The 10-disc Complete Collection 1987-1992 presents a comprehensive career overview of hip-hop pioneers Eric B & Rakim

Out July 13, 2018

LOS ANGELES, CA ­– June 15, 2018 ­– Ever since they burst upon the scene in the late 1980s, Eric B & Rakim have been universally recognized as one of hip-hop’s greatest creative units. Eric’s distinctive soundscapes and Rakim’s complex raps remain unequaled, and the duo’s classic recordings remain a benchmark of the genre.

Although the pair’s albums have remained immensely influential, all have been out of print for some time, making the UMe release The Complete Collection 1987-1992 an especially timely package. Not only a  mighty monument to Eric B & Rakim‘s larger-than-life catalog, this ten-disc vinyl/CD set is the first U.S. career expanding box set for a hip hop artist.

The Complete Collection 1987-1992 incorporates two-LP vinyl editions of each of Eric B  & Rakim‘s four original albums—1987’s Paid In Full, 1988’s Follow the Leader, 1990’s Let the Rhythm Hit ‘Em and 1992’s Don’t Sweat the Technique— plus two bonus CDs of vintage remixes, none of which have ever appeared on an album, and only a handful of which have previously been available digitally. All four LPs are housed in a ridged slipcase that also houses a 36-page book and the two bonus CDs.

The bonus CDs include no less than 26 vintage remixes, including such influential classics as Coldcut’s “Seven Minutes of Madness” mix of “Paid In Full,” the “Six Minutes of Soul” reworking of “I Know You Got Soul,” Marley Marl and M.C. Shan’s mix of “My Melody,” and “Friends,” Eric B & Rakim’s Top Ten 1989 collaboration with Jody Watley.

Hailing from Queens, New York and Wyandanch, Long Island, respectively, master turntablist Eric B (born Eric Barrier) and MC Rakim (born William Michael Griffin Jr.) are, according to AllMusic, “almost universally recognized as the premier DJ/MC team in all of hip-hop.” After debuting with the independently released “Eric B Is President,” they quickly proved themselves the hardest, most musically complex and most lyrically challenging rap act around.  Rakim’s often self-referential raps boasted literate imagery, ambitious internal rhymes, and smooth, deliberate flow, while Eric’s innovative sonic experimentation was highlighted by his seminal use of samples, including his pioneering mining of James Brown’s catalogue and his then-revolutionary use of Yemenite singer Ofra Haza’s voice on the hit “Paid In Full.”

The Complete Collection 1987-1992 is packed with hip-hop classics. The landmark debut Paid In Full, which many observers consider to be the greatest album in hip-hop history, includes the beloved classics “I Know You Got Soul” and “Eric B Is President,” as well as the title track, which inspired no less than 30 remixes. The equally fierce followup Follow the Leader boasts such favorites as “Microphone Fiend” and the title track, which expand the debut album’s minimalistic sound into broader, darker sonic territory. Let the Rhythm Hit ‘Em finds the pair maintaining their stature on such tracks as “Step Back” and “In the Ghetto.” And Don’t Sweat the Technique finds the twosome’s sound as strong as ever on “Pass the Hand Grenade” and “Casualties of War.”

More than two decades after they began recording, Eric B & Rakim remain one of hip-hop’s seminal acts, and The Complete Collection 1987-1992 presents their brilliant body of work the way it was meant to be heard!

PAID IN FULL (2LP)

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

FOLLOW THE LEADER (2LP)

1. Follow the Leader        

2. Microphone Fiend       

3. Lyrics of Fury  

4. Eric B. Never Scared    

5. Just a Beat

6. Put Your Hands Together         

7. To the Listeners

8. No Competition

9. The R

10. Musical Massacre     

11. Beats for the Listeners

LET THE RHYTHM HIT EM (2LP)

1. Let the Rhythm Hit ‘Em

2. No Omega

3. In the Ghetto

4. Step Back

5. Eric B. Made My Day

6. Run for Cover

7. Untouchables

8. Mahogany

9. Keep ‘Em Eager to Listen

10. Set ‘Em Straight

DON’T SWEAT THE TECHNIQUE (2LP)

1. What’s on Your Mind?

2. Teach the Children

3. Pass the Hand Grenade

4. Casualties of War

5. Rest Assured

6. The Punisher

7. Relax with Pep

8. Keep the Beat

9. What’s Going On?

10. Know the Ledge

11. Don’t Sweat the Technique

12. Kick Along

BONUS CD

CD ONE

1.  Paid In Full seven minutes of madness — the coldcut remix

Originally released on UK 4th & B’way 12-inch single 12 BRW 78, Oct 19, 1987

2. Let The Rhythm Hit ’Em UPSO mix

Remix and additional production by Blacksmith

Originally issued on UK MCA 12-inch single MCAT 1433, 1990

3. The R remix

Remix by C.J. Mackintosh and Dave Dorrell

Originally issued on Uni 12-inch single UNI-8012, December 1988

4. Casualties of War smooth mix

Remix and Additional Production by Soulshock, Cutfather & Karlin for Soulpower Productions.

