Eric B. & Rakim were almost universally recognized as the best DJ & MC duo. Not only was their chemistry superb, but individually, each represented the absolute peak in their respective skills. Eric B. was a hugely influential DJ and beatmaker whose taste for hard-hitting James Brown samples touched off a stampede through the Godfather of Soul's back catalog that continues up to the present day. Rakim, meanwhile, still tops fan polls as the greatest MC of all time. He crafted his rhymes like poetry, filling his lines with elaborate metaphors and complex internal rhymes, and he played with the beat like a jazzman, earning a reputation as the smoothest-flowing MC ever to pick up a mic. His articulation was clear, his delivery seemingly effortless, and his influence on subsequent MCs incalculable. Together, their peerless technique on the microphone and turntables upped the ante for all who followed them, and their advancement of hip-hop as an art form has been acknowledged by everyone from Gang Starr to the Wu-Tang Clan. While certain elements of their sound might come off as slightly dated today, it's also immediately clear how much of a hand Eric B. & Rakim had in leading hip-hop into the modern age.
Eric B. was born Eric Barrier in 1965 in Elmhurst, Queens; his future partner, William Griffin, Jr., was born in 1968 and also hailed from the suburbs of New York, specifically Wyandanch, Long Island. At age 16, Griffin converted to Islam and adopted the name Rakim Allah. Barrier played trumpet and guitar early on, but switched to the turntables in high school, and eventually landed a job as the mobile DJ for radio station WBLS. It was there that he met Rakim, and the two officially formed a partnership in 1985. Their first single -- "Eric B. Is President" (an ode to Barrier's DJ skills) b/w "My Melody" -- was released on the tiny Harlem-based indie label Zakia. It was a street-level sensation during the summer of 1986, and the duo was picked up by the larger 4th & Broadway imprint. The equally monumental singles "I Ain't No Joke" and "I Know You Got Soul" sampled James Brown and his cohort Bobby Byrd, respectively, and their utter funkiness began to revolutionize the sound of hip-hop. Moreover, Rakim's line "pump up the volume" on the latter track was in turn sampled itself, becoming the basis for M/A/R/R/S' hit of the same name.
In 1987, 4th & Broadway issued the duo's full-length debut, Paid in Full; accompanied by a mighty underground buzz, the record climbed into the Top Ten on the R&B LP charts (as would all of their subsequent albums). Additionally, the British DJ duo Coldcut remixed the title cut into a bona fide U.K. smash. The exposure helped make "Paid in Full"'s drum track one of the most sampled beats this side of James Brown's "Funky Drummer"; it provided the foundation for Milli Vanilli's "Girl You Know It's True," among many other, more credible hits. On the heels of Paid in Full, Eric B. & Rakim signed with MCA subsidiary Uni and consolidated their reputation with another landmark hip-hop album, 1988's Follow the Leader. The title cut took its place among the classic singles already in their canon, and Jody Watley soon tapped the duo for a guest spot on her 1989 single "Friends," which brought them into the pop Top Ten for the first and only time.
The 1990 follow-up Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em proved relatively disappointing from a creative standpoint, although 1992's slightly jazzier Don't Sweat the Technique was a more consistent affair that bolstered their legacy. As it turned out, the record also completed that legacy. The duo's contract with MCA was almost up, and they had discussed the possibility of each recording a solo album. Unfortunately, the resulting tension over the future of their partnership ultimately destroyed it. In the aftermath of the breakup, various legal issues prevented both parties from starting their solo careers for quite some time.
Follow the Leader
Eric B. & Rakim Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And you could picture, like a photo
Music makes mellow, maintains to make
Melodies for MCs, motivates the breaks
I'm everlasting; I can go on for days and days
With rhyme displays that engrave deep as x-rays
I can take a phrase that's rarely heard
Flip it now it's a daily word
Bambino along, Rakim'll remain calm
Self esteem make me super superb and supreme
Before a microphone, still, I fiend
This was a take, I wasn't supposed to break
I was supposed to wait, but let's motivate
I wanna see 'em keep followin' and swallowin'
Takin' the makin', bitin' and borrowin'
Brothers try and others die to get the formula
But I'm a let 'cha sweat. You still ain't warm
You a step away from frozen, stiff as if you're posin'
Dig into my brain as the rhyme gets chosen
So follow me, and while you're thinking you were first
Let's travel adventitious at speeds around the universe
What could you say as the earth gets further and further away
Planets as small as balls of clay?
