Legendary hip-hop duo Eric B. & Rakim spent just one week recording their 1987 debut album Paid In Full, with rapper Rakim (backed by Eric B.’s beats) often delivering his vocals in a single take. And yet the album is considered a landmark of rap’s ’80s-era golden age and one of the greatest hip-hop releases of all time. MTV named it the best album in hip-hop history, and Rolling Stone ranked it among the 500 greatest albums of all time.
The New York duo recorded four acclaimed albums before splitting up in 1993, releasing hit singles including “Eric B. Is President,” “Microphone Fiend,” “Follow the Leader” and “Don’t Sweat the Technique” that helped define the sound of East Coast hip-hop. The duo’s reputation has only grown since they initially parted ways, thanks to boosts from stars like Jay-Z and Kanye West, and in 2017 Eric B. & Rakim reunited for a show in New York City, followed by a full tour in 2018. Now hip-hop fans are getting the chance to witness one of the genre’s most influential acts for the first time in 25 years.
House of Blues at Mandalay Bay, 8 p.m. April 12, starting at $29.50 plus tax and fee, 18+. 800.745.3000 Ticketmaster
