Paid in Full

Paid in Full is the debut album by Eric B. & Rakim, released on July 7, 1987 by 4th & B’way, an Island Records imprint. Rakim’s relaxed, intricate delivery on this record changed how MCs write, and it is regularly named one of the greatest hip hop albums ever made.

The story

The duo recorded the album in about a week to stay on budget, working long shifts and cutting vocals in single takes. Sessions ran at Marley Marl’s home studio and at Power Play Studios in Queens. Its singles, including “Eric B. Is President,” “My Melody,” “I Know You Got Soul,” “I Ain’t No Joke,” “Move the Crowd” and the title track, became foundational records for the Golden Age.

Sound and production

Eric B.’s beats lean on James Brown and classic soul samples, leaving wide space for Rakim’s internal rhymes and lines that run across bar lines. The heavy sampling became part of the early debate over uncleared samples. Coldcut’s remix of “Paid in Full,” built around Ofra Haza’s “Im Nin’alu,” became a hit of its own.

Charts and certifications

Paid in Full peaked at No. 58 on the Billboard 200 and No. 8 on the R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart, and it is certified Platinum by the RIAA.

Legacy

Rolling Stone placed it at No. 61 on its 2020 list of the 500 Greatest Albums, MTV named it the greatest hip hop album of all time, and it was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2026.