Eric B. & Rakim discography

The discography of Eric B. & Rakim, an American hip hop duo, consists of four studio albums, five compilation albums, 15 singles, and nine music videos. Eric B. & Rakim formed and signed a record deal with Zakia Records in 1985.[1] The following year, the duo signed a deal with 4th & B'way Records.[1] Their debut album Paid in Full was released in 1987. In the United States, it peaked at number 58 on the Billboard 200,[2] number 8 on R&B/Hip-Hop Albums,[2] and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[3] It appeared on the Dutch,[4] New Zealand,[5] and UK Albums Chart.[6] Paid in Full produced five singles, four of which appeared on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[7] The fifth single "Paid in Full" (1988) peaked in the top five of the Dutch[4] and New Zealand Singles Chart.[5]

Eric B. & Rakim discography
Studio albums	4
Compilation albums	5
Music videos	9
Singles	15

Eric B. & Rakim began their critically acclaimed partnership in 1986 with the release of "Eric B. is President" / "My Melody".

In 1988, Eric B. & Rakim released their second studio album Follow the Leader. It peaked at number 22 on the Billboard 200,[2] number 7 on R&B/Hip-Hop Albums,[2] and was certified gold by the RIAA.[3] The album peaked at 25 on the UK Albums Chart,[6] and appeared on the Swedish,[8] Dutch,[4] and New Zealand Albums Chart.[5] Three songs from the album were released as singles: "Follow the Leader", "Microphone Fiend", and "The R", the first and last of which appeared on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[7] The duo's third studio album Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em was released in 1990. It peaked at number 32 on the Billboard 200,[2] number 10 on R&B/Hip-Hop Albums,[2] and was certified gold by the RIAA.[3] The album appeared on the UK[6] and Dutch Albums Chart.[4] Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em spawned three singles, including the title track and "In the Ghetto", both of which peaked within the top 10 on US Hot Rap Tracks.[9]

Don't Sweat the Technique (1992) was the duo's fourth studio album. It peaked at number 22 on the Billboard 200[2] and number 9 on R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.[7] It appeared on the UK Albums chart.[6] Four songs, all of which appeared in the top 40 on R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, were released as singles from the album.[7] The title track, released as the third single, topped Hot Rap Tracks.[9] In 1992 after Don't Sweat the Technique, Eric B. & Rakim disbanded.[1] From 2001 to 2010, five compilation albums have been released: 20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Eric B. & Rakim (2001), Classic (2003), Gold (2005), Repaid in Full: The Paid in Full Remixed (2008), and Rarities Edition: Paid in Full (2010). None of these albums charted.

Albums

Studio albums

List of studio albums, with selected chart positions

Title	Album details	Peak chart positions						Certifications
		US [10]	US R&B [2]	NL [4]	NZ [5]	SWE [8]	UK [6]
Paid in Full	Released: July 7, 1987 Label: 4th & B'way / Island Format: CD, CS, LP	58	8	30	41	—	85	RIAA: Platinum[3]
Follow the Leader	Released: July 26, 1988 Label: Uni Format: CD, CS, LP	22	7	43	46	35	25	RIAA: Gold[3]
Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em	Released: June 19, 1990 Label: MCA Format: CD, LP	32	10	90	—	—	58	RIAA: Gold[3]
Don't Sweat the Technique	Released: June 23, 1992 Label: MCA Format: CD, CS	22	9	—	—	—	73
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Compilation albums

List of compilation albums

Title	Album details
20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Eric B. & Rakim[11]	Released: June 19, 2001 Label: Hip-O Format: CD
Classic[12]	Released: April 22, 2003 Label: Universal Format: CD
Gold[13]	Released: June 14, 2005 Label: Hip-O Format: CD
Repaid in Full: The Paid in Full Remixed[14]	Released: February 5, 2008 Label: Island Format: Digital download
Rarities Edition: Paid in Full[15]	Released: January 5, 2010 Label: Island Format: CD

