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Eric B. and Rakim broke onto the scene in New York City in ’87 with Paid in Full, an album many people consider to be a true classic. While this album contains many hits and ground breaking material, the truth is this album has not aged as well as other classics due to some of the instrumental tracks with Eric B scratching poorly all over them.

So, while there maybe some skip material, unlike albums such as Illmatic or Doggystyle, the influence and impact of this album, and the progression through their next 3 albums is undeniable. Firstly, the heavy use of samples in the production style of Eric B. became a technique that forever changed beats in hiphop music. This was the first time an album so heavily relied on the use of sample based production, a style that co-exists with the era of hiphop known as “The Golden Era”. A time where James Brown became and as a result will remain the most sampled artist of all time. And guess which artist Eric B. sampled on the hit track “I Know You Got Soul”. Rakim aka The 7th Letter aka The God CHANGED the way people rapped… Forever. The style of rapping he introduced on this album had never been recorded before. Deviating from the simple rhyme patters of the 80’s he ignored bar lines and introduced internal and multisyllabic rhyme patterns as well as a unique smooth laid back delivery. Quoted by many to be the GREATEST and MOST INFLUENTIAL rapper of all time his influence on the rap game is undeniable. Rakim aka The God Rakim aka The R aka THe 18th Letter, and a reason many consider why Nas adopted the mantle ‘Gods Son’.

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