You know I was campaigning for you to get to this song for like a year. But your description of the Rakim's delivery hit the nail on the head. That was the relentlessness that separated him the other elite MCs at that point. Each verse had a purpose, which that made listeners rewind the tape over and over again. He had another record on the same level to this titled "Lyrics of Fury", which was recorded between 1987 - 1988. These were the type of records that influenced the Eminems, Nas's, Big Puns that came later in the 90s. As far as the producer credits are concerned, technically it was wrong but those records kept Large Professor in the loop until eventually got his turn. He was basically produce hits for the next coming of Rakim, which was Nas. He paid his dues and got rewarded.
you are right about the freestyle part... its similar to how a guitarist improvises on stage now at a concert. Its made to seem like a jam break, but its totally contrived and part of the show. Freestyle used to be randomly trying to make a rap on the spot and you could tell the difference ... but now that marketing and money came... people use that opportunity to rap something already written thats new, and they call it a freestyle. They do basically everything a freestyle is/was but already have the song remembered. Most people just dont know or care for the difference sadly so they roll with it.
As a professional producer/engineer this is one of the best beats ever crafted. The way Eric B was able to flip the most iconic sample ever used in Hip-Hop history and use it in a way no one ever has is brilliant. Such an amazing track
Paul C assisted by young Large Professor handled the production on the album. Actually, Eric B never did a beat on any of the albums with Rakim, he just provided the scratches. You're right though, the beat is nasty and I can imagine it must've sounded futuristic in 1990
@@hoos3014 true. This new gen thinks that it's pointless to go back to the Roots (Pun intended) and see how it was done. They think they're the best out the gate
@@57kwestignorance is the wind that blows. Idk why ignorance is so cool to my generation... They just don't wanna learn, and it's sickening (especially since it's so easy to attain knowledge nowadays). Ain't it crazy how accessibility of knowledge is in inverse proportion to it's attainment (and even sadder that it's by choice).
@@NunYaBiz404 I tell my kids all of the time how we used to have to go to the library to find stuff out. Dewey decimal system and they think it's wild. Just yesterday, I was in the garage watching a video about different wars thru the yrs. My 9 yr old asked why and I said "because I can! ALL of the info ABOUT EVERYTHING is accessible. Why wouldn't I?!"
I believe Eric B had a reputation for operating with some shady characters - he was about that life. Let's just say if he wanted to be listed as producer there weren't many people who were going to disagree.
About the credit question you asked us, in my opinion it's because it were a bunch of youngsters not knowing where Hip Hop was heading. And it might be a case of earning your stripes first, and that worked out pretty well for most names named. About the song, a true classic Not one that I keep playing grey at home, but when it's playing (like now), I won't turn it off neither 😅👍 Rakim was spitting on this one, especially if you consider the time/year he did it.
Freestyle could be a mixture of written rhymes, mixed and matched for a on the spot performance. Off the top of the dome is rhymes out of thin air and completely improvised.
Thanks, Mychal! I say off the dome rhymes is freestyle. Harry Mack freestyles. Everything else has to have a different name. Who do I talk to about it? 😜
@ABoomerReacts me and my boy have this argument all the time. I dont care at this point lmao. I know I can't go off the head no more. I can barely do a written verse any more. But back in the day everyone did their raps that didn't come out yet. Like run dmc was famous for that. The beastie boys even did a run dmc verse when they were asked to spit on MR Magics show when they first came out.
There are two camps of the word freestyle, just like producer can have multiple definitions. One definition is that pretty much everything is being thought up on the spot, thats what you generally see in freestyle cyphers etc. Still very prominent today but mostly underground. Corner cyphers used to be pretty much the main way an MC (at least in NYC) would get their skills up and network. The other definition says it's fine to have it be something pre-written as long as it isn't a recorded work yet. Like a stand up comic working out material on the road before recording a special.
Thanks, Miles! I don't like the other definition. There's a big difference in skill level between off the dome and pre-written, yet they have the same name.
