Shopping Cart
The Complete Collection
The Complete Collection

The Complete Collection

uDiscover Music

Eric B & Rakim

Description

You cannot mention rap’s greatest groups of all time without naming Eric B. & Rakim. This latest release, Eric B. & Rakim: The Complete Collection, is a career box set honoring one of hip-hop’s most consequential duos, spanning their greatest releases and moments all in one thoughtfully detailed compendium.

Rap’s landscape was forever changed when Rakim emerged from Long Island in the mid 1980s. His contemplative flow coupled with imaginative metaphors had all MCs before him scratching their heads— while all future MCs improved their approach. In a time where MCs kept the party moving to beats, Rakim methodically made partygoers stop and listen.

Eric B—born Eric Barrier— was out of Queens, New York with a musical background in traditional instruments like the trumpet and drums. It wasn’t until after high school when Eric B. was introduced to the sampler and he quickly tried his hand at sound experimentation under the tutelage of Juice Crew maestro, Marley Marl.

The duo’s first release, Paid In Full, was released in 1987 on 4th & B’way Records and earned a top 10 spot on the Billboard charts. The profoundly impactful album captivated listeners both new and old, and ushered forth huge singles and trailblazing releases— Follow the Leader and Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em. Despite not charting well, Follow the Leader became a heralded instant fan favorite, especially with tracks like “Lyrics of Fury,” which to this day is held high in the pantheon of great Rakim moments. Let the Rhythm Hit ’Em didn’t receive wide industry acclaim but the album’s lyrical content— its complex themes, brevity, and poignant imagery— further cemented Rakim as one of the living greats. It also was one of the first records to achieve the highly sought after “5 Mics” in the Source Magazine at the time.

By the time Don’t Sweat the Technique came out, fandom was at a huge high, particularly Rakim’s lyrical wizardry and advanced cadences. While the duo split shortly thereafter, Rakim would go on to be compared to Jazz giants like Thelonious Monk— while this fertile era between ’86-’92 remains one of the most impactful of any within recorded music.

Bringing all four of Eric B. & Rakim's projects on vinyl, this special edition, one-of-a-kind 8LP box set also features a deluxe booklet, the album's original liner notes, and a 2CD collection containing over 20 rare remixes from 1986 to 1992. – David 

Tracklist

Paid In Full 
A1. I Ain’t No Joke
A2. Eric B. Is On The Cut
A3. My Melody
B1. I Know You Got Soul
B2. Move The Crowd
C1. Paid In Full
C2. As The Rhyme Goes On
C3. Chinese Arithmetic
D1. Eric B. Is President
D2. Extended Beat

Follow The Leader
A1. Follow the Leader
A2. Microphone Fiend
B1. Lyrics of Fury
B2. Eric B. Never Scared
B3. Just a Beat
C1. Put Your Hands Together
C2. To the Listeners
C3. No Competition
D1. The R
D2. Musical Massacre
D3. Beats for the Listeners

Let the Rhythm Hit ‘Em
A1. Let the Rhythm Hit ‘Em
A2. No Omega
B1. In the Ghetto
B2. Step Back
C1. Eric B. Made My Day
C2. Run for Cover
C3. Untouchables
D1. Mahogany
D2. Keep ‘Em Eager to Listen
D3. Set ‘Em Straight

Don’t Sweat the Technique
A1. What’s on Your Mind
A2. Teach the Children
A3. Pass the Hand Grenade
B1. Casualties of War
B2. Rest Assured
B3. The Punisher
C1. Relax with Pep
C2. Keep the Beat
C3. What’s Going On?
D1. Know the Ledge
D2. Don’t Sweat the Technique
D3. Kick Along

BONUS CD ONE
1. Paid In Full (Seven Minutes of Madness — The Coldcut Remix)
2. Let The Rhythm Hit ’Em (UPSO Mix)
Remix and additional production by Blacksmith
3. The R (Remix)
Remix by C.J. Mackintosh and Dave Dorrell
4. Casualties of War (Smooth Mix)
Remix and Additional Production by Soulshock, Cutfather & Karlin for Soulpower Productions.
5. Don’t Sweat The Technique (Funky Ginger Club Version)
Remixed by Simon ‘The Funky Ginger’ Law & Mr. Lee
6. My Melody (Original Mix)
Mixed by Marley Marl & M.C. Shan
7. As The Rhyme Goes On (Pumpin’ The Turbo – Chad Jay In Effect)
Remixed by Chad Jay
8. In The Ghetto (Drums and Rakim Mix)
Remixed by Mark Morales and Mark Rooney for Mark Morales Productions
9. Casualties of War (Militant Remix)
Additional Production & Remix by Michael “Militant Mixx ’n” Moor for Militant Mic Productions
10. Let The Rhythm Hit ’Em (12” Vocal Version Remix)
Remixed by DJ Mark “The 45 King”
11. Move The Crowd (The Wild Bunch Remix)
Remixed by The Wild Bunch
12. I Know You Got Soul (Six Minutes of Soul – The Double Trouble Remix)
Remixed by Double Trouble

BONUS CD TWO
1. Friends (Jody Watley With Eric B & Rakim)
2. Put Your Hands Together (Parkside Mix)
Remixed by Graeme Park
3. Casualties of War (Radical Radio Edit)
Additional Production & Remix by Michael “Militant Mixx ’n” Moor for Militant Mic Productions
4. Paid In Full (Derek B.’s Urban Respray)
Remixed by Derek B.
5. Let The Rhythm Hit ’Em (45 King Club Mix)
Remixed by DJ Mark “The 45 King”
6. Microphone Fiend (Extended Remix)
Remixed by DJ Mark “The 45 King”
7. No Omega (Extended Remix Version)
Remixed by Bret Lover
8. Don’t Sweat The Technique (UK Flavor Club Version)
Remixed by Simon ‘The Funky Ginger’ Law & Mr. Lee
9. Casualties of War (Soulpower Remix)
Remix and Additional Production by Soulshock, Cutfather & Karlin for Soulpower Productions.
10. Mahogany (Extended Remix Version)
Remixed by Eric B. for Lyn Star
11. Put Your Hands Together (Fon Force Mix)
Remixed by Mark Brydon and Robert Gordon for Fon Force
12. Let The Rhythm Hit ’Em (Brixton Bass Mix)
Remixed and additional production by Blacksmith
13. Move The Crowd (Beatmix By The Democratic 3 Featuring DJ Slack)
14. I Know You Got Soul (The Richie Rich Megamix)