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.
What's Going On
Eric B. & Rakim Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What's happening, it's been so long, what's going on
And what's going wrong? the good old days are gone
You forgot your plot and your plans as a young man
You invented a scam even you don't understand
You rig the enigma, can't figure it out
You change the route, now you're in doubt
Figured you was all that but that ain't last;
The times is harder, the drugs is heavier
You say whatever, the more, the merrier;
Smoke chokes your dreams and blurs your scenes,
Now a young man fiend change his plan to schemes;
No more good times, no more time,
Too far to find, you're almost blind,
You can't see what spot that the trap is in...
(hey bra!)what's happening!
You had it mapped out, your plans get torn,
You stayed up for days and now your dreams are gone
You said you quit, stated your word is bond
(hey bro) what's going on?
What's going on?
My neighborhood don't look so good
I'll find a way out.. yeah, I would if I could,
But the government is doing a project...
So I live in the projects;
Where we fight for elbow room to the doom,
Try to live long but you die too soon,
I might not be alive to see 25,
Taught at ten to make money and strive;
I sold tapes at school and made some ends
Met alot of skins and even made some friends,
Cool, 'cause now I got a crew to run wit,
Break a couple of rules, have crazy fun wit;
But every now and then, they give my knuckle game a test,
But I won't fess, I just get rid of the stress!
And then shake hands like a man,
'cause it's a family thing, only the crew would understand!
But you had a one on one fight wit drugs,
When we ain't cool no more, we buss slugs,
Clip after clip, until one of us is gone...
(hey bra!) what's going on?
Yo, what's going on?
The crime rate in new york state elevate,
A city filled wit hate, more deaths accumulate,
Drug wars daily, alot of blood spilt,
Kids on the playground shot down and kilt!
Nobody wants to live on the 1st floor no more...
'cause stray bullets explore!
We're killing ourselves off slowly but surely,
And at the end of the year, I'm sure many more'll be
Rubbed out in a quest for clout
The rest'll be drugged out, this is bugged out!
Half of the projects is dead or locked up,
Kids getting kidnapped and then found chopped up.
Human abortion create distortions...
And that's just a portion, you know that we're lost when
Babies are addicted to drugs when they are born....!
(hey bra!) what's going on? (3x)
In Eric B. & Rakim's song What's Going On, there are two themes present throughout the verses. The first is a commentary on how difficult it is to grow up and maintain success, and the second addresses the social issues and violence rampant in modern society. The opening lines ask, "What's happening, it's been so long, what's going on," which is an expression of frustration directed at the complexities of life. The following lines point out how things have changed since their younger days and how people lose sight of their goals as they grow older. The lines "You invented a scam even you don't understand / You rig the enigma, can't figure it out" discuss the chaos and confusion that can result from trying to scheme and manipulate one's way to success.
The second half of the song shifts to a darker tone and addresses social issues in the singer's neighborhood. The lines "My neighborhood don't look so good / I'll find a way out.. yeah, I would if I could / But the government is doing a project / So I live in the projects" describe living in a low-income housing project and the challenges associated with it. The chorus shifts to a call to arms, asking what can be done to address these issues. The following lines describe the devastation of drug addiction and violence, with the lyrics "Kids getting kidnapped and then found chopped up. / Human abortion create distortions / And that's just a portion, you know that we're lost when / Babies are addicted to drugs when they are born."
Line by Line Meaning
What's going on?
Asking what is happening and what is wrong in the situation being described.
What's happening, it's been so long, what's going on
Wondering what has been happening recently and what is the current state of affairs.
And what's going wrong? the good old days are gone
Questioning what went wrong with the way things used to be and lamenting that they're no longer the same.
You forgot your plot and your plans as a young man
Not sticking to the goals and aspirations that were envisioned when young.
You invented a scam even you don't understand
Engaging in deceitful or fraudulent activity and not even comprehending the full extent of what's going on.