@@ABoomerReacts I completely agree. I also know way too many really good freestylers personally from years in the nyc scene. Also bugging you again with the rec for "trying people" de la soul
@@DrummerMiles RUclips has taken down all my De La reactions except for Buddy. I don't want to spend the time reacting to one of their songs and then you guys never get to see it. Das EFX and Masta Ace are others that won't see the light of day.
Honestly, “Let the rhythm hit’em” might have been the most successful but “In the ghetto” seem to be higher regarded.. and “Mahogany” is one that gem that the real fans know about.
Recommendations for future reactions classic (westcoast edition) KING TEE MIX MASTER SPADE (he was the nate dog of the 80s) TODDY T THE ALKAHOLIKS BOOYAH TRIBE TOO SHORT RAPPIN 4TAY SIR MIX-A-LOT (not the big butt song lol) PARIS
There are many other 80s rappers you should check out: - Kool Herc - Big Daddy Kane - Sir Mix a Lot - MC Luke - Tone Loc - Salt N Peppa - Kool Moe Dee - Kurtis Blow - MC Shawn - 3rd Bass - Doug E Fresh - Antoinette - Eazy-E - Just Ice - Ice-T
Large Professor claims his work with Eric B and Rakim really accelerated his career. I won't say it ain't right if he won't. Paul C never got the chance to give his opinion, though.
Freestyle meant of the in the beginning. It kinda got bastardized when people started using premeditated or written lyrics and using them in " freestyle" battles. I think it started by people having generic go-to lyric phrases ,like (when I'm on the mic ,i "______" , or, my style is fresher than "____") to keep their flow going while they thought of the next line in their head. But now apparently written rhymes are freestyles? Makes no sense... We used to just call those rhymes " premeditated". I think a contributing factor is shows like Funk flex gave rappers a chance to show their skills , and nobody wanted to sound wack ( because sometimes freestyle might not be great, because it's spontaneous), so they opt to write or premeditate their versus so they won't mess up and sound wack. Just my opinion, because you're right, it makes no sense to call it freestyle anymore if it's something else.
Thank you! I've been posing that question to viewers for a long time. Most people think I don't understand what a freestyle is. Maybe not, but what I do understand is that different types of freestyle should have their own separate names. Most of the viewers have a different understanding on this subject than I do, so it was nice to get your comment and know that someone else is correct. 😂😂
@@ABoomerReacts no, you are the right one. most people have their own definitions of freestyle , that diverges from the origin of the meaning. Off the top of the head is freestyle. On the spot. Freestyle has become a misnomer. It's fine to not freestyle, just call it something different, like you said. But anyways, Loving the videos!
As someone who has emceed a lot of people get confused on what a freestyle is. Like I’ve seen people think Thiught did that off the dome. There are two types - one is where you truly just come up with the rhymes on the spot. This is actually technically true freestyling. The second is where you just spit whatever rhymes you have memorized spur of the moment. This is what Thought did. Still extremely impressive one of the greatest performances ever but it wasn’t off the top. It’s impossible to have something that coherent and detailed come from stream of thought (Big Pun intended)
Actually there are more types of freestyles.. 1 off the top of your head.. 2, written raps that haven’t been recorded to songs yet and 3rd (from the mouth of L.L. Cool J) is when a rap doesn’t have a topic, your raps can constantly change direction of subject matter.
This is no where near a freestyle this is work from a lyricist craftsman as for Hooks or Chorus in the 80’s or early 90’s some maybe did them, but it was mostly 3 verse songs and in between the Dj would cut on the turn tables the Chorus and hooks became a trend in the late 90’s to the 2000’s .
IMO, freestyle doesn’t mean off the dome. It means free of style…free of form - the flow might go in any direction at any time. I personally would rather hear a freestyle written or pre-rehearsed, ‘cause it just sounds better. The off-the-dome freestyle can be fun, but can be sloppy and can fall apart quickly. Even if they are good at it, I don’t really care if it’s off-the-dome or pre-rehearsed, as long as it sounds good.
