Eric B. and Rakim were a groundbreaking hip hop duo from Long Island, New York, active from 1986. Featuring DJ Eric B. and rapper Rakim, they made a major impact with their debut album Paid in Full in 1987, which included the influential tracks Eric B. Is President and Paid in Full. They went on to release three more acclaimed albums: Follow the Leader, Let the Rhythm Hit Em, and Dont Sweat the Technique. Widely regarded as one of the most important DJ and MC partnerships of rap’s golden age, their music set a new standard for lyrical complexity and production in hip hop.