AMG Review of Paid in Full [Deluxe Edition]

Steve Huey & Tim Sendra
All Music Guide

One of the most influential rap albums of all time, Eric B. & Rakim's Paid in Full only continues to grow in stature as the record that ushered in hip-hop's modern era. The stripped-down production might seem a little bare to modern ears, but Rakim's technique on the mic still sounds utterly contemporary, even state-of-the-art -- and that from a record released in 1987, just one year after Run-D.M.C. hit the mainstream. Rakim basically invents modern lyrical technique over the course of Paid in Full, with his complex internal rhymes, literate imagery, velvet-smooth flow, and unpredictable, off-the-beat rhythms. The key cuts here are some of the most legendary rap singles ever released, starting with the duo's debut sides, "Eric B. Is President" and "My Melody." "I Know You Got Soul" single-handedly kicked off hip-hop's infatuation with James Brown samples, and Eric B. & Rakim topped it with the similarly inclined "I Ain't No Joke," a stunning display of lyrical virtuosity. The title cut, meanwhile, planted the seeds of hip-hop's material obsessions over a monumental beat. There are also three DJ showcases for Eric B., who like Rakim was among the technical leaders in his field. If sampling is the sincerest form of admiration in hip-hop, Paid in Full is positively worshipped. Just to name a few: Rakim's tossed-off "pump up the volume," from "I Know You Got Soul," became the basis for M/A/R/R/S' groundbreaking dance track; Eminem, a devoted Rakim student, lifted lines from "As the Rhyme Goes On" for the chorus of his own "The Way I Am"; and the percussion track of "Paid in Full" has been sampled so many times it's almost impossible to believe it had a point of origin. Paid in Full is essential listening for anyone even remotely interested in the basic musical foundations of hip-hop -- this is the form in its purest essence. [The Deluxe Edition of Paid in Full released in 2003 truly lives up to its title. The record is expanded to two discs with improved fidelity, and the thick booklet is full of great photos and has essays by MC Search and Tom Terrell. The second disc is made up mostly of remixes taken from U.K. 12" releases. First up on the bonus disc is the incredible "Seven Minutes of Madness" remix by Coldcut of the title track, which is a contender for greatest remix of all time. Funny, witty, and funky, it's a sampladelic miracle that never gets old no matter how many times you hear it. The other remixes are not quite as effective but are still a load of fun. The highlights are the Derek B. mix of "Paid in Full," which drafts in John Mellencamp's "Jack & Diane" guitar riff and some sexy female voices, the Chad Jay mix of "As the Rhyme Goes On," which is a turntable-rocking remix that monkeys with the beats quite entertainingly, and the Richie Rich megamix of "I Know You Got Soul," which adds some cool samples and makes the track very thick and funky. The only remix that doesn't fly is the overly long and hokey mix of "Move the Crowd" by the Democratic 3. Also included are the original mix of "My Melody," which was originally released on the flip side of the duo's first single, "Eric B. Is President" (the version on the album was remixed by Marley Marl), a really nice a cappella mix of "I Know You Got Soul," which lets the listener focus on Rakim's flow, and dubs of "I Know You Got Soul," "Eric B. Is President," and "My Melody," which bring Eric B.'s production skills to the forefront. Also included is a video for "Paid in Full."]