Last time Boom, Freestyle is one of those loosely defined terms, like mixtape, that has been used in different ways to mean slightly different things in hiphop. Generally it applies to anytime somebody would spit on the spot, or off the record, whatever. I think the more traditional idea is what you can call going ‘off the head’. Thats when its not pre written. Look up videos of KRS, Black Thought way back in the day, and a guy named Supernatural. They all were masters of this off the head. But eventually freestyle also come to stand for just spitting some pre written stuff but on the spot. Rakim does this in a video called ‘The Punishers Freestyle’. We known it’s written because it later becomes a song. But at the time it’s just one of the rhymes he had loaded in the chamber. So there you have it. And btw, your’e officially an old Crack Dealer from the 80’s now, just saying bru.
Who you calling old? 😜 What's the difference between what Black Thought did and what Rakim did on this song? (Before Let the Rhythm Hit Em had been released).
It was written down and arranged. Now if you saying them for years from your head and not written down it is considered freestyle. The minute you write it down it no longer a free style because its structured. Same as reality tv that is scripted its no longer real.
Lol no a free style is off the dome. If it's written and memorized then it's no longer a free style. Now rhymes that you have been saying and have not been written down then they can be used in battle. Where you can formulate them with the off the dome rhymes, is what black thought was doing. Is mainly what free style is.
Thanks, Theresa! I agree about freestyle is off the dome. Anything else has to have a different name than "freestyle". Curious: do you really think Black Thought threw in some off the dome rhymes in there?
This song nor album never really resonated with me. At this point in their career I was definitely reasoning with the music because of who they were 🤷🏽♂️ I tried to like it but it was lack luster in comparison to the first two albums.
This album was one of the first albums to get a 5 mic rating by the Source magazine. I haven't heard this entire album but Rakim came with one of his best flows on this song.
![BLACK BAG - Official Trailer [HD] - Only in Theaters March 14](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Du0Xp8WX_7I/mqdefault.jpg)
Gen X here born in 1971. I have all of Eric B. & Rakim's and Rakim's solo discographies. This LP stands out to me as the one that aged the best.
Ra is crazy nice 👏👏😅
I remember turning this up too loud in my mom's car and she thought her windows were about to crack 😂
You know I was campaigning for you to get to this song for like a year. But your description of the Rakim's delivery hit the nail on the head. That was the relentlessness that separated him the other elite MCs at that point. Each verse had a purpose, which that made listeners rewind the tape over and over again. He had another record on the same level to this titled "Lyrics of Fury", which was recorded between 1987 - 1988. These were the type of records that influenced the Eminems, Nas's, Big Puns that came later in the 90s.
As far as the producer credits are concerned, technically it was wrong but those records kept Large Professor in the loop until eventually got his turn. He was basically produce hits for the next coming of Rakim, which was Nas. He paid his dues and got rewarded.
I promised you that I'd react to it in June. Just under the wire!
Truth.
Rakim was so ahead of his time, without him, 90's rap wouldn't be what it was with the CREAM OF ALL CROPS coming out that era!
you are right about the freestyle part... its similar to how a guitarist improvises on stage now at a concert. Its made to seem like a jam break, but its totally contrived and part of the show. Freestyle used to be randomly trying to make a rap on the spot and you could tell the difference ... but now that marketing and money came... people use that opportunity to rap something already written thats new, and they call it a freestyle. They do basically everything a freestyle is/was but already have the song remembered. Most people just dont know or care for the difference sadly so they roll with it.
That's not cool. Off the dome is freestyle; everything else needs a different name.
@@ABoomerReacts 100% agree... The past 15 years or so they kind of gave it way too loose of a restriction. It's not the same 🥲
@@ZachChilds Is there someone you could talk to about it? 😜
@@ABoomerReacts I'm gonna have to contact Krs one 😭
Also there was a few diss bars in the original aimed at big daddy Kane, later removed. Keep in mind how early this was and he was rapping like 2023
Rakim is in a class by himself, no one can touch him.
When I first heard this I realized on another level that Ra was genius from outer space 🎤🎤🎤🎤🎤5 mic classic!
As a professional producer/engineer this is one of the best beats ever crafted. The way Eric B was able to flip the most iconic sample ever used in Hip-Hop history and use it in a way no one ever has is brilliant. Such an amazing track
What's the iconic sample he flipped?
Paul C assisted by young Large Professor handled the production on the album. Actually, Eric B never did a beat on any of the albums with Rakim, he just provided the scratches.
