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.
In The Ghetto
Eric B. & Rakim Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Born to be the soul controller of the universe
Besides the part of the map I hit first
Any a rhyme that I can adapt when it gets worst
The rough gets going, the going gets rough
When I start flowing, the mic might bust
The next state, I shake from the power I generate
'Cause times was hard on the Boulevard
So I vote God and never get scarred and gauled
But it seems like I'm locked in hell
Looking over the edge but the are never fell
A trip to slip 'cause my Nikes got grip
Stand on my own two feet and come equip
Any stage I'm seen on, a mic I fiend on
I stand alone and need nothing to lean on
Going for self wit a long way to go
So much to say but I still flow slow
I come correct and I won't look back
'Cause it ain't where you're from, it's where you're at
Even the (ghetto)
I learn to relax in my room and escape from New York
And return through the womb of the world as a thought
Thinking how hard it was to be born
Me being queen wit no physical form
Millions have settled wit one destination
To reach the best part, it's life creation
9 months later, a job well done
Make way, 'cause here I come
Since I made it this far, I can't stop now
There's a will and a way and I got to know how
To be all I can be and more
And see all there is to see before
Called and go back to the essence
It's a lot to learn so I study my lessons
I thought the ghetto was the worst that could happen to me
I'm glad I listen when my father was rapping to me
'Cause back in the days, they lived in caves
Exile from the original man, a straight way
Now that's what I call hard times
I rather be here to exercise the mind
Then I take a thought around the world twice
From knowledge to born back to knowledge precise
Across the desert, that's how to store a radiant
But they couldn't cave me in 'cause I'm the Asiant
Reaching for the city, a Mecca, visit medina
Visions of Neffertiti then I seen a
Mind keeps traveling, I'll be back after I
Stop and think about the brothers and sisters in Africa
Return the thought through the eye of a needle
For miles I thought and I just fought the people
Under the dark skies on a dark side
Not only there but right here's an apartheid
So now is the time for us to react
Take a trip through the mind and when you get back
Understand you're third eye seen all of that
It ain't where you're from, it's where you're at
Even the (ghetto)
Even the (ghetto)
No more props, I want property
In every borough, nobody's stopping me
Because I'm thorough, rhymes are making real estate for me to own
Wherever I bless a microphone
007 is back and relaxing
On poignant reacting and ready for action
I'm so low key that you might not see me
Incognito and taking it easy
Quiet, it's kept on a hush hush
In front of a crowd, I get loud, there's a bumrush
Be calm, keep a low pro, and play the background
Over the wack rapper, put the mic back down
So rip it, break it in half, go head and slam it
'Cause when it's time to build, I'm a mechanic
I'm bonding and mending, attaching and blending
So many solos, there is no ending
People in my neighborhood, they know I'm good
From London to Hollywood, wherever I stood
Footprints remain on stage ever since
As I walk the street, I leave fossils and dents
When I had sex, I left my name on necks
My trademark was left throughout the projects
I used to get rich when I played celo
When I rolled 4, 5, 6, they go we know
So I collect my cash then slide
I got my back, my gun's on my side
It shouldn't have to be like that
I guess it ain't where you're from, it's where you're at
Even the (ghetto)
I'm from the (ghetto)
Word up, peace
In the song "In the Ghetto" by Eric B. & Rakim, the lyrics describe the journey of a soul controller born on planet Earth, tasked with adapting intricate rhymes to overcome hardship. The rapper's rough condition is showcased by "The Boulevard" and its surroundings, which encompasses the essence of the ghetto. Even though he discovers the false reality he was entangled in, where it seemed like he was locked in hell, he learns to explore his mind and appreciate the world around him. The ghetto seemed like the worst thing that could happen to him until he realizes that his ancestors were exiled from the original man, and their struggle was worse than his. The rapper aspires to reach new heights of knowledge and awareness and invokes vision-like descriptions of cities and countries worldwide. In conclusion, the lyrics urge people to understand that where they're from is not as important as where they're at, and that knowledge and experience can humble and elevate anyone.
