There's ample reason why people speak in glowing references to the music of the '80s. The decade began with Two-Tone, Ska and Post-Punk through to New Romantics, New Wave, Electronic (Synth Pop) and Gothic Rock. But that only covers the early to mid-80s. The late 80s was dominated, at least in my house (that's me and my younger brother) by Hip Hop. Just so no one takes offence, House and dance music were also kicking off at this time and in some instances, would merge to produce something really special.
It's difficult to put my finger on the first Hip Hop record I listened to. Perhaps the one that left a huge impression and did really well commercially was Grandmaster Flash & The Furious Five's "The Message". It was released in 1982. It was nothing I'd ever heard before. I don't think I knew what genre of music it was then. It came from nowhere and just exploded onto the airwaves. It might not have the same impact now for first-time listeners as it did when I was a boy, but it still gives me goosebumps. It was so groundbreaking, it's difficult to know where to start... but that's for another time.
There was quite a hiatus until the new wave of Hip Hop arrived. There was Run DMC who debuted in 1984 with their self-titled album "Run DMC". I heard snippets of their music on late night radio shows and their unbelievably cool styling; the fedora hats, tracksuits and Adidas trainers, brought them lots of great exposure in the music and fashion press. Then "Walk This Way" was released, a re-recording of the Aerosmith rock classic. I think that ushered in the arrival of Hip Hop commercially unlike any other record until then. And the floodgates opened. Public Enemy, Gang Starr, Boogie Down Productions, Big Daddy Kane, De La Soul and of course Eric B. & Rakim. Courtesy of a fantastic remix by English DJs and producers Coldcut, "Paid In Full" (Seven Minutes of Madness) the title track from their debut album , became a huge hit in the UK. It managed to take everything that was happening in hip hop and dance and by sampling a dazzlingly eclectic mix of sounds from Ofra Haza's "Im Nin Alu” to the voice of Humphrey Bogart and James Brown. I went out and bought the album "Paid In Full" (on vinyl of course). I remember listening to it, trying to get it. It was very stripped down and much less commercial than the remix I'd been playing.
My story jumps to the winter of 1988 in upstate Buffalo, New York. My university (at the time still called Manchester Polytechnic) organised an exchange programme so that some 2nd-year students from the Social Sciences have an opportunity to spend a term (semester) at Buffalo State College (a SUNY campus located in Buffalo, New York's Elmwood Village). It might not have been a prestigious Ivy League institution, but for me, it was nirvana. A sprawling campus with 9 or 10 restaurants (I think Manchester Poly had a single student union bar when I was attending). We were in dorms which were not luxurious by any means but more than adequate. I think there were 4 rooms around a lounge and bathroom. I shared a room with an American guy called Steve Gathers, if I recall correctly. He was a lovely guy and so was his girlfriend, but their canoodling did sometimes keep me up. There was a guy across the hall. He was a computer science major and spent most of his time in his room working or listening to music. At night, he’d hit the ribs or another of the many restaurants open till late. He was huge. I think his motto was, “If we’re not meant to eat midnight snacks, why is there a light in the fridge?” Anyway, he was a big Hip Hop fan and famously introduced me to Ice T’s album “Power”, which is one of my all-time favourite Hip Hop albums. He also loved Eric B & Rakim. Other acts that were big when I was in the States were Rob Base, EPMD and 2 Live Crew.
He gave me a copy of “Follow The Leader” to listen to. I wasn’t ready for what I was about to hear. Maybe the ground had been prepared by their debut, but I don’t think anyone was prepared for what came next. The confidence, the sampling, the beats and, most of all, that VOICE. The composure of an artist who was still only 20 when the album came out. Rakim was already a veteran with years of experience under his belt. The honours and commendations would flood in after this release. The rhythm kicks in, and the samples create a mysterious vibe, a bit like the soundtrack to a 70s murder mystery. And then the lyrical hook “Follow The Leader, Rakim’ll say” sets the mood for a lyrical assault on the senses. Microph.one Fiend continues the semi-autobiographical narrative
'Cause I grabbed the mic and try to say, " Yes why'all!"
They tried to take it, and say that I'm too small
Cool, 'Cause I don't get upset
I kick a hole in the speaker, pull the plug, then I jet
I heard that Rakim was pretty short, and so when he started rhyming in his teens, people tried to grab the mic from him. The power and intensity of his lyrics would figuratively blow the speakers.
"Lyrics of Fury" is one of my favourites and contains one of the most sampled tracks in Hip Hop. James Brown’s "Funky Drummer" has been sampled in over 1,700 hip-hop tracks and is one of the most sampled recordings in music history. But it’s not what you sample; it’s how you use it that counts. DJ Eric B chops the beat up to create the feeling of tension and foreboding. It’s a pure lyrical assault which knocks the proverbial air out of your sails. And it’s exhilarating. I think that’s the feeling after listening to some of the highlights on this album. When the piano in Put Your Hands Together starts, it reminds me more of a jazz track like Lee Morgan’s “Search For A New Land” than a hip hop track. And then the sax kicks in, and it turns into a block party.
I stopped listening to Hip Hop many years ago. I hear names like Kendrick Lamar, Drake and Tyler, The Creator. I’m sure they’re talented, great at what they do and put out some exciting music. But in my opinion, no one ever came close to the legendary William Michael Griffin Jr, aka Rakim. The ambition to be the ultimate MC pushed Rakim to lyrical heights that no other rapper had ever reached before. The fact that the uber DJ Eric B samples Rakim in their own records is testimony to the fact that it was Rakim who created the samples in his own songs, which were subsequently used by countless others, most famously in "Pump Up The Volume" by M|A|R|R|S.
In this article, my intention wasn't to do a track-by-track review of the album. I would suggest that if you’re interested, take a listen to the first 3 tracks. Each and every one is a tour de force, a synthesis of fantastic beats and the best rhyming you’ll ever hear. You can skip the 2 instrumentals and then head to the first track on the B-side of the LP, “Put Your Hands Together”. It begins with this beautiful piano intro which morphs into a dance party. Rakim wanted to be the best MC. It wasn’t all ego. He wanted to move the crowd. That was how Hip Hop started. Check out the lyrics of Put Your Hands Together. It’s the history of Hip Hop distilled in a 5-minute masterpiece. There are so many peaks on this album, and the beauty of Rakim’s rapping is never lost or diminished with the years. And because so much of it was designed to be danced to, it sounds a lot less dated than many artists from the same era or even those that came later.
The year 1988 will be remembered by me and many others as the greatest year for album releases in Hip Hop. Follow the Leader, Public Enemy’s "It Takes a Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back", Run DMC’s "Tougher Than Leather", EPMD’s "Strictly Business" and Jungle Brothers’ "Straight Out The Jungle" among many others.
Let's end with a quote from the master at the top of his game:
I'm everlastin', I can go on for days and days
With rhyme displays, that engrave, deep as x-rays
I can take a phrase that's rarely heard
Flip it, now it's a daily word