You're right though, the beat is nasty and I can imagine it must've sounded futuristic in 1990
@@ABoomerReactssounds like Bob James “Nautilus” but there are other Bob James samples layered in there I think
@@kyriesampson7781 I don't think I've heard the name Bob James before.
@@kyriesampson7781 it is indeed Bob James - “Nautilus”
Thee GodEmcee!!!!!!
99% of the clowns on the chart can't touch this pen... 30 years later. It's sad.
Can't touch it? I doubt they've ever *heard* it.
Haha!
@@hoos3014 true. This new gen thinks that it's pointless to go back to the Roots (Pun intended) and see how it was done. They think they're the best out the gate
@@57kwestignorance is the wind that blows.
Idk why ignorance is so cool to my generation... They just don't wanna learn, and it's sickening (especially since it's so easy to attain knowledge nowadays).
Ain't it crazy how accessibility of knowledge is in inverse proportion to it's attainment (and even sadder that it's by choice).
@@NunYaBiz404 I tell my kids all of the time how we used to have to go to the library to find stuff out. Dewey decimal system and they think it's wild. Just yesterday, I was in the garage watching a video about different wars thru the yrs. My 9 yr old asked why and I said "because I can! ALL of the info ABOUT EVERYTHING is accessible. Why wouldn't I?!"
Great record. If you like ‘relentless’ then you should check out ‘Lyrics of Fury’ by Eric B & Rakim 👌 Relentless sums it up perfectly
Thanks, Jamie! I think that'll be my next reaction to Eric B. & Rakim song.
Rakim said his flow was shaped by his years of playing the saxophone.
That makes sense.
I love this song. the beat and rhymes are so 🔥
Back in the day, real hip hop was relentless...no chorus. Just bars.
I like relentless. I use that word a lot in my reactions. But relentless plus a good chorus is A+
I believe Eric B had a reputation for operating with some shady characters - he was about that life. Let's just say if he wanted to be listed as producer there weren't many people who were going to disagree.
That's scary.
He was a major decepticon
About the credit question you asked us, in my opinion it's because it were a bunch of youngsters not knowing where Hip Hop was heading. And it might be a case of earning your stripes first, and that worked out pretty well for most names named.
About the song, a true classic
Not one that I keep playing grey at home, but when it's playing (like now), I won't turn it off neither 😅👍
Rakim was spitting on this one, especially if you consider the time/year he did it.
I'm starting to learn how game-changing he was.
Great stuff!
The best outro ever put on wax
Rakim at his peak in 90. And Erin B at his as well. Hip hop was my life back then. Great vid Boomer
Thank you!
Freestyle could be a mixture of written rhymes, mixed and matched for a on the spot performance. Off the top of the dome is rhymes out of thin air and completely improvised.
Thanks, Mychal! I say off the dome rhymes is freestyle. Harry Mack freestyles. Everything else has to have a different name. Who do I talk to about it? 😜
@ABoomerReacts me and my boy have this argument all the time. I dont care at this point lmao. I know I can't go off the head no more. I can barely do a written verse any more. But back in the day everyone did their raps that didn't come out yet. Like run dmc was famous for that. The beastie boys even did a run dmc verse when they were asked to spit on MR Magics show when they first came out.
There are two camps of the word freestyle, just like producer can have multiple definitions. One definition is that pretty much everything is being thought up on the spot, thats what you generally see in freestyle cyphers etc. Still very prominent today but mostly underground. Corner cyphers used to be pretty much the main way an MC (at least in NYC) would get their skills up and network.
The other definition says it's fine to have it be something pre-written as long as it isn't a recorded work yet. Like a stand up comic working out material on the road before recording a special.
Thanks, Miles! I don't like the other definition. There's a big difference in skill level between off the dome and pre-written, yet they have the same name.
@@ABoomerReacts I completely agree. I also know way too many really good freestylers personally from years in the nyc scene.
Also bugging you again with the rec for "trying people" de la soul
@@DrummerMiles RUclips has taken down all my De La reactions except for Buddy. I don't want to spend the time reacting to one of their songs and then you guys never get to see it. Das EFX and Masta Ace are others that won't see the light of day.
this song was a shot at Big Daddy kane. and his name is pronounced (Rah-Kim)
What did I say?
