Paid In Full

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Editorial reviews

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

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2006-08-04 rating:
Ain't No Joke (but it ain't no classic, either)
This is another one of these albums which is rated as an all-time classic, then you listen to it, and wonder what all the fuss is about. Paid In Full isnt even a proper album- its just a collection of singles with some cuts of beats'n'scratches by Eric B to pad it out. There's a few great tracks here- I Know You Got Soul is clearly one of THE classic hip-hop tracks of the era, and Move the Crowd is equally good (although there's a better mix on "Hip Hop Don't Stop vol.2"). The title track's also pretty cool. Otherwise, there's not much else here to justify the album's reputation. Rakim's delivery is smooth, but his lyrics aren't too hot- I'll bet Chuck D wouldn't come up with rhymes like

"Fish/is my favourite dish/but without my money its still a wish"

The sound quality isn't good either- the album has that skeletal, slightly degraded sound of early hip-hop, which would be OK but the CD isn't remastered, so the beats don't really kick like they should. All in all, it's not bad, but don't compare this to prime-time Public Enemy or De La Soul, cos it's just not that hot.

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review by: date: 2005-02-26 rating:
Classic
This album is a classic. In my opinion, the content isn't amazing, and I actually prefer Rakim in his later days, but this old skool, pioneering CD is ledgendary.
It's back when Rakim and Eric B were close, and together they helped create hiphop.
May not be excellent (although it is good), it is a classic

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review by: date: 2004-02-05 rating:
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.

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review by: m_funkster date: 2003-04-30 rating:
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'.


review by: date: 2002-09-01 rating:
can't feel this album anymore...too dated
When lists of the best rap albums ever made are complied, Paid In Full regularly...no, consistently comes in the top 20. Now, sorry to all the old skoolers out there, but I don't think this album has stood the test of time.

While it has influenced the sound of hip hop since it was released, and is still sampled/quoted by frontline acts like Mos Def and Eminem, I think there is a distinction to be made about "influential" and "best". This album may be influential, but it is not a better album than Boogie Down's Criminal Minded or Slick Ricks's Great Adventures of.... Although Boogie Down Productions and Slick Rick came after this, their debuts have more variety and have aged better. I reckon that the music of Paid in Full sounds too primitive and Eric B's beats are way too simple. Meanwhile, Rakim - although his flow is smoother than anyone's out there - doesn't have enough charisma for me, and drones over songs rather than dominates them (just listen to Gangstarr's Militia remix to check his battle with Guru over who can be more monotone).

Now that I've successfully blaphemed about two of rap's all time favourite albums/songs, let me put in some disclaimers: I Know You Got Soul is a brilliant song and there are gems to be found here, but i have judged this album by modern standards, upon which it does not stand up too well since it sounds very dated. Oh, and I love GAngstarr, but Guru;s delivery (not his lyrics) is monotone and dull.

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