Track Listing

1. I Ain't No Joke
2. Eric B. Is On The Cut
3. My Melody
4. I Know You Got Soul
5. Move The Crowd
6. Paid In Full
7. As The Rhyme Goes On
8. Chinese Arithmetic
9. Eric B. Is President
10. Extended Beat

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7063 in Music
• Released on: 1989-05-24
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Enhanced
• Running time: 45 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Paid in Full is a debut album that is basically a collection of early singles ("Eric B. Is President", "I Know You Got Soul", the title track), is the motherlode of late-1980s New York rap--assured, serious, and hugely influential. Rakim, a rapper's rapper, is the Chow Yun-Fat of hip-hop: cool as steel, absolutely calm, absolutely deadly. His verbal wit and rhythmic gift go hand-in-hand. He flows like a waterfall, playing around the beat, leaping from one ingenious phrase to another, letting the words do all the work. And Eric B.? He comes up with some straightforward but effective backing tracks (he favours James Brown grooves), scratches on a couple of block-rocking instrumentals, and makes room for the master to do his thing. --Douglas Wolk

Customer Reviews

One of the best Old school albums out.
Eric B and Rakims most famous album. And from this one of the most reconigsed and distinctive styles through Eric B's skills and Rakims tight lyrics. The result of this was on of the greatist songs in hip-hop today and has stood the test of time... that is the title track paid in full.

A must by albom.

Rakim - Simply The Best
I have madly followed hip hop since my early teens in the early 80s, meaning I got to enjoy the best of the best by the LL Cool Js, Kool Moe Dees, Grandmaster Flashs, Big Daddy Kanes and Kurtis Blows. Tell you what though, and this is real hard for me to admit considering I loved all of the above-named, no one could touch the lyrical master himself, Rakim. All of the guys named have their unique appeal, but for me, lyrically, Rakim Allah is simply the best.

A small gripe
Ok this album is outstanding. Rakims lyrics are still 100 times more relevant, even now, than 99% of todays popstars, sorry, 'rappers'. oh, and 'vic from Watford' id like to know what you were thinking when writing that when compared to todays music, gangstarr and rakim dont stand up. Just think about what you've said. Thats like saying Nelly is better than Rakim, or Ja Rule is better than Guru. NO! Your so wrong.

Any real hip hop fans know the score. This album is top notch. An absolute classic, even by 'todays standards'.