{"title":"Rakim","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"eric-b-rakim-don-t-sweat-the-technique-2lp-black","title":"Don't Sweat The Technique 2LP","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003eWhile this fourth and final album by Eric B. \u0026amp; Rakim signified an end to their collaborative studio work, it largely remains an unheralded final chapter in their maturation as a unit. Released in the midst of the first Iraq war, \u003ci\u003eDon’t Sweat The Technique\u003c\/i\u003e includes subject matter that, for the first time, directly addressed current political matters—“Casualties of War” speaks to America’s involvement in the Gulf War of the ‘90s, mentioning Rakim’s Muslim faith as well as the impact of PTSD. In the meantime, Eric B.’s production on “New Groove” was one of the most well received beats he ever made.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eBy now, their previous releases were celebrated as important benchmarks in rap history and they were now, more than ever, exposed to the mainstream. “What’s On Your Mind” was even featured in the hit film \u003ci\u003eHouse Party 2\u003c\/i\u003e. “Know The Ledge,” on the other hand, was featured in the Tupac classic, \u003ci\u003eJuice\u003c\/i\u003e. Despite the duo achieving mainstream recognition and  major respect from peers, the album did not chart as well as their previous releases nor was it deemed super consequential.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYet \u003ci\u003eDon’t Sweat The Technique\u003c\/i\u003e stands as a perfect bookend to the duo’s series of projects, with critics praising Eric B.’s expanded production aesthetic and Rakim further cementing his position as the ‘God MC.’ \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Eric B \u0026 Rakim","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":17199346155590,"sku":"00602557414585","price":17.48,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0061\/6484\/0518\/files\/Don_t_Sweat_The_Technique_2LP.png?v=1774975692"},{"product_id":"eric-b-rakim-the-complete-collection","title":"The Complete Collection","description":"\u003cp\u003eYou cannot mention rap’s greatest groups of all time without naming Eric B. \u0026amp; Rakim. This latest release, \u003cem\u003eEric B. \u0026amp; Rakim: The Complete Collection\u003c\/em\u003e, 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. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eRap’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. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eEric 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.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eThe duo’s first release, \u003cem\u003ePaid In Full\u003c\/em\u003e, was released in 1987 on 4th \u0026amp; 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— \u003cem\u003eFollow the Leader\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eLet the Rhythm Hit 'Em\u003c\/em\u003e. Despite not charting well, \u003cem\u003eFollow the Leader\u003c\/em\u003e 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. \u003cem\u003eLet the Rhythm Hit ’Em\u003c\/em\u003e 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 \u003cem\u003eSource Magazine\u003c\/em\u003e at the time. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eBy the time \u003cem\u003eDon’t Sweat the Technique\u003c\/em\u003e 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. \u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eBringing all four of Eric B. \u0026amp; 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. – \u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eDavid \u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Eric B \u0026 Rakim","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":17199347925062,"sku":"00602557711806","price":125.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0061\/6484\/0518\/files\/The_Complete_Collection.png?v=1774976908"},{"product_id":"eric-b-rakim-follow-the-leader-limited-edition-2lp","title":"Follow The Leader (Limited Edition Grape) 2LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eAfter setting things ablaze with their debut album, Eric B. \u0026amp; Rakim dropped \u003cem\u003eFollow The Leader\u003c\/em\u003e, a hard-hitting sophomore effort that bolstered listeners' awareness of the duo's ongoing progression. Eric B.'s minimal production was perfectly tailored to Rakim's expressive, fiery lyrics. Standouts like \"Microphone Fiend\" or one of Rakim's most venerated performances, \"Lyrics of Fury,\" displayed a self-awareness that the duo knew they were onto something special. It should also be noted that The 45 King \"ghost produced\" a few songs on here, too.\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eUpon its release,\u003cem\u003e Follow The Leader\u003c\/em\u003e ranked higher than the duo's debut, charting on Billboard's Top Pop Albums. Not only was there an expansion of samples and overall production bandwidth on the album but \u003cem\u003eFollow The Leader\u003c\/em\u003e seemed to arrive in an era where each project seemed to push the genre towards a fuller realization of what can be achieved. Or, as Rakim puts it on \"The R\": \"I see hands in the air, that means many be cooperating. I can't stop relating, hip-hop is making more sense when I'm stating paragraphs of potential, to prevent you from using my instrumental.\" \u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eIn honor of the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop, this is reissued on limited edition 2LP grape color vinyl.