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.
Lyrics of Fury
Eric B. & Rakim Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Poets are paranoid, DJ's destroyed
'Cause I came back to attack others in spite
Strike like lightnin', it's quite frightenin'
But don't be afraid in the dark, in a park
Not a scream or a cry, or a bark, more like a spark
Tremble like a alcoholic, muscles tighten up
What's that, lighten up, you see a sight but
You grab your heart then wish for tomorrow quick
Music's the clue, when I come your warned
Apocolypse Now, when I'm done, ya gone
Haven't you ever heard of a MC-murderer?
This is the death penalty,and I'm servin' a
Death wish, so come on, step to this
Hysterical idea for a lyrical professionist
Friday the thirteenth, walking down Elm Street
You come in my realm ya get beat
This is off limits, so your visions are blurry
All ya see is the meters at a volume
Pumping lyrics of fury
Terror in the styles, never error-files
Indeed I'm known-your exiled!
For those that oppose to be level or next to this
I ain't a devil and this ain't the exorcist
Worse than a nightmare, you don't have to sleep a wink
The pain's a migraine every time ya think
Flashbacks interfere, ya start to hear
The R-A-K-I-M in your ear
Then the beat is hysterical
That makes Eric go get a ax and chops the wack
Soon the lyrical format is superior
Faces of death remain
MC's decaying, 'cause they never stayed
The scene of a crime every night at the show
The fiend of a rhyme on the mic that you know
It's only one capable, breaks-the unbreakable
Melodies-unmakable, pattern-unecscapable
A horn if want the style I posses
I bless the child, the earth, the gods and bomb the rest
For those that envy a MC it can be
Hazardous to your health so be friendly
A matter of life and death, just like a etch-a-sketch
Shake 'till your clear, make it disappear, make the next
After the ceremony, let the rhyme rest in peace
If not, my soul'll release
The scene is recreated, reincarnated, updated, I'm glad you made it
'Cause you're about to see a disasterous sight
A performance never again performed on a mic
Lyrics of fury
In the first verse of Eric B. & Rakimโs โLyrics of Fury,โ the rapper raises a warning that his โRโ rating may be intimidating to some. He speaks to the paranoia of poets and the destruction of DJs that he can bring in his lyrical attack. He boasts of his ability to attack others and strike like lightning, and to bring fear to those who are not careful in his presence. But he reassures that his approach is not meant to scare, rather it is a show of his strength and powerful lyrical ability. He references horror films such as Apocalypse Now and Friday the 13th, and likens his performance to a scene of crime every night at the show, where MCโs who canโt keep up with his flow decay and fade away.
The second verse builds on the themes of fear and power, referencing the pain that his lyrics can bring, as well as the flashbacks and nightmares that can interfere with a listenerโs consciousness. He describes himself as being โWorse than a nightmare,โ again calling attention to the fear and intimidation that he can bring to his listeners. Rakim puts his own name in his lyrics, reinforcing the idea of himself as an almost supernatural force of destruction, and describing his style as โunescapable,โ almost as if his lyrics have a life of their own. The verse ends with a clear warning to those who would try to match his style โ the competition will either decay or face a dangerous level of hazard to their health.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm rated "R"...this is a warning, ya better void
I have a mature content rating, and you should be cautious
Poets are paranoid, DJ's destroyed
Poets are overthinking and DJ's are overwhelmed
'Cause I came back to attack others in spite
I'm returning to target others despite any previous circumstance
Strike like lightnin', it's quite frightenin'
Attack suddenly and powerfully, causing fear
But don't be afraid in the dark, in a park
Don't be scared in the shadows or in a secluded area
Not a scream or a cry, or a bark, more like a spark
Not a loud noise, but a small flicker of movement
Tremble like a alcoholic, muscles tighten up
Shake like a drunk, with tense muscles
What's that, lighten up, you see a sight but
What's happening, calm down, you see something but
Suddenly you feel like you're in a horror flick
Instantly, you feel like you're in a scary movie
You grab your heart then wish for tomorrow quick
You clutch your chest and hope for the next day to come soon
Music's the clue, when I come your warned
The music is the hint, and when I arrive, you will be notified
Apocolypse Now, when I'm done, ya gone
A reference to the movie, when I finish, you will be gone
Haven't you ever heard of a MC-murderer?