Singles

List of singles, with selected chart positions

Title	Year	Peak chart positions											Album
		US Hot 100 [7]	US Dance [7]	US R&B [7]	US Rap [9]	BEL (FLA)	FRA	GER	IRE	NL [4]	NZ [5]	UK [6]
"Eric B. Is President"	1986	—	—	48	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Paid in Full
"I Ain't No Joke"	1987	—	—	38	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"I Know You Got Soul"		—	39	64	—	29	—	—	22	40	—	13
"Move the Crowd"	1988	—	3	—	—	—	—	—	—	72	—	53
"Paid in Full"		—		65	—	12	49	27	30	5	2	15
"As the Rhyme Goes On"		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	81
"Follow the Leader"		—	11	16	—	—	—	—	—	75	—	21	Follow the Leader
"Microphone Fiend"[16]		—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	74
"The R"	1989	—	28	79	14	—	—	—	—	—	—	76
"In the Ghetto"	1990	—	—	82	10	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em
"Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em"		—	37	23	2	—	—	—	—	—	—	81
"Mahogany"[17]	1991	—	—	—	28	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"What's on Your Mind"		—	—	34	20	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Don't Sweat the Technique
"Don't Sweat the Technique"	1992	—	12	14	1	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Casualties of War"		—	—	23	11	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
"Juice (Know the Ledge)"		96	—	36	7	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	Juice OST / Don't Sweat the Technique
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

As featured artist

List of singles, with selected chart positions

Title	Year	Peak chart positions					Album
		US [18]	US R&B [18]	NL [19]	NZ [20]	UK [6]
"Friends" (Jody Watley featuring Eric B. & Rakim)	1989	9	3	25	31	21	Larger than Life

Music videos

List of music videos, with directors

Title	Year	Director(s)
"I Ain't No Joke"	1987	Vivien Goldman, Mick Sawyer[21]
"Move the Crowd"		Bill Dill[21]
"Paid in Full"		Bruno Tilley[21]
"Follow the Leader"	1988	Scott Kalvert[21]
"Microphone Fiend"
"In the Ghetto"	1990	David Hogan [22]
"Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em"		Julien Temple [23][24]
"Don't Sweat the Technique"	1992	Demian Lichtenstein[21]
"Juice (Know the Ledge)"		Kevin Bray[21]
"Casualties of War"		Peter Darley Miller[21]

As featured artist

List of music videos, with directors

Title	Year	Director(s)
"Friends" (Jody Watley featuring Eric B. & Rakim)	1989	Jim Sonzero[21]

References

1. Huey, Steve. "Eric B. & Rakim: Biography". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on February 15, 2012.
2. "Eric B. & Rakim: Charts & Awards: Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Archived from the original on February 15, 2012.
3. "RIAA – Searchable Database: Eric B". Recording Industry Association of America. Archived from the original on December 19, 2015. Retrieved October 31, 2011.
4. "Discographie Eric B." Dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Archived from the original on October 6, 2016.
5. "Discography Eric B." charts.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
6. "Eric B & Rakim". Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
7. For US and US R&B singles peaks:
   • For "Eric B. Is President", "I Ain't No Joke", "I Know You Got Soul", "Move the Crowd", and "Paid in Full": "Paid in Full – Eric B. & Rakim: Charts & Awards: Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
   • For "Follow the Leader" and "The R": "Follow the Leader – Eric B. & Rakim: Charts & Awards: Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
   • For "In the Ghetto", "Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em", and "Mahogany": "Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em – Eric B. & Rakim: Charts & Awards: Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
   • For "What's on Your Mind", "Casualties of War", and "Don't Sweat the Technique": "Don't Sweat the Technique – Eric B. & Rakim: Charts & Awards: Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
   • For "(Juice) Know the Ledge": "Juice (Original Soundtrack) – Original Soundtrack: Charts & Awards: Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
8. "Discography Eric B." Swedishcharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
9. "Eric B. & Rakim: Charts & Awards: Billboard Singles". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved December 24, 2011.
10. "Eric B. & Rakim Album & Song Chart History: Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2020-08-26.
11. "20th Century Masters – The Millennium Collection: The Best of Eric B. & Rakim – Eric B. & Rakim: Overview". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
12. "Classic – Eric B. & Rakim: Overview". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
13. "Gold – Eric B. & Rakim: Overview". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
14. "Repaid in Full: The Paid in Full Remixed – Eric B. & Rakim: Overview". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
15. "Rarities Edition: Paid in Full – Eric B. & Rakim: Overview". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
16. "Microphone Fiend – Eric B. & Rakim: Overview". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
17. "Mahogany (Vinyl Single) – Eric B. & Rakim: Overview". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
18. "Larger than Life – Jody Watley: Charts & Awards: Billboard Albums". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
19. "Discographie Jody Watley". Dutchcharts.nl (in Dutch). Hung Medien / hitparade.ch. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
20. "Discography Jody Watley". charts.nz. Hung Medien. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
21. "Eric B. & Rakim". Vevo. Retrieved November 25, 2011.
22. https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5mmho5
23. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALPH86ybA6U
24. https://www.discogs.com/Eric-B-Rakim-Let-The-Rhythm-Hit-Em/release/8575788

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