Customer Reviews

Let Rhythm Hit Em

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This often overlooked opus is actually the greatest work of Rakim's career. It was overlooked at the time, because artists like Ice Cube and Tribe Called Quest had started to polarize the two fan bases that would have normally listened to an artist like Rakim, leaving him stranded. Ironically, this was the best work of both Eric B and Rakim. The result of Eric's funkier-than-thou production and Rakim's holier-than-thou lyricism is an album that surpasses all of their other efforts. If you've liked anything they've ever done, then this is the album for you. And if you like artists like Nas, Pharoahe Monch, or Eminem buy this album to see where they got their styles.

While Paid In Full is a classic because of it's rawness, this album gives us a more refined Eric B. and Rakim. The production is thicker and more bass heavy, and the R's lyrics have gotten even more intricate. While the high points may not be as high as those on the previous two albums, this is their most consistant effort, with zero fast forward material. The stand outs here are the two cuts which feature Rakim exploring previously uncharted territory. "In The Ghetto" shows Ra making the transition from dropping the occasional philosophical jewell in between boasts, to making a whole record about knowledge of self and upliftment. The simple track and slow flow pack surprising power, and the lyrics are some of Rakim's best. "Mahagony", is a clever seduction rap that lightens the tone of the album and show's that even that rapper who ate up 21 MCs at the same time has a playful side.

I'm not going to reiterate what has already been said, but it should be known that the Large Professor (Main Source, Nas) and Rakim did most of the beats on this album. Think about it, after Eric B and Rakim split, what did Eric produce after that? Well to my knowledge all he did was executive produce Craig Mack's sophomore album (Operation: Get Down) which BLEW CHUNKS. So there you have it.

Rakim is the greatest emcee to ever grab a mic and this is his best album. Rakim has a mic presence like no other. His voice has such authority that it commands the respect and attention of anyone listening. Together with a fast paced and flawlessly smooth flow he amazes the listener with his seemingly endless amount of creative lyrics. Often times a complaint of older hip-hop releases circles around the dated sound of production and/or lyrics. Neither is the case here. Rakim spits lyrics that are so venomous that rappers today are still trying to catch up to his standards. The other great part of Rakim's albums is the involvement of Eric B. He creates beats that move so well with Rakim's style that you'll get lost in these tracks. It's always refreshing to hear this record when the DJ was an important piece to the music, rather than today when albums are filled with a myriad of producers who have no compatibility with the artists.

This is Eric B & Rakim's 3rd classic album. This album was one of the very few ever, to recieve the coveted "5 MICS" on THE SOURCE magazine in 1990. For those that don't know, the song "LET THE RYTHM HIT'EM" was originaly a "dis" song aimed at Big Daddy Kane. But after discussing the issue amongst each other, Rakim agreed to remove the verse aimed at Kane from the title track. The original verse exists only on the "never been released" obscure track; "HYPNOTIQ", where Ra spits relentlessly "And I don't sniff "'caine" [Kane] to get "raw" [R.A.W.]. The production is dope as hell in this album as well. Straight up, New York Hip-Hop classic!

I have been Dj'ing for over 20 years now. I have listened to a heck of a lot of Hip-Hop music over the years. I have the wax on this as well as the tape(and now the CD!) There are 10 tracks on this album and 7 out of them are simple classics. Of course, some of the tracks are not top notch but the lyrics overshaddow the track on most if not all Eric B and Rakim songs anyway. How this MC is not reguarded as the best of all time by everyone is beyond me. There are not many tracks of others that to this day you can go back and say 'damn, he said that!' This is a must have to anyone who gives a &$%# about hip-hop.

Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em is the best Eric B. & Rakim album and one of the best hip-hop albums ever recorded. While Paid In Full & Follow The Leader feature more popular tracks, neither album is great all the way through like this album. Rakim raps in a lower, more menacing register on this album making the consistently strong material even better. Rakim is at his best when he belts out his lyrics at warp speed on the title track, "Untouchables", and the best track, "No Omega." Even more laid back tracks such as "In The Ghetto", "Step Back", and "Mahogany" are very strong and provide a good mix. Eric B.'s production and work on the turntable are among the best you'll ever hear, particularly on "Eric B. Made My Day" and "Keep 'Em Eager to Listen." The album ends with the 12-inch remix of the title track which may be even better than the original. All of their albums are very good and worth checking out but Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em is a bonafide hip-hop classic.