Mixed by Kenneth Kikkenborg at Werner Studios, Copenhagen.

Originally released on MCA 12-inch single MCA 11505, 1992

5. Don’t Sweat The Technique funky ginger club version

Remixed by Simon ‘The Funky Ginger’ Law & Mr. Lee

Originally released on UK MCA 12-inch single MCA12-54369, 1992

6. My Melody original mix

Mixed by Marley Marl & M.C. Shan

Originally released on Zakia 12-inch ZK-014, 1986

Reissued on 4th & B’way 12-inch BWAY- 431, 1986

7. As The Rhyme Goes On pumpin’ the turbo – chad jay in effect 

Remixed by Chad Jay

Human mouth madness by Sefton Terminator

Originally released on UK 4th & B’way 12-inch 12BRW 106, July 18, 1988

8. In The Ghetto drums and Rakim mix

Remixed by Mark Morales and Mark Rooney for Mark Morales Productions

Originally released on MCA 12-inch single MCA12-53901, May 4, 1990

9. Casualties of War militant remix

Additional Production & Remix by Michael “Militant Mixx ’n” Moor for Militant Mic Productions

Originally released on MCA 12-inch single MCA12-54492, 1992

10. Let The Rhythm Hit ’Em 12” vocal version remix

Executive Producer: Eric B.

Remixed by DJ Mark “The 45 King”

Originally issued on MCA 12-inch single MCA-24026, 1990

11. Move The Crowd the wild bunch remix

Remixed by The Wild Bunch

Originally released on UK 4th & B’way 12-inch 12BRW 88, Feb 8, 1988

12. I Know You Got Soul six minutes of soul – the double trouble remix

Remixed by Double Trouble

Double Trouble are Norman Cook and Danny D.

Originally released on Cooltempo 12-inch 609-873, 1988

CD2

1. Friends

JODY WATLEY WITH ERIC B. & RAKIM

Produced by Andre Cymone

From Jody Watley’s MCA album Larger Than Life (1989)

2. Put Your Hands Together parkside mix

Remixed by Graeme Park

Originally issued on UK MCA Records 12-inch single MCAT-1300, 1988

3. Casualties of War radical radio edit

Additional Production & Remix by Michael “Militant Mixx ’n” Moor for Militant Mic Productions

Originally released on MCA 12-inch single MCA8P-2386, 1992

4. Paid In Full derek b.’s urban respray 

Remixed by Derek B.

Remix Engineer: Chief Engineer Scott

Originally released on UK 4th & B’way 12-inch 12 BRX 78, 1987

5. Let The Rhythm Hit ’Em 45 king club mix

Remixed by DJ Mark “The 45 King”

Originally issued on MCA 12-inch single MCA-24026, 1990

6. Microphone Fiend extended remix

Remixed by DJ Mark “The 45 King”

Originally issued on Uni 12-inch single UNI-8007, 1990

7. No Omega extended remix version

Remixed by Bret Lover

Issued on MCA 12-inch single MCA12-53997, Feb 12, 1991

8. Don’t Sweat The Technique UK flavor club version

Remixed by Simon ‘The Funky Ginger’ Law & Mr. Lee

Originally released on UK MCA 12-inch single MCA12-54369, 1992

9. Casualties of War soulpower remix

Remix and Additional Production by Soulshock, Cutfather & Karlin for Soulpower Productions.

Mixed by Kenneth Kikkenborg at Werner Studios, Copenhagen.

Originally released on MCA 12-inch single MCA 11505, 1992

10. Mahogany extended remix version

Remixed by Eric B. for Lyn Star

Issued on MCA 12-inch single MCA12-53997, Feb 12, 1991

11. Put Your Hands Together fon force mix

Remixed by Mark Brydon and Robert Gordon for Fon Force

Originally issued on UK MCA Records 12-inch single MCAT-1300, 1988

12. Let The Rhythm Hit ’Em brixton bass mix

Remixed and additional production by Blacksmith

Engineered by Paul Wright

Originally issued on UK MCA 12-inch single MCAT 1433, 1990

13. Move The Crowd beatmix by the democratic 3 featuring dj slack

Beatmix by The Democratic 3

Originally released on UK 4th & B’way 12-inch 12 BRW 88, Feb 8, 1988

14. I Know You Got Soul the richie rich megamix

Megamix by Richie Rich

Remix Engineer: PJ “Dyna-mix” Smith

Originally issued on UK 4th & B’way 12-inch 12 BRW 69, June 1, 1987