Line by Line Meaning
Planet Earth was my place of birth
I was born on Earth
Born to be the soul controller of the universe
I have the purpose of controlling the universe's soul
Besides the part of the map I hit first
Apart from where I was born
Any a rhyme that I can adapt when it gets worst
I can change my rhyme when times get tough
The rough gets going, the going gets rough
When things get hard, I don't give up
When I start flowing, the mic might bust
My rhymes are so powerful it might break the mic
The next state, I shake from the power I generate
My power is so great it even shakes the state I'm in
People in Cali used to think it was earthquakes
People used to think that my rhymes caused earthquakes in California
'Cause times was hard on the Boulevard
Times were tough on the street
So I vote God and never get scarred and gauled
I believe in God and never let hardships bring me down
But it seems like I'm locked in hell
It feels like I'm in a tough situation
Looking over the edge but the are never fell
Although I'm in a difficult situation, I never give up or fall down
A trip to slip 'cause my Nikes got grip
I won't trip because my Nikes have good grip
Stand on my own two feet and come equip
I stand alone and I'm capable
Any stage I'm seen on, a mic I fiend on
I love being on stage and have a passion for the mic
I stand alone and need nothing to lean on
I don't need anyone's help, I stand alone
Going for self wit a long way to go
I'm working on myself but still have a long way to go
So much to say but I still flow slow
I have a lot to say but I express it slowly and thoughtfully
I come correct and I won't look back
I always do things properly and never regret them
'Cause it ain't where you're from, it's where you're at
Your current situation is more important than where you come from
Even the (ghetto)
Even in a tough neighborhood
I learn to relax in my room and escape from New York
I relax in my room to escape from the stress of New York
And return through the womb of the world as a thought
I return to the world with new ideas
Thinking how hard it was to be born
Reflecting on how difficult it is to come into existence
Me being queen wit no physical form
I am powerful even though I am not physically present
Millions have settled wit one destination
Many people have settled for just one goal in life
To reach the best part, it's life creation
The ultimate goal is to create a fulfilling life
9 months later, a job well done
After 9 months, a new life is created
Make way, 'cause here I come
I'm here and ready to make an impact
Since I made it this far, I can't stop now
I've come too far to give up
There's a will and a way and I got to know how
There's always a way to achieve something and I have to figure it out
To be all I can be and more
To reach my full potential and exceed it
And see all there is to see before
To experience everything life has to offer
Called and go back to the essence
When my time comes, I will return to the universe
It's a lot to learn so I study my lessons
There's a lot to learn in life so I constantly educate myself
I thought the ghetto was the worst that could happen to me
I used to believe that living in the ghetto was the worst thing that could happen to me
I'm glad I listen when my father was rapping to me
I'm grateful that I listened to my father's advice
'Cause back in the days, they lived in caves
In the past, people lived in caves
Exile from the original man, a straight way
People were exiled from the original man's teachings
Now that's what I call hard times
That was a difficult situation
I rather be here to exercise the mind
I prefer to be here to challenge myself mentally
Then I take a thought around the world twice
I think deeply about the world's issues
From knowledge to born back to knowledge precise
From learning, to being born, to learning again precisely
Across the desert, that's how to store a radiant
To preserve something radiant, one must travel across a desert
But they couldn't cave me in 'cause I'm the Asiant
They couldn't hold me back because I am strong and unbreakable
Reaching for the city, a Mecca, visit medina
Striving to reach an important city and visit places of significance
Visions of Neffertiti then I seen a
I have visions of important historical figures
Mind keeps traveling, I'll be back after I
My mind continues to explore and I'll return later
Stop and think about the brothers and sisters in Africa
I pause to reflect on the struggles of people in Africa
Return the thought through the eye of a needle
I reflect on these struggles from a new angle
For miles I thought and I just fought the people
I thought for a long time and fought for important causes
Under the dark skies on a dark side
In dark times and difficult situations
Not only there but right here's an apartheid
There is discrimination and segregation happening here too
So now is the time for us to react
It's time for us to take action
Take a trip through the mind and when you get back
Reflect on your thoughts and emotions and return with newfound clarity
Understand you're third eye seen all of that
Realize that your mind's eye has observed everything
No more props, I want property
I don't want praise, I want ownership
In every borough, nobody's stopping me
I aim to own property in every neighborhood and won't let anyone stop me
Because I'm thorough, rhymes are making real estate for me to own
Due to my lyrical talent, I'm able to make money to invest in real estate
Wherever I bless a microphone
Wherever I perform on stage
007 is back and relaxing
I'm back and taking it easy
On poignant reacting and ready for action
I'm ready to react and take action when necessary
I'm so low key that you might not see me
I don't draw much attention to myself
Incognito and taking it easy
Hiding my identity and taking it easy
Quiet, it's kept on a hush hush
I keep quiet and don't share much information
In front of a crowd, I get loud, there's a bumrush
When I perform for a crowd, they get excited and rush the stage
Be calm, keep a low pro, and play the background
Remain composed, stay out of the spotlight, and blend in
Over the wack rapper, put the mic back down
I'm better than other rappers and they should just stop performing
So rip it, break it in half, go head and slam it
Destroy the weak music and slam it to the ground
'Cause when it's time to build, I'm a mechanic
When it's time to build, I'm able to make things happen
I'm bonding and mending, attaching and blending
I'm creating strong bonds and partnerships
So many solos, there is no ending
I have many successful projects and it never ends
People in my neighborhood, they know I'm good
People in my neighborhood know I'm talented
From London to Hollywood, wherever I stood
My talent is recognized internationally
Footprints remain on stage ever since
My impact on the stage is still felt to this day
As I walk the street, I leave fossils and dents
My presence leaves a lasting impact
When I had sex, I left my name on necks
My sexual conquests are memorable to others
My trademark was left throughout the projects
My signature style is recognized in the community
I used to get rich when I played celo
I used to earn a lot of money playing dice games
When I rolled 4, 5, 6, they go we know
When I roll the dice and get certain numbers, everyone knows it's a success
So I collect my cash then slide
I collect my winnings and get out quickly
I got my back, my gun's on my side
I have my own back and am prepared to defend myself
It shouldn't have to be like that
It's unfortunate that we have to protect ourselves in this way
I guess it ain't where you're from, it's where you're at
Your current situation is more important than where you come from
I'm from the (ghetto)
I come from a tough neighborhood
Word up, peace
Agreement and peace to all listening
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: HERMAN DAVIS, ALVIN RANGLIN, HERMAN E DAVIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind