Don't Sweat The Technique

Performer: Eric B. & Rakim
Engineer: Mark Harder; Mark Harder; Lee Anthony
Producer: Eric B. & Rakim; Rakim
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Personnel: Rakim (vocals, programming); Eric B. (programming). Recorded at the Hit Factory, New York, New York. Personnel: Eric B. & Rakim (programming); Rakim (vocals, programming). Audio Mixers: Mark Harder; Lee Anthony. Recording information: The Hit Factory, New York, NY. Photographer: Cesar Vera. Unknown Contributor Role: El Cimarr�n. As their final album as a duo, DON'T SWEAT THE TECHNIQUE still packed the high-energy tracks and fierce vocal styles that had made the Eric B. & Rakim hip-hop pioneers. Well recognized as one of the all-time great MCs, Rakim issues lyrics that are at once stimulating and devastatingly powerful. Tracks like "Pass the Hand Grenade" and "Casualties of War" are historically relevant, as they were recorded only shortly after the conclusion of the Gulf War. Though Rakim would go on to make solo albums, DON'T SWEAT THE TECHNIQUE is a classic album in the long line of Eric B. & Rakim albums. Notable tracks include "What's on Your Mind," "The Punisher," and "What's Goin' On." The album also includes the hit "Know the Legde" from the motion picture JUICE, which starred the late Tupac Shakur.

Rolling Stone (7/9/92, p.106) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "..majestic...DON'T SWEAT THE TECHNIQUE activates the mind--it's erotic, playful, violent, dramatic, funky, jazzy and definitely dope.." Spin (7/92, p.72) - Recommended - "...cohesive and inspired...Rakim's rhymes are lively, varied, and imaginative..." Q (7/92, p.89) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "..They may be one of the more venerable rap teams, but they're clearly still capable of adapting to changing styles.." Musician (8/92, p.92) - "..What keeps this duo dynamic is that they understand the importance of sticking with the basics--hard beats, sly samples and imaginative cadences--and foregoing fashion.."

With a smoother, more hypnotically listenable version of Run-DMC's streetwise forthrightness, Eric B. & Rakim added another layer of depth to 1980s rap music. Among the first acts to articulate a hip-hop worldview, the duo represented the first flowering of rap into a full-blown subculture. Rakim's skill as one of hip-hop's premier wordsmiths carried him over four records of mindblowing rhymes, exemplified by classic singles like "Microphone Fiend" and "Juice (Know the Ledge)." The duo even sparked the long-running trend of hip-hop acts guesting on R&B hits in 1989, with Jody Watley's top ten hit "Friends." The pair parted ways in 1992 with Rakim embarking on a hit-or-miss solo career.

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