They might not have ever scored a huge hit, but few duos have had a more outsized influence on Hip Hop than Eric B. & Rakim. In the late 80’s/early 90’s they were one of if not the premier duo in the game. Eric B. brought jazz and other new elements to the turntables, while Rakim’s smooth flow was both complex and venomous. The latter helped steer rap away from the early call/response template to a more intricate style
Today we’re dropping the needle on 1992’s “Don’t Sweat The Technique,” the title track from their 4th—and final— album. With samples from Young-Holt Unlimited and Kool & The Gang, the song has a decidedly jazzy feel, not unlike work from Queen Latifah ad a few other artists at the time.
For a record closing in on 30, it hasn’t lost a step. Today’s music may sound a world away, but you don’t have to listen long to hear vestiges of the pioneering duo.
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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.
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“Don’t Sweat The Technique” By Eric B. & Rakim| Don’t Sweat The Technique 1992
As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this record, or whatever’s on your mind!
Thanks for being here,
Kevin—
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I absolutely a-d-o-r-e this track ✨ The undefeatable sample, the voice, the charisma... it all make up such an explosive mixture! 🎶
My brother is a big fan of Rakim and I learned anything I know about the duo from him. 🥰