Artist · chart history
Eric B & Rakim
Band Queens United States Active 1986–1992
Eric B & Rakim formed in 1986 in Queens, United States and was active until 1992. Eric B & Rakim has 15 chart appearances on 10 radio countdowns from 7 stations on RockLists, spanning 1987–2026. The most successful song on radio countdowns is “Paid In Full”, which appears on 5 lists with a best position of #27. The station that charted Eric B & Rakim most often is 90.9 The Bridge (Kansas City, MO), with 5 appearances. The artist’s biggest year on year-end countdowns was 1987.
Eric B. & Rakim were the New York duo that rewrote the rules of hip-hop in the late '80s: Eric B. on the turntables, Rakim on the mic. Their 1987 debut, Paid in Full, on 4th & B'way Records, won them acclaim straight away, with "Eric B. Is President", the title track, "I Know You Got Soul" and "I Ain't No Joke" all coming from it. Rakim didn't shout; he glided, stacking internal rhymes with an ice-cool, unhurried flow while Eric B.'s beats hit like a slammed door.
Follow the Leader came in 1988, Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em in 1990 and Don't Sweat the Technique in 1992, and all three did well. The partnership ended in 1992, but by then their place was secure: critics have widely called them the finest and most influential DJ and MC pairing of rap's golden age.
Written with AI assistance from RockLists chart data, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia.
Songs by Eric B & Rakim on radio countdowns
| # | Song | Strength | Lists | Best | #1s | Peak year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paid In Full | 5 | #27 | – | 1987 | |
| 2 | Follow The Leader | 2 | #364 | – | – | |
| 3 | Don't Sweat the Technique | 3 | #288 | – | – | |
| 4 | Paid in Full (Seven Minutes of Madness) | 1 | #209 | – | – | |
| 5 | Microphone Fiend | 1 | #463 | – | – | |
| 6 | I Know You Got Soul | 1 | #36 | – | 1987 | |
| 7 | Eric B. Is President | 1 | #674 | – | – | |
| 8 | I Ain't No Joke | 1 | #727 | – | – |
Albums with charting songs
Where each song was first released, from MusicBrainz.
Comments
Log in or create a free account to join the conversation about Eric B & Rakim.
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts.