Let the Rhythm Hit ’Em is the third studio album by hip hop duo Eric B. & Rakim, released on June 19, 1990.[1] The group's sound develops further, with Rakim adopting a deeper, more aggressive tone of voice, and more mature and serious subject matter. Musically, the production ranges from smoother soulful tracks such as "In the Ghetto" to the hard-edged assault of the title track "Let the Rhythm Hit ’Em."
The back cover features a dedication to the memories of Rakim's father William and producer Paul C., who had worked on many of the album's tracks before his murder in July 1989.[10] Paul's protégé, Large Professor, completed his work; however, neither receive credit in the album's notes.[11][12]
Much like past Eric B. & Rakim albums, production was credited to the duo. For this album however, production was supposed to be handled by Producer Paul C. Because of his murder in 1989, his protégé, Large Professor (still an unknown beatmaker from Queens who was still in high school) was called upon to complete the album's beats. Large Professor confirmed that Paul produced the songs "Run for Cover" and "Untouchables" in full.[13] Regarding his contributions, Large Professor confirmed that he did all of "In the Ghetto" (based around a sample Paul had given him) and "Step Back" as well as the drum programming for "No Omega" and co-production on the title track.[13] The rest of the production is assumed to have been handled by Rakim, his brother Stevie Blass Griffin and the album's engineer, Patrick Adams. Rakim confirmed that Paul C. also produced "Keep 'Em Eager to Listen" and "Set 'Em Straight". Rakim produced "No Omega" based on a sample that Paul had given him.[14] The bonus track on the CD version, a remix of the title track, was produced by DJ Mark the 45 King, who had previously done some beats for Eric B. & Rakim's second album, Follow the Leader. Because of his involvement in the production, Large Professor was chosen by Eric B as a ghost producer for Kool G Rap & DJ Polo's second album, Wanted: Dead or Alive.
Singles
Three singles were released from the album. The first single "Let the Rhythm Hit Em" charted at #23 and #2 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs, making it the most successful single of the three. The second single "In the Ghetto" charted at #82 and #10 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs. The third and final single "Mahogany" did not chart on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, but it charted on the Hot Rap Songs at #28.
Critical reception
Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em received positive to mixed reviews from critics. Despite the fact that it did not produce any hit singles as popular as the duo's previous albums, it is considered by many to be their most coherent album, and is one of only a few rap albums that have received a 5-mic rating when it was reviewed in The Source. In 1998, the album was selected as one of The Source's 100 Best Rap Albums.
^Sandow, Greg (June 22, 1990). "Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em - EW.com". Entertainment Weekly.
^Gold, Jonathan (8 July 1990). "ERIC B. & RAKIM "Let the Rhythm Hit 'Em" : MCA : Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to five (a classic)". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 17, 2010.
^Futterman, Steve (August 23, 1990). "Let The Rhythm Hit 'Em - Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone.
^Kazeem (August 4, 2010). . The Source. Archived from the original on November 25, 2010.
^Hull, Tom (May 3, 2021). "Music Week". Tomhull.com. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
^. Fat Lace Magazine. May 28, 2008. Archived from the original on August 16, 2011. Retrieved February 7, 2020.
^"CRUNKSTER: Traveling at the Speed of Thought". Crunkster.abstractdynamics.org. August 5, 2004. Retrieved February 27, 2012.
^. Nodfactor.com. September 29, 2008. Archived from the original on January 6, 2009.
