Hip Hop Legends - Eric & Rakim

True LegendsHit top ten on the R&B LP Charts in 1986. The album
Eric B and Rakim are two of hip hop's most influentialwent on to sell over one million units, placing Eric B. &
pioneers with music way ahead of their time. With hitsRakim amongst hip hop's elite.
like "Eric B Is President" rocking New YorksThe first single on the album "Eric B Is President"
underground club scene in the mid 1980's this duo wasproduced by Marly Marl was an instant hit in the clubs.
well on its way to mega star status."Eric B Is President" was a masterpiece, with Eric B.'s
unique scratching and mixing style to Rakim's rugged
Eric "Eric B." Barrier got his first job as a DJ for WBLSstreet influenced lyrics.
in New York DJing mobile events around the city.The stand out tracks from Paid In Full were "I Ain't No
Soon after he was introduced to MC Rakim AllahJoke", "Move the Crowd", "I Know you got Soul", and
(born William Michael Griffin Jr.) by Alvin Toney a"My Melody". These songs displayed Rakim's rapping
promoter based out of Queens, New York.skills, which pioneered the use of internal rhymes in hip
That's when they formed the legendary duo known ashop and raised the bar for other rappers in hip hop.
"Eric B. & Rakim". The duo recorded at Power PlayThe next album
Studios in New York and finished their first album inTwo young teens from Long Island, New York paved
one week. Seven short days later their extraordinarythe way, and molded the future of New York hip hop.
album was finished, it was titled Paid In Full.Without "Eric B. and Rakim" there wouldn't be any Nas,
Paid in FullJay Z, or Notorious B.I.G.