Search - Eric B. & Rakim :: Paid In Full

Hip-hop doesn't get much better than this

John Alapick | Wilkes-Barre, PA United States | 01/03/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Eric B & Rakim's debut album Paid In Full has stood the test of time as one of the best hip-hop albums ever released. Even though their third album Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em is more consistent, few hip-hop albums, if any, have boasted as many classic tracks as Paid In Full. Rakim reinvented rap with his creative rhymes and smooth delivery while Eric B. remains one of the best ever at the turntable. This album has also been sampled by several rappers and musicians over the years, most notably Eminem and Limp Bizkit.



Paid In Full plays almost like a greatest hits album as many of the tracks are now hip-hop standards. "I Know You Got Soul" is one of their best tracks, so revered in fact that even Rolling Stone recognized it as one of the top 500 songs of all time. "Eric B. For President" is also one of their most memorable tracks particularly because of its "Make 'em clap to this" hook. "I Ain't No Joke" with its snappy horn lines, Eric B.'s stellar turntable work, and Rakim's rapid-fire lyrics is also very strong. The tracks "My Melody" and "Move The Crowd" are killer, featuring memorable backing tracks and Rakim's laid-back delivery which is so impressive that it seems almost effortless. "As The Rhyme Goes On" is slow and menacing as Rakim raps over a very deep bass line. Eric B. gets to showcase his skills on the instrumentals "Eric B. Is On The Cut" and "Chinese Arithmetic" although the latter gets too repetitive after a while. The last track "Extended Beat" is basically just the backing track for "Move The Crowd." Last but not certainly not least is "Paid In Full", one of the greatest hip-hop songs ever recorded that's been sampled by so many artists for its memorable bass line and percussion. A classic hip-hop album that should be owned by all fans of the genre. Highly recommended."

Eric B & Rakim- Paid in Full

Constant | Vancouver, BC Canada | 06/29/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In 1987 Eric B (Eric Barrier,DJ) & Rakim (William Griffin ,Lyricist) dropped there debut album "Paid in Full" an album that today is considered a hiphop classic by many. This reviewer was six years old when it came out, so I cant really say how it was then, because I did not come across it till last year, while reading a thread on a hiphop board, recommending it as one of the most important hiphop releases of all time. It raised some controversy at that time by sampling music from the likes of artists like James Brown (starting a tradition of sampling brown a recent example would be Nas- Get Down). First track on this album is "I aint no Joke", first thing that came to my attention when listening to this was Rakims crazy flow, and delivery, it really grabs the listners attention, and Rakim comes across raw on this, Eric B's scraching and beat is nice too. The next track "Eric B. is on the Cut" follows and showcases more of Eric Bs skills. The long "My Melody" follows and has Rakim tearing into fake mcs. "I know you Got Soul" flows smoothly, Eric B's turntable skills and Rakims lyrics, kept this listner nodding for all six minutes, followed up by the mellowed out "Move the Crowd". Albums title track "Paid in Full" comes next, right now this is my favourite track love the beats to it, and Rakims simple yet addictive lyrics and flow on a thugged out track about getting money. "Chinese Arithmetic" is an oriental sounding (if theres such a description) track of pure scratching, not huge into this track, but I like the variety it brings, and it seems original as I have never heard anything like it. "Eric B. Is President" is the albums last track with Rakim on it, and has Rakim talking about the game and dropping the chorus "Make em clap to this". Album finishes with the instrumental "Extended Beat". I noticed a few things while listening to this, alot of Rakim's lyrics I have heard from other artists over the years, and every track ends with extended instrumentals. I like this, nowadays you have some Rappers who stay on an instrumental to the very end, dropping to many lines (this leads to people buying pure instrumental albums), Rakim keeps his lyrics short, and memorable and you get to enjoy Eric B's scrachting and beats. Another thing I have heard about this album is that it was before its time, innovative in Eric B's blend of Jazz sampling, and Rakims smooth delivery. For people to be remembering "Paid in Full" sixteen years later is another indication of how ill it is, I recommend it for anyone who loves oldschool and classic hiphop."

Arguably the Greatest

theskinnycritic | Sacramento, Ca | 08/10/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Before this album dropped, Hip Hop and fat shoe laces were in fashion and each stood as good a chance as the other to remain in vogue. Some talented acts like Run- DMC, the Fat Boys, Whodini and Kurtis Blow kept Hip Hop on the radar scope but rap as a staple genre was nowhere near being a fixture in our culure. And then we heard Rakim, Hip-Hop's first true artist. His flow was in fact, just like the waters of the Nile: cool, deep, and flowing north against the grain of every MC out there at the time and most since. Rakim's flow seemed somehow ahead of its time yet familiar, as if he'd always been there, from the ancient Pyramids to suede Pumas, all the while whistling his melody. This album cemented hip hop in our culture and Rakim still remains the standard by which all great MCs are measured. That makes Paid in Full arguably the greatest hip hop album and one of the most important albums of all time."