymes was another instrumental in the track. He is a pioneer, he set another standard in Hip Hop and he is a true microphone fiend.
Rakim and Eric B - Paid In Full
[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZElWBsoyvUo]
Rakim and Eric B - Follow The Leader
[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=BZ-rEpM6OhQ]
Rakim and Eric B - Microphone Fiend
[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=8Irsh2mXJ-E]
Rakim and Eric B - Dont Sweat The Technique
[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=bM5fNP-hr9Y]
Rakim and Eric B - I Aint No Joke
[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=Zu4RM1Iq-wg]