You’re Right, It was Wrong ( to not give the due credit)
Freestyle just means a mixture. Off the dome, written or a mixture.. freestyle… free to do whatever
I want separate names for different freestyles. Who do I talk to about that? 😁
@@ABoomerReacts😂😂that would help a lot, right!?
Lol please elaborate?
I think the separate words were jumbled together and misused to the point of ambiguity lmao
Honestly, “Let the rhythm hit’em” might have been the most successful but “In the ghetto” seem to be higher regarded.. and “Mahogany” is one that gem that the real fans know about.
They're both on my list. 😁😁
The Upso remix of this song is great too.
most people dont take the time to read the credits of songs lol
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Rakim's solo album the 18th letter is great.
Is the title track on your list?
Or maybe Guess who's back?
When I'm flowin?
Only When I'm Flowin was not on the list, so I added it.
Recommendations for future reactions classic (westcoast edition)
KING TEE
MIX MASTER SPADE (he was the nate dog of the 80s)
TODDY T
THE ALKAHOLIKS
BOOYAH TRIBE
TOO SHORT
RAPPIN 4TAY
SIR MIX-A-LOT (not the big butt song lol)
PARIS
Somebody with taste gave you this one.
There are many other 80s rappers you should check out:
- Kool Herc
- Big Daddy Kane
- Sir Mix a Lot
- MC Luke
- Tone Loc
- Salt N Peppa
- Kool Moe Dee
- Kurtis Blow
- MC Shawn
- 3rd Bass
- Doug E Fresh
- Antoinette
- Eazy-E
- Just Ice
- Ice-T
Thanks for the list. I've reacted to quite a few of those artists but I'll try to do more.
@@ABoomerReacts great, when you reacting to immortal technique? It's been 3 months since the last one.
@@Jzarecta Give me the name of a song you'll think I'll like.
@@ABoomerReacts
Point of No return
ruclips.net/video/9J7yK1TPkDo/видео.html
The video has an anti-drug message.
Large Professor claims his work with Eric B and Rakim really accelerated his career. I won't say it ain't right if he won't. Paul C never got the chance to give his opinion, though.
When you're right, you're right. And you're right.
Freestyle meant of the in the beginning. It kinda got bastardized when people started using premeditated or written lyrics and using them in " freestyle" battles. I think it started by people having generic go-to lyric phrases ,like (when I'm on the mic ,i "______" , or, my style is fresher than "____") to keep their flow going while they thought of the next line in their head. But now apparently written rhymes are freestyles? Makes no sense... We used to just call those rhymes " premeditated". I think a contributing factor is shows like Funk flex gave rappers a chance to show their skills , and nobody wanted to sound wack ( because sometimes freestyle might not be great, because it's spontaneous), so they opt to write or premeditate their versus so they won't mess up and sound wack. Just my opinion, because you're right, it makes no sense to call it freestyle anymore if it's something else.
*off the top
I just thought of something, harry mack is a really good example of someone who is doing legit freestyle right now
Thank you! I've been posing that question to viewers for a long time. Most people think I don't understand what a freestyle is. Maybe not, but what I do understand is that different types of freestyle should have their own separate names.
Most of the viewers have a different understanding on this subject than I do, so it was nice to get your comment and know that someone else is correct. 😂😂
@@ABoomerReacts no, you are the right one. most people have their own definitions of freestyle , that diverges from the origin of the meaning. Off the top of the head is freestyle. On the spot. Freestyle has become a misnomer. It's fine to not freestyle, just call it something different, like you said. But anyways, Loving the videos!
@@randomanton Yes, I've seen some of his videos. He's amazing.
As someone who has emceed a lot of people get confused on what a freestyle is. Like I’ve seen people think Thiught did that off the dome.
There are two types - one is where you truly just come up with the rhymes on the spot. This is actually technically true freestyling.
