Paid in Full (Exp) [Original recording remastered]

Eric B. & Rakim | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 26, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Island
• ASIN: B0008KLVVO
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Music
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (133 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,699 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #3 in Music > Rap & Hip-Hop > Old School
  • #21 in Music > Rap & Hip-Hop > East Coast

Track Listings

1. I Ain't No Joke

2. Eric B. Is on the Cut

3. My Melody

4. I Know You Got Soul

5. Move the Crowd

6. Paid in Full

7. As the Rhyme Goes On

8. Chinese Arithmetic

9. Eric B. Is President

10. Extended Beat

11. As the Rhyme Goes On [Radio Mix][*]

12. Paid in Full [Mini Madness-The Coldcut Remix][*]

Editorial Reviews

Universal Music Enterprises is proud to present expanded editions of Eric B. & Rakim's masterful one-two punch, 1987's 'Paid In Full' & straight-in-'88's 'Follow The Leader'. Each hip hop masterpieces in their own right - Paid In Full carries 'I Ain't No Joke', 'I Know You Got Soul', 'Eric B. Is President' & The massive title track 'Paid In Full', while Follow The Leader bears 'Microphone Fiend', 'Lyrics Of Fury', 'The R' and its blistering title track "Follow The Leader" - both albums are augmented with bonus tracks, liner notes and detailed annotations and rare photos. MCA. 2005.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars NOT JUST THE BLUE PRINT, THE FOUNDATION February 15, 2006

By S. Robinson

Format:Audio CD

This is how it's supposed to be done. The first hip-hop album that I can remember to have universal appeal. By that I mean the hip-hop universe. The Eric B for president beat seemed ubiquitous back in 87, 88 and I still couldn't get enough of it. Hip-hop was really starting to emerge and Eric B and Rakim had taken the vanguard ushering in a new style of hypnotically seductive beats laced with a smooth intricate rhyme style. A true classic.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars So good you won't believe it... July 9, 2006

By Music Master

Format:Audio CD

This is one of the best hip hop CDs that I own. Eric B. & Rakim are one of the best DJ/MC duos of all time and this CD shows why. It starts off with the unbelievable "I Ain't No Joke", and from start to finish, it is unbelievable. For starters, on every track that Rakim raps on, he kills it. He is one of the best (if not the best)lyricists of all time. He showcases lyrics that not only have incredibly complex rhyme schemes, but also make sense to whatever he's saying (meaning he doesn't throw in words just to sound good, he does it because it fits with what he is saying. His flow is very hard to match on this CD. He has such a great flow that it all sounds natural to him, and it sounds so perfect when he says it. Now for te beats. Eric B. was on the top of his game on this CD. The three instumental tracks on the CD are all great, as Eric B. is one of the best to ever be on the turntables. He laces every beat so well and it compliments Rakim perfectly on every single track he raps on. Oh, and on the track "I Know You Got Soul", Eric B. becomes the first to sample another song when he samples James Brown. So we have a great and highly influential DJ, and a MC who made a lot of innovations to lyrics. It just makes me sad that rappers like Lil Wayne, 50 Cent, and others can say that Rakim is highly influential and important to them, and then make pathetic songs that are a disgrace to his legacy (not to mention how Lil Wayne now calls himself "The Greatest Rapper Alive" what a joke!). But anyways, this is a truly great album, and if you love old school hip hop, or just want a change of pace from the MTV hip hop that is polluting the airwaves, then check this out. Whether you are trying to start a collection, or making an addition to your music library, you cannot go wrong with this CD. Plus, it is $7.99, when Lil Wayne CDs are a lot more expensive, better music at a nice low price.

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Hip-hop doesn't get much better than this January 2, 2005

By John Alapick

Format:Audio CD

Eric B & Rakim's debut album Paid In Full has stood the test of time as one of the best hip-hop albums ever released. Even though their third album Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em is more consistent, few hip-hop albums, if any, have boasted as many classic tracks as Paid In Full. Rakim reinvented rap with his creative rhymes and smooth delivery while Eric B. remains one of the best ever at the turntable. This album has also been sampled by several rappers and musicians over the years, most notably Eminem and Limp Bizkit.

Paid In Full plays almost like a greatest hits album as many of the tracks are now hip-hop standards. "I Know You Got Soul" is one of their best tracks, so revered in fact that even Rolling Stone recognized it as one of the top 500 songs of all time. "Eric B. For President" is also one of their most memorable tracks particularly because of its "Make 'em clap to this" hook. "I Ain't No Joke" with its snappy horn lines, Eric B.'s stellar turntable work, and Rakim's rapid-fire lyrics is also very strong. The tracks "My Melody" and "Move The Crowd" are killer, featuring memorable backing tracks and Rakim's laid-back delivery which is so impressive that it seems almost effortless. "As The Rhyme Goes On" is slow and menacing as Rakim raps over a very deep bass line. Eric B. gets to showcase his skills on the instrumentals "Eric B. Is On The Cut" and "Chinese Arithmetic" although the latter gets too repetitive after a while. The last track "Extended Beat" is basically just the backing track for "Move The Crowd." Last but not certainly not least is "Paid In Full", one of the greatest hip-hop songs ever recorded that's been sampled by so many artists for its memorable bass line and percussion. A classic hip-hop album that should be owned by all fans of the genre. Highly recommended.