Astray into the Milky Way, world's out of sight
As far as the eye can see, not even a satellite
Now stop and turn around and look
As you stare into the darkness, your knowledge: took!
So keep starin', soon you suddenly see a star
You better follow it 'cause it's the "R"
This is a lesson. If you're guessin' and if you're borrowin'
Hurry hurry step right up and keep followin'
The Leader
Follow the leader
Rakim'll say, "Follow the leader!"
Rakim'll say, "Follow the leader!"
Rakim'll say, "Follow the leader!"
Keep Followin'
Rakim'll say, "Follow the leader!"
Rakim'll say, "Follow the leader!"
Rakim'll say, "Follow the leader!"
Rakim'll say, "Follow the leader!"
This is a lifetime mission
Vision a prison. All right, listen
In this journey, you're the journal, I'm the journalist
Am I eternal or an eternalist?
I'm about to flow long as I can possibly go
Keep you movin' 'cause the crowd said so
Dance! Cuts rip your pants
Eric B. on the blades, bleedin' death. Call an ambulance!
Pull out my weapon and start to squeeze
A magnum as a microphone, murderin' MCs
Let's quote a rhyme from a record I wrote
"Follow the Leader!" ...Yeah, dope!
'Cause every time I stop, you see, just duck
As soon as you try to step off you self-destruct
I came to overcome before I'm gone
By showin' and provin' and lettin' knowledge be born
Then after that I'll live forever. You disagree?
You say, "Never?" Then follow me
From century to century, you'll remember me
In history, not a mystery or a memory
Called by nature, mind raised in Asia
Since you was tricked, I had to raise ya
From the cradle to the grave
But remember, you're not a slave
'Cause we were put here to be much more than that
But we couldn't see because our mind was trapped
But I'm here to break away the chains, take away the pains
Remake the brains, rebuild my name
Again, somebody told you, a little knowledge is dangerous
It can't be mixed, diluted, it can't be changed with a
Switch. Here's a lesson if you're guessin', if you're borrowin'
Hurry hurry step right up and keep followin'
The Leader
Follow the leader
Rakim'll say, "Follow the leader!"
Rakim'll say, "Follow the leader!"
Rakim'll say, "Follow the leader!"
Rakim'll say, "Follow the leader!"
Rakim'll say, "Follow the leader!"
Rakim'll say, "Follow the leader!"
Rakim'll say, "Follow the leader!"
A fear if I freestyle lyrics-a-fury
My third eye make me shine like jury
You're just a rented rapper, you're rhymes are minute-maid
I'll be here when they fade, I'll watch you flip like a renegade
I can't wait to break and eliminate
On every trade of my snake so stay awake
And follow and follow 'cause the tempo's a trail
The stage is a cage, the mic is a third rail
I'm Rakim, the fiend of a microphone
I'm not him, so leave my mic alone
Soon as the beat is felt, I'm ready to go
So fasten your seatbelt 'cause I'm about to flow
No need to speed, slow down and let the leader lead
Word to Daddy... Indeed!
The "R's" a rollin' stone, so I'm rollin'
Directs the tone then rhymes are stolen
Stop buggin'! A brother said, "Dig him?" I never dug him
He couldn't follow the leader long enough so I drug him
It's a danger zone, he should arrange his own
Face it, to space it, grace it, change the tone
There's one "R" in the alphabet
It's a one letter word and it's about to get
More complex from one rhyme to the next
Eric B., be easy on the flex
I've been from state to state. Follow us. Tailgate
Keep comin', but you came too late, but I'll wait
So back up your group, get a grip, come equipped
You're the next contestant. Clap your hands. You won a trip
The price is right. Don't make a deal too soon
How many notes? Could you name this tune?
"Follow the Leader" is a title they task
Now you know; you don't have to ask
Rappers' rhythm and poetry, cuts create sound effects
You might get junked if you follow the records he wrecks
Until then, keep eatin' and swallowin'
You better take a deep breath and keep followin'
The Leader
Follow the leader.
Rakim'll say, "Follow the leader!"
Keep followin'.
Rakim'll say, "Follow the leader!" Rakim'll say, "Follow the leader!"