^ abArnold, Paul (June 21, 2012). "Large Professor On '90s Babies, Nas & Rakim's Relationship And Lupe Fiasco's Rights To "T.R.O.Y."". HipHopDX. Retrieved December 30, 2021.
rhythm, rhythm, third, studio, album, eric, rakim, released, june, 1990, group, sound, develops, further, with, rakim, adopting, deeper, more, aggressive, tone, voice, more, mature, serious, subject, matter, musically, production, ranges, from, smoother, soulf. Let the Rhythm Hit Em is the third studio album by hip hop duo Eric B amp Rakim released on June 19 1990 1 The group s sound develops further with Rakim adopting a deeper more aggressive tone of voice and more mature and serious subject matter Musically the production ranges from smoother soulful tracks such as In the Ghetto to the hard edged assault of the title track Let the Rhythm Hit Em Let the Rhythm Hit EmStudio album by Eric B amp RakimReleasedJune 19 1990 1990 06 19 1 Recorded1989 1990StudioPower Play Studios Long Island City New YorkLibra Digital Sound Long Island City New YorkSkip Saylor Recording Los Angeles CaliforniaA amp M Studios Hollywood CaliforniaGenreGolden age hip hop hardcore hip hop conscious rapLength54 16LabelMCA Records MCAD 6416 ProducerEric B exec DJ Mark the 45 King uncredited Large Professor uncredited Paul C uncredited RakimEric B amp Rakim chronologyFollow The Leader 1988 Let the Rhythm Hit Em 1990 Don t Sweat the Technique 1992 Singles from Let the Rhythm Hit Em Let the Rhythm Hit Em Released 1990 In the Ghetto Released 1990 Mahogany Released 1990Professional ratingsReview scoresSourceRatingAllMusic 2 Christgau s Consumer GuideA 3 Entertainment WeeklyB 4 Los Angeles Times 5 Rolling Stone 6 The Rolling Stone Album Guide 7 The Source5 5 8 Tom Hull on the WebB 9 The back cover features a dedication to the memories of Rakim s father William and producer Paul C who had worked on many of the album s tracks before his murder in July 1989 10 Paul s protege Large Professor completed his work however neither receive credit in the album s notes 11 12 Contents 1 Production credits 2 Singles 3 Critical reception 4 Track listing 5 Personnel 6 In popular culture 7 Charts 7 1 Weekly charts 7 2 Year end charts 8 Certifications 9 ReferencesProduction credits EditMuch like past Eric B amp Rakim albums production was credited to the duo For this album however production was supposed to be handled by Producer Paul C Because of his murder in 1989 his protege Large Professor still an unknown beatmaker from Queens who was still in high school was called upon to complete the album s beats Large Professor confirmed that Paul produced the songs Run for Cover and Untouchables in full 13 Regarding his contributions Large Professor confirmed that he did all of In the Ghetto based around a sample Paul had given him and Step Back as well as the drum programming for No Omega and co production on the title track 13 The rest of the production is assumed to have been handled by Rakim his brother Stevie Blass Griffin and the album s engineer Patrick Adams Rakim confirmed that Paul C also produced Keep Em Eager to Listen and Set Em Straight Rakim produced No Omega based on a sample that Paul had given him 14 The bonus track on the CD version a remix of the title track was produced by DJ Mark the 45 King who had previously done some beats for Eric B amp Rakim s second album Follow the Leader Because of his involvement in the production Large Professor was chosen by Eric B as a ghost producer for Kool G Rap amp DJ Polo s second album Wanted Dead or Alive Singles EditThree singles were released from the album The first single Let the Rhythm Hit Em charted at 23 and 2 on the Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs making it the most successful single of the three The second single In the Ghetto charted at 82 and 10 on the Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs and Hot Rap Songs The third and final single Mahogany did not chart on the Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs but it charted on the Hot Rap Songs at 28 Critical reception EditLet the Rhythm Hit Em received positive to mixed reviews from critics