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTracklist\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA1. Follow The Leader\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eA2. Microphone Fiend\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eB1. Lyrics Of Fury\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eB2. Eric B. Never Scared\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eB3. Just A Beat\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eC1. Put Your Hands Together\u003cbr\u003eC2. To The Listeners\u003cbr\u003eC3. No Competition\u003cbr\u003eD1. The R\u003cbr\u003eD2. Musical Massacre\u003cbr\u003eD3. Beats For The Listeners\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Eric B \u0026 Rakim","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40517768642637,"sku":"00602458468908","price":26.59,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0061\/6484\/0518\/products\/ERIKB.png?v=1709062712"},{"product_id":"eric-b-rakim-paid-in-full-gold-limited-edition-2lp","title":"Paid In Full (Limited Edition Gold) 2LP","description":"\u003cp\u003eEric B. \u0026amp; Rakim's first release, \u003cem\u003ePaid In Full\u003c\/em\u003e, was released in 1987 on 4th \u0026amp; 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—\u003cem\u003eFollow the Leader\u003c\/em\u003e and \"Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em\". In honor of the 50th Anniversary of Hip Hop, this is reissued on limited edition 2LP gold vinyl.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"p1\"\u003ePlease note that each vinyl is unique and the colors may appear slightly different from the image displayed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTracklist\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eA1. I Ain't No Joke\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eA2. Eric B. Is On The Cut\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eA3. My Melody\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eB1. I Know You Got Soul\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eB2. Move The Crowd\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eC1. Paid In Full\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eC2. As The Rhyme Goes On\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eC3. Chinese Arithmetic\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eD1. Eric B. Is President\u003cbr data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eD2. Extended Beat\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e","brand":"Eric B \u0026 Rakim","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41126480281677,"sku":"00602458468823","price":26.59,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0061\/6484\/0518\/files\/ERICKB.png?v=1718840834"},{"product_id":"eric-b-rakim-paid-in-full-2-lp-lp","title":"Paid In Full 2LP","description":"\u003cp\u003e Paid in Full is the debut album from American hip hop duo Eric B. \u0026amp; Rakim, released on July 7, 1987. Often credited as a benchmark album for the golden age hip hop, the album produced five singles: \"Eric B. Is President\", \"I Ain't No Joke\", \"I Know You Got Soul\", \"Move the Crowd\", and \"Paid in Full\", all of which set a higher standard of lyricism in the genre and served as a blueprint for future rappers and producers to come. This will be the first time the album is available as 2LP format. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cb data-stringify-type=\"bold\"\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTracklist:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA1:I Ain't No Joke\u003cbr\u003eA2:Eric B. Is On The Cut\u003cbr\u003eA3:My Melody\u003cbr\u003eB1:I Know You Got Soul\u003cbr\u003eB2:Move The Crowd\u003cbr\u003eC1:Paid In Full\u003cbr\u003eC2:As The Rhyme Goes On\u003cbr\u003eC3:Chinese Arithmetic\u003cbr\u003eD1:Eric B. Is President\u003cbr\u003eD2:Extended Beat\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Eric B \u0026 Rakim","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41671846166605,"sku":"00602557414530","price":23.09,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0061\/6484\/0518\/files\/Paid_In_Full_2LP.png?v=1774452892"},{"product_id":"eric-b-rakim-follow-the-leader-2-lp-lp","title":"Follow The Leader [2 LP]","description":"\u003cp\u003e Follow the Leader is the second studio album by American hip hop duo Eric B. \u0026amp; Rakim, following their debut album Paid in Full in 1987. The album produced four singles, but is best known for the title track \"Follow the Leader\", which peaked at number 16 on the Hot Black Singles, #11 on the Hot Dance\/Disco, and at number five on the Hot Dance Music\/Maxi-Singles Sales chart. This will be the first time the album is available as 2LP format. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cb data-stringify-type=\"bold\"\u003e \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTracklist:\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eA1:Follow The Leader\u003cbr\u003eA2:Microphone Fiend\u003cbr\u003eB1:Lyrics Of Fury\u003cbr\u003eB2:Eric B. Never Scared\u003cbr\u003eB3:Just A Beat\u003cbr\u003eC1:Put Your Hands Together\u003cbr\u003eC2:To The Listeners\u003cbr\u003eC3:No Competition\u003cbr\u003eD1:The R\u003cbr\u003eD2:Musical Massacre\u003cbr\u003eD3:Beats For The Listeners\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Eric B \u0026 Rakim","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":41671883718733,"sku":"00602557414592","price":23.09,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0061\/6484\/0518\/files\/eric-b-rakim_follow-the-leader-black.png?v=1749083435"}],"url":"https:\/\/shop.udiscovermusic.com\/collections\/rakim.oembed","provider":"uDiscover Music","version":"1.0","type":"link"}