Best of the 80's: Paid in Full by Eric B. & Rakim

Coming out one year after the big Run-D.M.C. breakthrough this album did not find big commercial success, but it laid down the formula for the hip-hop that would follow. 

You can pick which guy was more influential on his craft.  Eric B. set the standard for DJs taking sampling and looping to a level that no one had even come close to up to that point.  Rakim set the standard for MCs with his smooth, clear delivery and complicated rhymes.  Together they were a magical team and Paid in Full is a brilliant album. 

They would closely be followed by other artists who would add in social themes and even more complex sampling, but in 1987 these guys were setting the standard.

This is a fun album and would be great fun to play heading out for a day at Keenland for the spring races.

Following the Rhapsody rating method I give it 3 out of 5 stars for Pretty Good.