The "R!"
Rakim'll say, "Follow the leader!" Rakim'll say, "Follow the leader!"
Rakim'll say, "Follow the leader!" Rakim'll say, "Follow the leader!"
Rakim'll say, "Peace."
Rakim'll say, "Follow the leader!" Rakim'll say, "Follow the leader!"
Rakim'll say, "Follow the leader!" Rakim'll say, "Follow the leader!"
Follow the leader.
Rakim'll say, "Follow the leader!" Rakim'll say, "Follow the leader!"
Rakim'll say, "Follow the leader!" Rakim'll say, "Follow the leader!"
Rakim'll say, "Follow the leader!" Rakim'll say, "Follow the leader!"
Rakim'll say, "Follow the leader!"
Follow the leader!
Kaboom!
Eric B. & Rakim's "Follow the Leader" is a piece of classic hip-hop that is so influential that it has become iconic in the genre. The song is a call to action, inviting listeners to follow Rakim's lead and become better rappers themselves. The song starts with an invitation for listeners to join Rakim on a journey through a musical landscape, encouraging them to get into the groove and let the music flow through them. In the spirit of the song's title, it is clear that Rakim intends to be a leader in hip-hop music and influence others as he tells his story.
Following the intro, Rakim continues to establish himself as the "King of the Microphone" by flaunting his talents as an MC. As he raps, he paints an intricate picture of his abilities to spit rhymes that cut deep into the listener's conscience. He stresses his longevity and his unconditional love for the microphone, which has been the driving force behind his career. The tempo picks up, and Rakim's rhymes become more complex as he drops complex word-play that showcases his unmatched lyrical abilities.
In the final verses of the song, Rakim shifts his focus from himself to the state of hip-hop, criticizing rappers who fail to follow his lead and chase the current trends blindly. He encourages rappers to carve out their own path, to build their own legacy, and to keep reinventing themselves in the face of constant change. Finally, the track fades out with Rakim shouting "Kaboom!" - a fitting end to an explosive song that has stood the test of time.
Line by Line Meaning
Follow me into a solo, get in the flow
Join me in a solo performance and get into the rhythm
And you could picture, like a photo
You can visualize and imagine the scene, just like a photograph
Music makes mellow, maintains to make
Music has a calming effect and continues to create
Melodies for MCs, motivates the breaks
Creating melodies for rappers and inspiring the instrumental breaks
I'm everlasting; I can go on for days and days
I am timeless and can continue performing indefinitely
With rhyme displays that engrave deep as x-rays
My rhymes have a profound impact, like x-rays revealing deep truths
I can take a phrase that's rarely heard
I can take an uncommon phrase and popularize it
Flip it now it's a daily word
Now it becomes a commonly used word in everyday language
I can get illin' at normal killin'
I can excel at normal rhyming and surpass others
Bambino along, Rakim'll remain calm
I stay composed while working alongside Bambino (another artist)
Self-esteem make me super superb and supreme
My confidence makes me incredibly great and supreme
Before a microphone, still, I fiend
Even after all these years, I still crave performing on the microphone
This was a take, I wasn't supposed to break
This recording was intended to be flawless, I wasn't supposed to make mistakes
I was supposed to wait, but let's motivate
I was meant to wait for the right moment, but let's inspire and energize instead
I wanna see 'em keep following' and swallowing'
I want to witness them continue to follow and absorb my words
Taking the making', biting and borrowing'
Copying and imitating my style and creativity
Brothers try and others die to get the formula
Creators attempt and some fail to discover the secret recipe
But I'ma let 'cha sweat. You still ain't warm
But I'll let you struggle and work hard, you're still not ready
You a step away from frozen, stiff as if you're posin'
You're close to being trapped, rigid as if you're pretending
Dig into my brain as the rhyme gets chosen
Look deeply into my mind as I select the perfect rhyme
So follow me, and while you're thinking you were first
So join me, and even though you think you came up with it first
Let's travel adventitious at speeds around the universe
Let's embark on an unexpected journey, moving swiftly through the universe
What could you say as the earth gets further and further away
As the earth becomes more distant, what would you say?
Planets as small as balls of clay?
Planets appearing as tiny as balls of clay?
