Let The Leader Lead

In July of 1988, Eric B. & Rakim released one of their most celebrated albums, Follow The Leader. Rakim had already astounded audiences with his cadence and rhyme structure the year previous with Paid In Full and Follow The Leader was lyrically an extension of Ra's poetic genius.

The album's lead single and video, "Follow The Leader," was musically based on Bob James' "Nautilus," but replayed by Rakim's brother Steve Griffin. Although the "Follow The Leader" had a cosmic feel that was punctuated by Rakim's esoteric verses, the video (which was the first video aired on Yo! MTV Raps) was based on the 1987 mafia movie Untouchables, complete with machine guns, classic cars, clothing and a remake of Robert De Niro's infamous "baseball bat" scene.

Not only did "Follow The Leader" create great anticipation for the upcoming album bearing the same name, it cemented Rakim as one of the best lyricists of his generation, and stands today as a testament to hod God status.

Lyrics of Fury

Follow The Leader as an album did not disappoint. The singles released from the project are among not only the best in the genre, but in Rakim's discography. "Microphone Fiend," "The R," and "Follow The Leader" stand out on an album that features Rakim at his lyrical best. Musically, it's more adventurous than any other project in his discography — this is due to his brother's live instrumentation and the creative sampling that stamps the album.

"Lyrics Of Fury" is a standout track with its sped up "Funky Drummer" loop combined with Funkadelic's "No Head, No Backstage Pass." The energetic song contains some of Rakim's best lines: "The scene of a crime every night at the show/ the fiend of a rhyme on the mic that you know/ it's only one capable, breaks the unbreakable/ melodies unmakeable, pattern inescapable/ a horn if want the style I possess/ I bless the child, the earth, the gods and bomb the rest/ for those that envy an MC it can be/ hazardous to your health so be friendly/ a matter of life and death, just like a etch-a-sketch/ shake 'til your clear, make it disappear, make the next/ after the ceremony, let the rhyme rest in peace/ if not, my soul'll release."

Competition Is None

"No Competition" shows Ra flowing confidently over an uptempo beat. He boldly proclaims: "Competition is none/I remain at the top like the sun/ and I burn whoever come/ in my chambers of torture I caught ya/ you shoulda brought ya neighborhood to support ya.'"

"To The Listeners" features a slick Stevie Griffin' bassline over a foundational Headhunters' breakbeat, while Rakim spits in his classic monotone cadence.

Eric B's solo cut track, "Eric B Never Scared" is a dope mashup of Bob Marley, The Eagles, and Rakim's classic "Eric B make 'm clap to this" line. "Musical Massacre" and "Put Your Hands Together" round out an album that has aged well after three and a half decades, and is often provided as audio proof for those who maintain that Ra is the best to ever do it.

Check out Rakim live at this year's Rock The Bells Festival at Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, NY.