Eric B. & Rakim - Follow The Leader

Check out any list of the most influential hip hop artists ever and Eric B. & Rakim will be on it - probably near the top.  Their vintage sampling and laid back, complex rhyming showed the template for modern hip hop.  In fact, many critics view Eric B. & Rakim as the seminal act that helped create the transition from old school to new school rap.

Eric B. (Barrier) and Rakim (born as William Griffin, but changed his name upon his conversion to Islam) were part of the vibrant metro New York rap scene of the 1980s.  By 1986 they were working together, and that same year released their first single, "Eric B. Is President." The following year saw the release of the Paid in Full LP, often viewed as one of the most important and influential hip hop albums ever.   

In spite of their innovative approach to hip hop (from both a DJ and MC perspective), Eric B. & Rakim had only modest commercial success - the duo did not have a top 40 single or a top 20 album.  This was partly due to the duo's image - they were viewed as authentic rap artists, and made little effort to modify their image or their songs to become more commercially successful.

For the blog, we went with the timeless "Follow the Leader" video, off the 1988 album of the same name.  The song reached #16 on the R&B charts, but did not break the top 40.  The album hit #22 - their highest charting effort.

Starting in 1992, tensions over their recording contract and perhaps their master tapes led to an extended legal conflict.  As a result, Eric B. & Rakim broke up, although they remained in the industry as solo artists.  However, in 2017, they re-united for a tour and appear to be together as of this writing.