You rig the enigma, can't figure it out
Manipulating the situation to your advantage but not being able to decipher what's happening.
You change the route, now you're in doubt
Altering the trajectory of life and feeling unsure of the direction that it's heading in.
You use to cut class, smoked grass, still passed, Figured you was all that but that ain't last;
Skipping school and smoking marijuana thinking it wouldn't hinder success, but ultimately not achieving long-term goals.
The times is harder, the drugs is heavier
The situation has become more challenging, and the use of drugs has increased.
You say whatever, the more, the merrier;
Taking a carefree attitude and thinking that more of something always equals greater happiness.
Smoke chokes your dreams and blurs your scenes, Now a young man fiend change his plan to schemes;
Drug use gets in the way of fulfilling hopes and causes confusion, leading to a shift in goals to ones that involve dishonesty.
No more good times, no more time, Too far to find, you're almost blind, You can't see what spot that the trap is in...
There are no longer any enjoyable moments, there's little time left to make things better, and things are unclear and dangerous.
(hey bra!)what's happening!
Asking someone for information or a status update on the situation.
You had it mapped out, your plans get torn, You stayed up for days and now your dreams are gone
Having a clear plan but then having it fall apart, leading to disappointment and loss of hope.
You said you quit, stated your word is bond, (hey bro) what's going on?
Saying you've given up addictive behavior and made a promise to others that you'd stop, but still struggling and asking for help.
My neighborhood don't look so good I'll find a way out.. yeah, I would if I could, But the government is doing a project... So I live in the projects;
The neighborhood environment isn't desirable, and the desire to leave is present but the government is forcing people to live in certain areas or projects.
Where we fight for elbow room to the doom, Try to live long but you die too soon, I might not be alive to see 25, Taught at ten to make money and strive;
Living conditions are cramped and undesirable, making survival a challenge, leading to concerns about death at a young age. These worries start early since the focus is on making money early on in life.
I sold tapes at school and made some ends Met alot of skins and even made some friends, Cool, 'cause now I got a crew to run wit, Break a couple of rules, have crazy fun wit;
Making money in non-traditional ways and meeting people along the way, which has led to having a group of friends to hang out with and ignore some societal norms together.
But every now and then, they give my knuckle game a test, But I won't fess, I just get rid of the stress! And then shake hands like a man, 'cause it's a family thing, only the crew would understand!
Getting into physical altercations with friends occasionally but keeping it amongst themselves to relieve stress and maintain their bond secretly.
But you had a one on one fight wit drugs, When we ain't cool no more, we buss slugs, Clip after clip, until one of us is gone... (hey bra!) what's going on?
Fighting against addiction but losing a friend and turning to violence when things go sour. Asking for help again.
The crime rate in new york state elevate, A city filled wit hate, more deaths accumulate, Drug wars daily, alot of blood spilt,
The crime rate in New York state is increasing, and there is a lot of hatred and violence resulting in many people dying, particularly in drug-related conflicts.
Kids on the playground shot down and kilt! Nobody wants to live on the 1st floor no more... 'cause stray bullets explore!
Even young children aren't safe from violence and death in the community, and the risk of being hit by stray bullets at home is causing people to seek refuge elsewhere.
We're killing ourselves off slowly but surely, And at the end of the year, I'm sure many more'll be Rubbed out in a quest for clout The rest'll be drugged out, this is bugged out!
Continuous violence, drug use, and lack of hope are causing the community to deteriorate in a manner that is alarming and depressing.
Half of the projects is dead or locked up, Kids getting kidnapped and then found chopped up. Human abortion create distortions... And that's just a portion, you know that we're lost when Babies are addicted to drugs when they are born....! (hey bra!) what's going on?
Many people are either dying or going to jail in their living environment, and children are not even safe from being kidnapped and murdered. Neglect and drug addiction are so rampant that even infants are born with addictions in some cases. Asking for help once again.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ERIC BARRIER, WILLIAM GRIFFIN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind