RAKIM レコード& CD

Review: Eric B & Rakim remain two of hip hop's most love characters. Their wordplay and beat making was second to none back inter prime and has barely been bettered since. For that reason reissue slick this will always be in hot demand. This one focuses on the pair's 'Eric B For President,' a golden era great from 1986 that now comes on 7" after being an elusive find for hip hop heads for many years. This particular tune was Rakim at his most raw and direct best. The rap hero lay down the foundation here of what he would build his whole career on.

Review: More gold from the always in the know and on point 5 Boroughs label. Again here it digs into the vast annals of hip-hop history to come up with some still relevant gems in the form of Rakim and DJ Premier's staple 'It's Been a Long Time.' It is a classic boom-bap joint with lush strings and horns, some old-school scratching and cool bars. As walls, the label serves it up alongside the original sample source on the flip which is Cecil Holmes's languid soul slow burner 'Call Me, Come Back Home'. These plays shift in quick time so do not snooze if you want a slice.