{
  "slug": "eric-b-and-rakim",
  "name": "Eric B. & Rakim",
  "description": "Eric B. & Rakim appears 3 times in our Golden Age Hip-Hop, The Waxonia Desk — A Way In, and The Waxonia Desk — The Hundred lists, placing as high as No. 3. Hand-curated, with a reason for every pick.",
  "updated": "2026-08-29",
  "url": "https://waxonia.com/artist/eric-b-and-rakim/",
  "appearanceCount": 3,
  "distinctRecordings": 1,
  "years": {
    "first": 1987,
    "last": 1987
  },
  "highestPlacing": {
    "rank": 3,
    "list": "Golden Age Hip-Hop"
  },
  "appearsOn": [
    {
      "kind": "genre",
      "slug": "golden-age-hip-hop",
      "name": "Golden Age Hip-Hop",
      "url": "https://waxonia.com/genre/golden-age-hip-hop/",
      "entries": 1
    },
    {
      "kind": "curator",
      "slug": "the-desk-a-way-in",
      "name": "The Waxonia Desk — A Way In",
      "url": "https://waxonia.com/selection/the-desk-a-way-in/",
      "entries": 1
    },
    {
      "kind": "curator",
      "slug": "the-desk-the-hundred",
      "name": "The Waxonia Desk — The Hundred",
      "url": "https://waxonia.com/selection/the-desk-the-hundred/",
      "entries": 1
    }
  ],
  "tracks": [
    {
      "trackKey": "eric-b-and-rakim--paid-in-full",
      "trackUrl": "https://waxonia.com/track/eric-b-and-rakim--paid-in-full/",
      "title": "Paid in Full",
      "year": 1987,
      "label": "4th & Broadway",
      "isrc": "USIR28700020",
      "whyItMatters": "Rakim introduced internal rhyme and a conversational flow, and every rapper before him instantly sounded old-fashioned. The single most consequential technical leap in the form.",
      "alsoOn": [
        {
          "kind": "curator",
          "slug": "the-desk-a-way-in",
          "name": "The Waxonia Desk — A Way In",
          "url": "https://waxonia.com/selection/the-desk-a-way-in/"
        },
        {
          "kind": "curator",
          "slug": "the-desk-the-hundred",
          "name": "The Waxonia Desk — The Hundred",
          "url": "https://waxonia.com/selection/the-desk-the-hundred/"
        }
      ],
      "links": {
        "spotify": {
          "url": "https://open.spotify.com/search/Eric%20B.%20%26%20Rakim%20Paid%20in%20Full",
          "exact": false
        },
        "youtubeMusic": {
          "url": "https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=E7t8eoA_1jQ",
          "exact": true
        }
      },
      "rank": 3,
      "on": {
        "kind": "genre",
        "slug": "golden-age-hip-hop",
        "name": "Golden Age Hip-Hop",
        "url": "https://waxonia.com/genre/golden-age-hip-hop/"
      },
      "artist": "Eric B. & Rakim"
    },
    {
      "trackKey": "eric-b-and-rakim--paid-in-full",
      "trackUrl": "https://waxonia.com/track/eric-b-and-rakim--paid-in-full/",
      "title": "Paid in Full",
      "year": 1987,
      "label": "4th & Broadway",
      "isrc": "USIR28700020",
      "whyItMatters": "Rakim rewrote what a rapper could sound like — internal rhyme, conversational delivery, nothing forced to land on the beat. Almost every MC you like is downstream of this.",
      "alsoOn": [
        {
          "kind": "genre",
          "slug": "golden-age-hip-hop",
          "name": "Golden Age Hip-Hop",
          "url": "https://waxonia.com/genre/golden-age-hip-hop/"
        },
        {
          "kind": "curator",
          "slug": "the-desk-the-hundred",
          "name": "The Waxonia Desk — The Hundred",
          "url": "https://waxonia.com/selection/the-desk-the-hundred/"
        }
      ],
      "links": {
        "spotify": {
          "url": "https://open.spotify.com/search/Eric%20B.%20%26%20Rakim%20Paid%20in%20Full",
          "exact": false
        },
        "youtubeMusic": {
          "url": "https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=E7t8eoA_1jQ",
          "exact": true
        }
      },
      "rank": null,
      "on": {
        "kind": "curator",
        "slug": "the-desk-a-way-in",
        "name": "The Waxonia Desk — A Way In",
        "url": "https://waxonia.com/selection/the-desk-a-way-in/"
      },
      "artist": "Eric B. & Rakim"
    },
    {
      "trackKey": "eric-b-and-rakim--paid-in-full",
      "trackUrl": "https://waxonia.com/track/eric-b-and-rakim--paid-in-full/",
      "title": "Paid in Full",
      "year": 1987,
      "label": "4th & Broadway",
      "isrc": "USIR28700020",
      "whyItMatters": "Rakim changes what a rap verse can do — internal rhyme, conversational delivery, no shouting — and every MC after him is working from this template.",
      "alsoOn": [
        {
          "kind": "genre",
          "slug": "golden-age-hip-hop",
          "name": "Golden Age Hip-Hop",
          "url": "https://waxonia.com/genre/golden-age-hip-hop/"
        },
        {
          "kind": "curator",
          "slug": "the-desk-a-way-in",
          "name": "The Waxonia Desk — A Way In",
          "url": "https://waxonia.com/selection/the-desk-a-way-in/"
        }
      ],
      "links": {
        "spotify": {
          "url": "https://open.spotify.com/search/Eric%20B.%20%26%20Rakim%20Paid%20in%20Full",
          "exact": false
        },
        "youtubeMusic": {
          "url": "https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=E7t8eoA_1jQ",
          "exact": true
        }
      },
      "rank": null,
      "on": {
        "kind": "curator",
        "slug": "the-desk-the-hundred",
        "name": "The Waxonia Desk — The Hundred",
        "url": "https://waxonia.com/selection/the-desk-the-hundred/"
      },
      "artist": "Eric B. & Rakim"
    }
  ],
  "curates": null
}