Have you never heard about an MC who kills it?
This is the death penalty,and I'm servin' a
This is punishment, and I'm the one giving it
Death wish, so come on, step to this
Intend to cause harm, so challenge me if you dare
Hysterical idea for a lyrical professionist
Ridiculous concepts for a skilled songwriter
Friday the thirteenth, walking down Elm Street
Referencing horror films, walking on a street
You come in my realm ya get beat
If you enter my space, you will be defeated
This is off limits, so your visions are blurry
This is not accessible, so you can't see clearly
All ya see is the meters at a volume
All you notice is the sound levels on the artists
Pumping lyrics of fury
Delivering potent and passionate rhymes
Terror in the styles, never error-files
Frightening in the way I present, I never make mistakes
Indeed I'm known-your exiled!
In fact, I'm notorious, and you're alienated
For those that oppose to be level or next to this
For those who are competing or matching my skills
I ain't a devil and this ain't the exorcist
I'm not evil and this isn't fiction
Worse than a nightmare, you don't have to sleep a wink
Worse than a bad dream, you don't need to close your eyes
The pain's a migraine every time ya think
The agony is a headache every time you ponder
Flashbacks interfere, ya start to hear
Memories disrupt, and you begin to hear
The R-A-K-I-M in your ear
My name being recited in your eardrum
Then the beat is hysterical
And then the rhythm is wild and uncontrollable
That makes Eric go get a ax and chops the wack
That makes Eric so hyped, he'll chop down any weak competition
Soon the lyrical format is superior
Before long, the quality of the song becomes unmatched
Faces of death remain
The menacing imagery lingers
MC's decaying, 'cause they never stayed
Rappers are decaying because they couldn't keep up
The scene of a crime every night at the show
At every performance, it's like a violent occurrence
The fiend of a rhyme on the mic that you know
The addict to this art on the microphone that you're familiar with
It's only one capable, breaks-the unbreakable
There's only one person who's capable of breaking unbreakable barriers
Melodies-unmakable, pattern-unecscapable
Melodies that cannot be made and patterns that cannot be avoided
A horn if want the style I posses
If you want the unique style I have, blow the horn
I bless the child, the earth, the gods and bomb the rest
I offer my protection and love to the innocent, the planet, and the divine, and everyone else can suffer
For those that envy a MC it can be
For those who are jealous of a rapper, it can be
Hazardous to your health so be friendly
Dangerous to your well-being, so be kind
A matter of life and death, just like a etch-a-sketch
A serious issue, just like an etch-a-sketch toy
Shake 'till your clear, make it disappear, make the next
Shake until it's erased and move on to the next thing
After the ceremony, let the rhyme rest in peace
After the performance, let the song be finished
If not, my soul'll release
If not, I'll be so emotional it'll feel like my soul is coming out
The scene is recreated, reincarnated, updated, I'm glad you made it
The setting is recreated, reborn, refreshed, and I'm glad you're here
'Cause you're about to see a disasterous sight
Because you're going to witness something terrible
A performance never again performed on a mic
A show that can never be repeated on a microphone
Lyrics of fury
Passionate and powerful lyrics
Lyrics ยฉ Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ERIC B, ERIC BARRIER, WILLIAM GRIFFIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@michaeldavis5107
Not to mention hardest use of "Funky Drummer" ever.
@1sarahson
DEFINITELY!!! shout out to CLYDE STUBBLEFIELD
@theminstryoftruth61
Untouchable remix by Dre for Above the Law can compete.
@michaeldavis5107
Yo good point!@@theminstryoftruth61
@DJaySplitSecond
Dude wrote this at the age of 18, Rakim is truly the GOAT!
@Musicienne-DAB1995
No way. Source?
@DJaySplitSecond
@@Musicienne-DAB1995 look up the interview on here he did with Chuck D about his book! ๐๐พ
@cynthiaanderson3252
Imagine being a Black teenage girl growing up in the suburbs of Colorado. All Duran Duran, Springsteen, Depeche Mode. When I heard this, I was like WHAT IS HAPPENING RIGHT NOW ๐๐ฅณ๐ค๐คฏ
@brotherdorianj
"You about to see a disastrous sight, a performance never again performed on the mic..." ๐ฅ๐ฏ๐ฅ
@tonystarks6182
The purest display of lyrical mastery ever made