Noted for its revolutionary lyrics and complex rhyming schemes, Eric B. & Rakim’s Paid In Full stands one of the most influential hip hop records of all-time. Released during the golden age of hip-hop, an era loosely defined by hip hop music released from the mid-80’s to the mid 90’s, Paid In Full and its contemporary releases saw an explosion in diversity, quality, and innovation in the art form, featuring both eclectic music sampling across the eras as well as more dense subject matter that challenged the mind.
Rakim’s rhyming scheme specifically has been noted for its influence on the hip hop genre. In previous eras MC would tend to freestyle their bars, leading to rather straightforward rhyming structures that rhymed the last words of each delivery. In addition, MC’s at the time were noted for their energetic and emphatic delivery, leveraging style over substance.
Rakim brought an entirely new approach to this process. Eschewing improvisation, Rakim meticulously crafted his bars ahead of time, focusing on clever usages of internal rhymes within lines to help create a more wholistic work of art that keeps you on your toes as a listener. In addition, Rakim’s nearly dead-pan delivery was somewhat of a revelation at the time– his ability to convey his message without dramatic exclamation points everywhere conveys a feeling of matter of fact bluntness that brings a sense of stoicism to his tales of life in New York City during the late 80’s. Put another way, Rakim’s delivery and lyrical content felt less like a show and more like a journalist reporting the news.
It was a style that would change the face of hip hop in the decades that followed.
Standout Songs: “I Ain’t No Joke”, “Paid In Full”, “I Know You Got Soul”