Astray into the Milky Way, world's out of sight
Lost in the Milky Way, the world is no longer visible
As far as the eye can see, not even a satellite
Nothing visible in the vast expanse, not even a satellite
Now stop and turn around and look
Now pause and turn around to observe
As you stare into the darkness, your knowledge: took!
As you gaze into the abyss, your understanding expands
So keep starin', soon you suddenly see a star
Continue to gaze, and suddenly you'll see a guiding star
You better follow it 'cause it's the 'R'
You should follow it because it's me, Rakim, the leader
This is a lesson. If you're guessin' and if you're borrowin'
This is an important lesson. If you're guessing or imitating
Hurry hurry step right up and keep followin'
Quickly, quickly step forward and continue to follow
Rakim'll say, 'Follow the leader!'
Rakim says, 'Follow the leader!'
This is a lifetime mission
This is a mission that lasts a lifetime
Vision a prison. All right, listen
Imagining a prison. Now, pay attention
In this journey, you're the journal, I'm the journalist
In this adventure, you're the story, and I'm the one telling it
Am I eternal or an eternalist?
Am I immortal or a believer in immortality?
I'm about to flow long as I can possibly go
I'm going to rap for as long as I can possibly continue
Keep you movin' 'cause the crowd said so
Keep you dancing and moving because the crowd demands it
Dance! Cuts rip your pants
Dance! My scratches on the turntables tear your pants apart
Eric B. on the blades, bleedin' death. Call an ambulance!
Eric B. skillfully cuts on the turntables, causing great excitement. Call for help!
Pull out my weapon and start to squeeze
I grab my microphone and start delivering powerful lyrics
A magnum as a microphone, murderin' MCs
My microphone is like a lethal weapon, causing the demise of other rappers
Let's quote a rhyme from a record I wrote
Let's recite a verse from one of my previously released songs
'Follow the Leader!' ...Yeah, dope!
'Follow the Leader!' ...Yeah, it's amazing!
'Cause every time I stop, you see, just duck
Because when I stop, you better be prepared to dodge my attacks
As soon as you try to step off you self-destruct
The moment you attempt to challenge me, you destroy yourself
I came to overcome before I'm gone
I came to conquer and achieve before my time is up
By showin' and provin' and lettin' knowledge be born
By demonstrating and proving my skills, and sharing wisdom
Then after that I'll live forever. You disagree?
By doing so, my legacy will live on forever. Do you doubt that?
You say, 'Never?' Then follow me
You say it's impossible? Then join me and witness it yourself
From century to century, you'll remember me
Through the ages, you will remember and recognize me
In history, not a mystery or a memory
I will be part of history, not just a forgotten mystery or memory
Called by nature, mind raised in Asia
Blessed by nature, with a mind shaped by Asian culture
Since you was tricked, I had to raise ya
Because you were deceived, I had to educate and guide you
From the cradle to the grave
From birth to death
But remember, you're not a slave
But always remember, you are not a slave
'Cause we were put here to be much more than that
Because we were placed on this earth to achieve much more
But we couldn't see because our mind was trapped
But we couldn't realize it because our minds were limited
But I'm here to break away the chains, take away the pains
But I'm here to break free from the limitations, remove the hardships
Remake the brains, rebuild my name
Reinvent our thinking, restore my reputation
Again, somebody told you, a little knowledge is dangerous
Once again, someone warned you that a small amount of knowledge can be harmful
It can't be mixed, diluted, it can't be changed with a switch
It can't be blended or altered easily
Here's a lesson if you're guessin', if you're borrowin'
Here's an important lesson if you're guessing or imitating
Hurry hurry step right up and keep followin'
Quickly, quickly step forward and continue to follow
Rakim'll say, 'Follow the leader!'
Rakim says, 'Follow the leader!'