LET THE RHYTHM HIT 'EM pretty much sounds like FOLLOW THE LEADER--Eric B.'s tight work on the turntables, the blaring trumpets, the thumping bass, and Rakim always-on-point, vocabulary-rich rhymes that are as sharp and menancing as a Saracen sword. And that is what makes it a classic. Standouts are "Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em" (remix), "Mahogany" and "In the Ghetto".

With their third album, Eric B & Rakim continued a rise to legendary status. Nearly every great artist/band/group has a point where they begin redefining the genre they work in as they continue to push its boundaries. It happened with The Beatles, and Sinatra, and by this point it was already happening with this duo.

Rakim had come in the game with an attention-grabbing flow and delivery, showing an ability to tinker with vocal syncopation and rhythm that outpaced any other MC of the day by miles. On LtRHE, he leaves them--and any modern-day contemporary--behind by lightyears. His ability to speed up, slow down, and singsong his words was a versatility not seen again in rap until Biggie, with a clear articulation that only Nas in his early days has since posessed.

Further, his lyrical abilities--both technically and topically--progressed from amusing bragadoccio rhymes to deep and thoughtful messages, laced with a cleverness of delivery and complexity of structure only early Jay-Z or Nas, or Big Pun could hope to match at their peak performance.

Eric B brings up the underrated half of this duo, perfectly suiting Rakim's abilities with upbeat and jazzy melodies; any producer of less talent (or confidence) would keep the backing relatively the same throughout. Not Eric B; as he knew what his partner could do, he had no qualms with going all-out, creating bass-heavy and quick tracks versus slower, more melodic ones, allowing Ra to show his full range on each track. The jazzyness and goodness of each, plus Rakim's presence on the mic, is enough to keep the album cohesive.

This, like the rest of the Eric B & Rakim collection, is a landmark in hip-hop. Appreciation may not come immediately, but once you are more comfortable with older rap, this will blow you away.

Let me tell you now listening to this will not even give you an idea of the gamut of Rakim's capabilities, but track to track this is their best album. It's definitely a classic. It's funny how I have "The Book of Life(Eric B. & Rakim's greatist hits) yet I now have three of their four albums.
The only tracks from this album included on the greatist hits are the title track, "In The Ghetto", and "Mahogany", which are all unforgettable tracks but probably included because they sound different than the rest of the songs. I was suprised that Rakim is rhyming on 9 of the 10 tracks, which is a plus. That fact alone makes me prefer this to "Paid In Full"(in which Ra is only on 7 of the 10).
This album is very mellow throughout, very very mellow. Which makes it consistent. Of course Rakim delivers throughout. I read a critic's review criticizing this album for not waxing political issues like Ice-T and Ice Cube were. Well at least this album contributed to the cause of hip-hop music, not helping send it on an ulsalvagable decline into possible oblivion like those two. "No Omega" is a standout track and it's one long 3 minute verse. BOOM! "Untouchables" might be my favorite track, especially with the horn in the hook. The remix of the title track might be better, because you can clearly hear Rakim's fast flowing and you hear it in a lighter tone since it contains some mega-MC slaughtering rhymes. Both are essential.
This is the album where I really enjoyed Eric B.'s production and beats throughout. Check out the beat for "Run For Cover." Of course "In The Ghetto" was where Rakim finally did a deep song that we all were silently waiting for, and it would turn out to be a prequel to the ultra-deep masterpiece "The Mystery (Who Is God?)." Although like I said "Let The Rhythm Hit"em" doesn't fully cover Rakim's capabilities, it's highly recommended. It shined even in a year when so many hip hop classics dropped. It's worth checking out "especially when he say the...rhymes with no omega!!!!"