Despite the fact that it did not produce any hit singles as popular as the duo s previous albums it is considered by many to be their most coherent album and is one of only a few rap albums that have received a 5 mic rating when it was reviewed in The Source In 1998 the album was selected as one of The Source s 100 Best Rap Albums Track listing EditNo TitleWriter s Producer s Length1 Let the Rhythm Hit Em William Griffin Jr Eric BarrierEric B Rakim5 302 No Omega GriffinBarrierEric B Rakim4 453 In the Ghetto GriffinBarrierEric B Rakim5 224 Step Back GriffinBarrierEric B Rakim4 245 Eric B Made My Day GriffinBarrierEric B Rakim5 056 Run for Cover GriffinBarrierEric B Rakim4 467 Untouchables GriffinBarrierEric B Rakim4 158 Mahogany GriffinBarrierEric B Rakim4 419 Keep Em Eager to Listen GriffinBarrierEric B Rakim4 4010 Set Em Straight GriffinBarrierEric B Rakim4 25 CD bonus trackNo TitleWriter s Producer s Length11 Let the Rhythm Hit Em 12 Vocal Version Remix William Griffin Jr Eric BarrierDJ Mark the 45 King6 23Personnel EditCredits for Follow the Leader adapted from AllMusic 2 DJ Mark the 45 King Remixing Tony A Engineer Patrick Adams Engineer Carlton Batts Mastering Kevin Crouse Assistant Engineer Eric Barrier Primary Artist Producer Composer Carol Friedman Art Direction P Tony Engineer Anton Pukshansky Engineer William Griffin Primary Artist Producer Composer Patrick Roques Design Brian Scheuble Engineer Ralph Sutton Engineer Randy Wine Assistant EngineerIn popular culture EditThe first single and title track Let the Rhythm Hit Em appeared in the 2007 football video game All Pro Football 2K8 Charts EditWeekly charts Edit Chart 1990 PeakpositionUS Billboard 200 15 32US Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums Billboard 16 10 Year end charts Edit Chart 1990 PositionUS Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums Billboard 17 58Certifications EditRegion Certification Certified units salesUnited States RIAA 18 Gold 500 000 Shipments figures based on certification alone References Edit a b Let the Rhythm Hit Em by Eric B amp Rakim Genius com Retrieved 27 December 2021 a b Henderson Alex Let the Rhythm Hit Em Eric B amp Rakim Allmusic Christgau Robert June 1990 Robert Christgau CG Eric B and Rakim Christgau s Consumer Guide Sandow Greg June 22 1990 Let the Rhythm Hit Em EW com Entertainment Weekly Gold Jonathan 8 July 1990 ERIC B amp RAKIM Let the Rhythm Hit Em MCA Albums are rated on a scale of one star poor to five a classic Los Angeles Times Retrieved January 17 2010 Futterman Steve August 23 1990 Let The Rhythm Hit Em Rolling Stone Rolling Stone Frere Jones Sasha 2004 Eric B amp Rakim In Brackett Nathan Hoard Christian David eds The New Rolling Stone Album Guide Simon amp Schuster pp 281 82 ISBN 0 7432 0169 8 Retrieved February 13 2018 Kazeem August 4 2010 The Complete List Of 5 Mic Hip Hop Classics The Source Archived from the original on November 25 2010 Hull Tom May 3 2021 Music Week Tomhull com Retrieved May 7 2021 Fat Lace Magazine Paul C he got that bass pumpin Fat Lace Magazine May 28 2008 Archived from the original on August 16 2011 Retrieved February 7 2020 CRUNKSTER Traveling at the Speed of Thought Crunkster abstractdynamics org August 5 2004 Retrieved February 27 2012 Large Professor Revolve Around Science Nodfactor com September 29 2008 Archived from the original on January 6 2009 a b Arnold Paul June 21 2012 Large Professor On 90s Babies Nas amp Rakim s Relationship And Lupe Fiasco s Rights To T R O Y HipHopDX Retrieved December 30 2021 Memories of Paul C McKasty Vimeo 2013 Eric B amp Rakim Chart History Billboard 200 Billboard Retrieved February 7 2020 Eric B amp Rakim Chart History Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums Billboard Retrieved February 7 2020 Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums Year End 1990 Billboard Retrieved March 11 2021 American album certifications Eric B amp Rakim Let the Rhythm Hit Em Recording Industry Association of America Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Let the Rhythm Hit 27Em amp oldid 1169289626, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