A fear if I freestyle lyrics-a-fury
Intense fear arises when I freestyle powerful, furious lyrics
My third eye make me shine like jury
My inner vision allows me to radiate brilliance like a jury (a collection of experts)
You're just a rented rapper, your rhymes are minute-maid
You're merely a temporary rapper, your rhymes are artificial and insignificant
I'll be here when they fade, I'll watch you flip like a renegade
I'll remain here while others fade away, observing you rebel and change
I can't wait to break and eliminate
I can't wait to break through barriers and eliminate competition
On every trade of my snake so stay awake
On every move I make, be alert and stay awake
And follow and follow 'cause the tempo's a trail
Keep following me and continue because the rhythm leads the way
The stage is a cage, the mic is a third rail
The stage feels like a cage, and the microphone is like an electrified rail
I'm Rakim, the fiend of a microphone
I'm Rakim, the addict who craves the microphone
I'm not him, so leave my mic alone
I'm not like the others, so don't touch my microphone
Soon as the beat is felt, I'm ready to go
As soon as I feel the rhythm, I'm prepared to start performing
So fasten your seatbelt 'cause I'm about to flow
Buckle up and prepare for a thrilling ride as I deliver my rap
No need to speed, slow down and let the leader lead
No need to rush, slow down and allow me, the leader, to guide
Word to Daddy... Indeed!
I give my word, as in respect to my father, absolutely!
The 'R's a rollin' stone, so I'm rollin'
The 'R' (referring to himself) is like a rock constantly moving forward, so I'm moving forward
Directs the tone then rhymes are stolen
Sets the tone and then others copy my rhymes
Stop buggin'! A brother said, 'Dig him?' I never dug him
Stop bothering me! Someone asked, 'Do you like him?' I never liked him
He couldn't follow the leader long enough so I drug him
He couldn't keep up with the leader (Rakim) for long, so I left him behind
It's a danger zone, he should arrange his own
It's a risky situation, he should figure things out for himself
Face it, to space it, grace it, change the tone
Accept it, embrace it, enhance it, alter the mood
There's one 'R' in the alphabet
There's only one 'R' in the alphabet
It's a one-letter word and it's about to get
Referring to 'R' as a one-letter word, and it's about to
More complex from one rhyme to the next
Become more intricate with each subsequent rhyme
Eric B., be easy on the flex
Eric B., be gentle with your turntable skills
I've been from state to state
I've traveled extensively
Follow us. Tailgate
Follow us closely, like tailgating a vehicle
Keep comin', but you came too late, but I'll wait
Keep coming, but you arrived too late. However, I'll still wait
So back up your group, get a grip, come equipped
Get your group together, be prepared, and come fully equipped
You're the next contestant. Clap your hands. You won a trip
You're the next participant. Applause! You've won a journey
The price is right. Don't make a deal too soon
The opportunity is valuable. Don't accept an agreement too hastily
How many notes? Could you name this tune?
Do you know how many musical notes? Can you identify this melody?
'Follow the Leader' is a title they task
'Follow the Leader' is the challenge given to the audience
Now you know; you don't have to ask
Now you're aware; there's no need to inquire
Rappers' rhythm and poetry, cuts create sound effects
Rappers' rhythmic poetry, and DJ cuts create various sound effects
You might get junked if you follow the records he wrecks
You could get overwhelmed if you imitate the records he destroys
Until then, keep eatin' and swallowin'
Until then, keep absorbing and digesting
You better take a deep breath and keep followin'
You better take a deep breath and continue to follow
Rakim'll say, 'Follow the leader!'
Rakim says, 'Follow the leader!'
Keep followin'
Continue to follow
Rakim'll say, 'Follow the leader!'
Rakim says, 'Follow the leader!'
Rakim'll say, 'Follow the leader!'
Rakim says, 'Follow the leader!'
Rakim'll say, 'Follow the leader!'
Rakim says, 'Follow the leader!'
Lyrics © FRANAM PUB ADMINISTRATION, BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: Eric Barrier, William Griffin, Bob James
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@cbchansey6866
@@rwj197311
Sorry buddy, King Los has long taken the crown
To recognize the genius I am
You'd have to have one foot on Venus to even visit these arenas I'm in
Now did I say arenas or Serena's?
I kill shit, Venus/Serena's, I kill shit, I Gilbert Arenas
I'm ill wit' the skill wit', the skill wit'
If this the shit that I build
When I'm buildin' a buildin' built with a billion builders
That's buildin' a buildin' on top of this one
No feelin' is toppin' this one
No villain is stoppin' this one
That'd be a dark night, won't it?
