Eric B. & Rakim

Eric B. & Rakim were an American hip hop duo active from 1986 to 1992, pairing DJ and producer Eric B. with MC Rakim. Their sound blended sample-driven, groove-oriented beats with Rakim's measured, internally rhymed lyricism and calm, precise delivery, emphasizing complex rhythmic patterns and multisyllabic phrasing. They are widely regarded as influential in shaping hip hop production and MC technique during the late 1980s and early 1990s.