The second is where you just spit whatever rhymes you have memorized spur of the moment. This is what Thought did. Still extremely impressive one of the greatest performances ever but it wasn’t off the top. It’s impossible to have something that coherent and detailed come from stream of thought (Big Pun intended)
I understand that. But I want those two types to have different names. Who do I talk to about that? 😁
Actually there are more types of freestyles..
1 off the top of your head.. 2, written raps that haven’t been recorded to songs yet and 3rd (from the mouth of L.L. Cool J) is when a rap doesn’t have a topic, your raps can constantly change direction of subject matter.
This is no where near a freestyle this is work from a lyricist craftsman as for Hooks or Chorus in the 80’s or early 90’s some maybe did them, but it was mostly 3 verse songs and in between the Dj would cut on the turn tables the Chorus and hooks became a trend in the late 90’s to the 2000’s .
@@trocktp Is #3 written or off the dome?
@@goldiesob Besides giving the DJ a chance to show his skills, was it also for the breakers to dance to?
IMO, freestyle doesn’t mean off the dome. It means free of style…free of form - the flow might go in any direction at any time. I personally would rather hear a freestyle written or pre-rehearsed, ‘cause it just sounds better. The off-the-dome freestyle can be fun, but can be sloppy and can fall apart quickly. Even if they are good at it, I don’t really care if it’s off-the-dome or pre-rehearsed, as long as it sounds good.
I agree with you but I don't think the word "freestyle" should define both styles
Last time Boom, Freestyle is one of those loosely defined terms, like mixtape, that has been used in different ways to mean slightly different things in hiphop. Generally it applies to anytime somebody would spit on the spot, or off the record, whatever. I think the more traditional idea is what you can call going ‘off the head’. Thats when its not pre written. Look up videos of KRS, Black Thought way back in the day, and a guy named Supernatural. They all were masters of this off the head. But eventually freestyle also come to stand for just spitting some pre written stuff but on the spot. Rakim does this in a video called ‘The Punishers Freestyle’. We known it’s written because it later becomes a song. But at the time it’s just one of the rhymes he had loaded in the chamber. So there you have it. And btw, your’e officially an old Crack Dealer from the 80’s now, just saying bru.
Who you calling old? 😜
What's the difference between what Black Thought did and what Rakim did on this song? (Before Let the Rhythm Hit Em had been released).
Random thought...are you wearing loafers or sneakers in your intro screen? 🤔
😂
I really went back and checked 🤦♂️ my moneys on hard bottoms with ankle socks.
Sneakers. I've never worn a loafer in my life.
@@ABoomerReacts 🤨 so you say….
@@themightyfp dude.. Those are totally boat shoes 🤣
Did you ever watch the recent 2pac documentary?
I haven't seen a recent one. What's it called?
@@ABoomerReacts "Dear Mama"!!
Great track, I love the way different elements of Bob James version of Night On Bald Mountain are used.
ruclips.net/video/SkAvBClISLI/видео.html
Thanks for the link!
It was written down and arranged. Now if you saying them for years from your head and not written down it is considered freestyle. The minute you write it down it no longer a free style because its structured. Same as reality tv that is scripted its no longer real.
That's a great explanation! Thanks, Theresa!
Lol no a free style is off the dome. If it's written and memorized then it's no longer a free style. Now rhymes that you have been saying and have not been written down then they can be used in battle. Where you can formulate them with the off the dome rhymes, is what black thought was doing. Is mainly what free style is.
Thanks, Theresa! I agree about freestyle is off the dome. Anything else has to have a different name than "freestyle". Curious: do you really think Black Thought threw in some off the dome rhymes in there?
@@ABoomerReacts yes because it is free style when it's not written down. For instance at some point you came off the dome with it.
This song nor album never really resonated with me. At this point in their career I was definitely reasoning with the music because of who they were 🤷🏽♂️ I tried to like it but it was lack luster in comparison to the first two albums.
Are you a fan of Rakim solo?
@@ABoomerReacts A big fan.... This particular album just wasn't my cup of tea.
@@allend6137 Can't win 'em all!
This album was one of the first albums to get a 5 mic rating by the Source magazine.
I haven't heard this entire album but Rakim came with one of his best flows on this song.
“Step Back” on this album is a great song tho