While overlookin' my city, had a Dark Knight moment
I'm overlookin' my city, same city that overlooked me
Now it's back to back tours, cause cities just overbook me
Speaking of Dark Knight, I know some jokers that scheme
Cuz I done blew up somethin' sick like the openin' scene
Not to mention, nobody gon mention you this year
You just a joker, I really made the pencil disappear
I got that Edgar Allen Poe flow, bars like a bear trap
Shakespeare's only rebuttal would be a head scratch
I haven't been amateur, ever, never
Iambic pentameter, clever, better
Nobody even seems this deep
I got niggas stayin' awoke to put my dreams to sleep
But, watch me maneuver
New maroon drop for my jewel
I need moon rocks for my Muller, I'm the future
Tell these niggas I need my proper spot
They a bunch of Papa Docs and Chocolate Drops
My 16's proper, give me my props or not
I went Pac at 16 when my Pops was shot
Uh, it left my mind out of place
I guess that's why in my rhymes, I spend time out of space
So, I speak life, rappers talk
Can't be a rap god if you've never rapped for God
Gotta be close to him like the woman in The Bible who felt she could be blessed just to grab his cloth
Uh, bulletin: we full of sin
If we wade in the water, the weight of it might pull us in
They, fake, fake, fake, fake, fake
Can't fake what you ain't, ain't, ain't, ain't
Wait, if you're searchin' for a way, wait
I made a way, all my homies used to weigh weight
Brakes, pump your brake, brake, brake, brakes
My niggas break in and take, they don't take breaks
I can't fail, I don't believe in it
You don't possess humble nor obedience
Comedians told me that I wouldn't fly
I remember losin' family members and I wouldn't cry
Nigga if you had wooden eyes
You could see I'm fly in my future, so why wouldn't I?
I'm too good, these niggas good and high
Boys in the hood don't rock wit' you Cuba Goodin' guys
Niggas on that "be alike" shit
Guess they "copy, paste" us cause we the right clique
Uh, get it? Right click, copy, paste?
Life hit a rocky phase, ice wrist, Versace shade
White whip, on hockey blades, grill like a hockey mask
Chop it like a hockey stick, niggas pop it to pocket cash
Talkin' bout you poppin' gats, runnin' wit' those sloppy cats
Same suckas probably be watchin' you get your pockets tapped
Fuck all that cocky shit, where I'm from they cocking straps
Think you wavy 'til you get hit with 8 in your stocking cap
But, I choose to excel
Made my old ex mad, gave my new ex hell
Went from no X to one X to two X, well
I been nice since my tee shirt was 2XL
Yeah that's XX, like two exes ago
But it's still all love like X's and O's
Cause at some point, we feel we have exes who owe
You know an explanation why they made an exit, and oh
If you think I'm talkin' bout my exes, come on, man
Tell XXL they got one more chance
But, man I lay low
If I ain't on ya list, then that bitch don't exist, Manti Te'o
I'm anti aye-bro, that shit they puttin' up corny
Tell these niggas they ain't good enough to bore me
I'm just paintin' so y'all see the story
I can't be guarded in rap, to God be the glory
King
@TripSe7en_77
In just 8 bars of this song he has outrapped 95% of today’s rap era.
@matt-dj5ub
hardly anyone these days compares to this level of lyrical ability
@chrisjackson3848
The only modern day artist on his level is Kedrick Lamar.
@siturl5834
Did you say rap or crap? :p Cant tell the difference nowadays. Now this is awesome.
@Archaic1Eye
Real talk ...
@mauricesmith3821
We were witnessing greatness during those day. I didn't even realize it back then. Glad I was there ( juke box, video vibrations, rap city, etc.)
@jimjankswankson
This man single handedly changed the tone of hip hop in the 80’s and still relevant 30 plus years later.
@gabrielleelliott2487
No other rapper can compare
@Dee_Nice89
@@gabrielleelliott2487
Rakim birthed alot of rappers in the game, and that's why he's The God MC cause he layed the foundation with his lyrical style and ability 💯
@blackbolt57
I can totally relate to this because I wasn't a big fan of hip hop in comparison to others. It was cool hearing groups like fat boys, sugar hill,etc,but I was enthralled with the genre like that until Run DMC came out with walk this way,then I moved to another state and one of the first rappers I heard was Rakim,Ice T and later Kool Moe D,etc and the rest was history.
Years later when I got into the sounds of Granddaddy IU I've had ppl ask me if it was Rakim when they heard me playing him,so he is definitely an influence on those coming up behind him.